By Erik Harris, sports editor
Mother Nature finally backed off a little on Thursday as local softball teams fired up area play.
See game recaps below.
Hewitt-Trussville 18, Oak Mountain 2 (five innings)
It’s been a good week for Taylor Burt’s girls. Her Huskies debuted at No. 1 in the ASWA’s first batch of rankings and lived up to the billing on Thursday with an 18-2 victory over Class 7A, Area 6 foe Oak Mountain.
Anyce Harvey mashed the ball to the tune of four hits, including a fifth-inning homer, and five RBIs for Hewitt-Trussville. Her shot to left drove in three of the 15 runs Hewitt scored in a massive fifth frame.
The decisive win bumps the Huskies to 16-1-1 overall, including a 2-0 mark in area play.
Harvey had plenty of help in the Hewitt-Trussville lineup. Riley Tyree doubled twice to join Hannah Dorsett and Madi Mitchell in the multi-hit club. Each of the three finished with a single RBI on the road. Jenna Lord and Rubie Simon drove home two runs apiece for the Huskies.
Sara Phillips worked a complete game in the circle, rebounding from a two-run first to pitch a shutout from that point on. She allowed only two hits to go with five strikeouts and eight walks.
Leeds 15, Carver-Birmingham 0 (three innings)
Leeds opened up Class 5A, Area 10 play with a 15-0 drubbing of Carver-Birmingham on Thursday.
The Green Wave (3-6, 1-0) ended things early with five runs in the first, nine more in the second and one in the third to reach run-rule status. Marley Miller and Emma Machen led the way with three RBIs apiece.
Machen also pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts in three innings. She recorded the win with only 40 pitches thrown.
Springville 6, Oxford 5
Springville held off a late comeback to score a 6-5 Class 6A, Area 13 win over Oxford on Thursday.
The Tigers did their damage with five runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to take a 6-2 advantage. Oxford quickly cut the deficit to 6-5, but that’s as close as it would get.
For Springville, Makalyn Kyser and Graci Black finished with two RBIs apiece while Reagan Cornelius doubled twice and drove in a single run. Cornelius also struck out seven batters and surrendered two runs.
With the win, Springville starts area play 1-0 and improves to 13-5 overall.
Gardendale 10, Pinson Valley 7
Pinson Valley opened up Class 6A, Area 12 play with a 10-7 road loss at Gardendale on Thursday.
The Indians (3-11, 0-1) started fast with three runs in the first to claim a 3-0 advantage and later improved their lead to 6-0 in the third, but Gardendale answered with eight runs over the next two frames and never looked back.
Catey Thomas paced the Rockets with four RBIs off two hits to go with two hits and three RBIs from Kara Jasper. McKenzie Cagle drove in two runs off three hits for Pinson Valley.