By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
GULF SHORES – The Hewitt Trussville Huskies and Springville Tigers took a trip to the beach for spring break but it was a bit different from the trip many students took this week. This was a business trip and the fact that these two teams from the Trussville Tribune coverage area came home with both the first and second place trophies says all you need to know about how seriously these ladies took the challenge. While both teams did squeeze in some fun this week, they were focused on the task at hand and neither team would disappoint.
On day one, in pool play, the Huskies scored wins over Forest High School (7-0), Enterprise (3-2) and Wilson (3-1). Meanwhile, Springville took on Dale County (7-0), the top-ranked 7A team in the state, Thompson (2-7 loss) and Community High (9-0), going 2-1 for the day.
Day two was shortened by weather but Hewitt got in a game, a 2-1 win over Hokes Bluff, and Springville likewise got one in and blasted Colbert County 9-0.
The third and final day was a long one for both teams as Springville played 5 games and the Huskies played in 4 themselves. Hewitt beat Houston Academy 10-1, Hoover 5-3 and Vestavia 5-1, making it to the championship game. Springville beat Kaneland 11-0, avenged the earlier loss to Thompson with a 3-0 win over the Warriors, beat Hartselle 7-2 and Spain Park 6-4, leading to the championship showdown with the Huskies.
In the championship game, the Hewitt Trussville flexed their muscle and got a big win over the Springville Tigers by a score of 12-0. In typical fashion, Sara Phillips threw a gem in the championship game, allowing no runs against the red-hot bats of the Springville Tigers.
For the weekend, Phillips was brilliant, pitching 15 innings, getting 4 wins, 26 strikeouts and allowing no earned runs. Shelby Hathcock had a good week for the Tigers, doing most of the pitching for Springville, pitching 20 innings, earning 5 wins and 15 strike outs. Georgia Chancellor also got key wins over Thompson and Spain Park for the Tigers.
Springville coach JP Taruc had the following to say about how his team did in the Gulf Shores Classic, “I am extremely proud of my girls for beating the number 1 team in 7A (Thompson), beating the number 2 team in 6A (Hartselle) and beating the number 5 team in 7A (Spain Park) all in one day during bracket play. However, we lost to the number 3 team in 7A (Hewitt Trussville) in the championship game. Gulf Coast Classic was loaded with great softball teams. I always like to enter this tournament because you’re going to play the best of the best in different classifications. It makes us tougher in the long run. Plus shows us what we need to work on to get better. I hate we lost the championship game but I am extremely proud of my girls for competing throughout the tournament. I have a great group of girls who are willing to play as one and win as one.”
Hewitt coach Taylor Burt said this about her team’s performance, “We started slow but came out an played our best when it mattered in elimination. Our bats were not great the first couple of days bur the girls really showed up on day 3. Our pitchers did great and we really performed well in the situations we needed to, to win.”
The Huskies are now riding a 21-game winning streak with a 25-4 overall record heading into a game at home against Oak Mountain on Tuesday.
Springville moves to 22-4 on the season and the schedule does not get easier as they head to Hoover to take on the Buccaneers on Tuesday night.