By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
PLEASANT VALLEY – Shortly after his Lady Wildcats shocked top-ranked Pleasant Valley 8-5 in the Class 2A, Area 13 softball tournament winners bracket game Monday night, Sand Rock softball coach Josh Bates huddled the team after it was over.
They had plenty to talk about.
Not only had they defeated a perennial postseason giant that had run-ruled them both times they played earlier this season, but the win clinched a berth in the East Regional at Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park.
But the win also had even more significance the Lady Wildcats didn’t realize. It was Bates’ 400th career win.
“They had no clue we were sitting there that close. I didn’t want to put any pressure on them. I just wanted them to play,” Bates said.
“I’ve had a lot of great kids come through the last 17 years who have been a part of these 400 (wins). It’s their hard work and their dedication who made it possible. I’m proud of them and proud of these girls this year. We’ve not had a winning record, but we’ve kept plugging along. We kept telling them to believe and it’ll pay off.”
And paid off it has.
Pleasant Valley held a 3-0 lead through two innings before Sand Rock began to rally. The Lady Wildcats scored a pair of runs in the top of the third to trim their deficit to a run, but the Lady Raiders extended their advantage out to three runs again with single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth.
It remained a 5-2 game until the top of the seventh, when Sand Rock exploded for six runs to take its first lead.
Macy Martin struck out the side in the bottom half of the seventh to secure Bates’ milestone win.
“They played their hearts out tonight. They kept chipping away and battling,” Bates said. “Just to see their confidence build as the game went on, it was a fun game to be a part of.”
Sand Rock pounded out 14 hits in the game, led by Maddie Clanton and Aubie Camp’s three hits apiece. Clanton tripled, walked, scored a run and drove in one. Camp drove in a pair of runs.
Aliyah King contributed a pair of hits, including a double, with two walks, a run and a RBI. Emma Sipsy and Raven Todd also posted two hits apiece. Sipsy also walked twice and scored twice. Todd scored a run.
Alyvia McMichen had a hit and a RBI. Molly Grace Lay added a hit and scored a run. Madison Walker scored twice and drove in a run. Martin had a RBI.
Janey Crane started the game in the circle for Sand Rock. She tossed the first two innings and gave up three earned runs on Lily Henry’s three-run homer in the bottom of the first. Crane also walked two and struck out one.
Martin worked the final five innings. She surrendered two hits and three walks and didn’t allow an earned run. She also had four strikeouts.
Sand Rock now awaits the winner of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. elimination game between Cedar Bluff and Pleasant Valley at 5 p.m.
“We’re kind of in the driver’s seat. We’ll let it fall where it does,” Bates said. “We’ll go out and compete tomorrow starting at 5. Whoever it is has got to beat us twice. We’ll put together a game plan and see what we can make happen.”
Earlier on Monday, Sand Rock doubled up Cedar Bluff 8-4.
Sipsy went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. King was 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs. Martin tripled, scored a run and had a RBI. McMichen and Lay both had a hit and a RBI. Walker had a hit and scored a run.
Camp walked twice, scored a run and drove in one. Todd also scored a run.
Sipsy earned the win after going all seven innings. She gave up an earned run on six hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Rylie Walker led the Lady Tigers with a pair of hits and a run. Jaycee Cagle and Logan Goza both doubled and scored a run. Ciana Smith added a hit and a run. Paityn Walker finished with a hit.
Mackenzie Kimmons suffered the loss after working 1 1/3 innings. She gave up five earned runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Kaylyn Vadon worked 4 2/3 innings and gave up an earned run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
