By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
LEEDS – On May 9, 2023, Jesse Turner was chosen to take over a softball team at Leeds that was looking to overcome a 4-18 season.
In the short time between then and now, Jesse Turner and his staff have literally turned this program around. One win shy of doubling their win total from last season, the Greenwave find themselves at 7-2 on the season heading into March.
This week, Leeds took on Victory Christian and traveled to Shades Valley and both games saw explosive offense by the Greenies that led to an early departure for their opponents.
Against Victory Christian on Tuesday, Leeds pitcher Audrey Whitcomb found herself in a jam in the first, with the bases loaded much of the inning. A few errors later and the Lady Greenwave were down, but the damage was minimal as Victory Christian scored just two runs in the first.
Leeds came to the plate and answered with two runs of their own to tie it heading into the second.
Whitcomb would find her footing and shut the Lions out in the top of the second before Leeds put up three more runs.
Victory Christian would get a run in the top of the third, but Leeds exploded in the bottom, putting 13 runs on the board and sending everyone home early for the night. The final was 18-3 Leeds. Whitcomb got the complete game win allowing four hits and three runs and striking out two batters. At the plate, Rhyan Carson had four RBI to go with three from Sophie Gromko and two each from Maddie Payne and Gianna Davis.
Next up for the Greenies would be a trip to Irondale to take on Shades Valley and the results would be very similar but this time it was a bit more methodical rather than a one-inning blast of offense that led to the Leeds victory.
The Greenwave scored early and often in this one, opening the game with a three-run first. The Mounties put together a two-run inning to make it close heading into the second.
The second would be a low-scoring period as Leeds had a run in the top and blanked Shades Valley in the bottom or the inning.
Leeds would have a big third inning as they scored five runs to Shades Valley’s zero. The Mounties would score another run in the bottom of the fourth, but Leeds had three and, after a scoreless fifth for both teams, the Greenies would put up five more in the sixth.
The final was 17-3, another big win for Turner and his girls.
Ashlynn Mayfield went the distance, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out four.
Maddie Payne was perfect from the plate, going three of three with six RBI and two home runs on the night, earning her the Trussville Tribune Player of the Week.
Coach Turner said the following about his team. “The thing I’m most proud of is how we have faced adversity and responded. It has happened all season and we have responded. We preach to face and play each situation. We have done a really good job of that. The energy that this team brings is phenomenal. I remind them that joy fixes everything and we need to be joyful. We have love and energy.”
Turner speaks humbly about the turnaround thus far, “It is so rewarding to just be around them. They have had a hard two years. To see them get to experience some of what they have this year and see them play like they have and play together with such joy and excitement…it gives me chills. I have always just wanted to be on the team and I’m just happy to be on it. It’s so much fun!”
The 7-2 Greenwave look to keep that momentum going this week as they take on John Carroll, whom they have already beaten once this year in a 4-1 win, followed by a trip to Ramsay and then a bit of a revenge game on Monday against one of the only two teams that have beaten them, Lincoln.