By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
MOODY – The Springville Lady Tigers are your 2024 Saint Clair County softball champions after an undefeated weekend against Saint Clair County and two games against host Moody.
Springville’s All-County softball players. Bella Bullington (MVP), Georgia Chancellor, Ashlyn Cooley, and Kiley Christopher.
Photo by: SHS Softball
The tournament started on Thursday evening as the Tigers took on the Saints from Saint Clair County. Springville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first before the Saints answered in the third with a run of their own. With the game tied, in the top of the fifth, Emmy Leopard drove in a waiting R Ruple and A Cooley brought Leopard home on a double with two outs. Taking over for Bella Bullington, who went the first four innings allowing just the one run on two hits and struck out four batters, Georgia Chancellor picked up the save, allowing a hit, no runs and striking out two. At the plate, Leopard would lead the team with two runs scored and an RBI.
Next up for the Tigers would be the rival Moody Blue Devils, whom they would need to beat twice to get the championship.
In game one, Springville would get the 6-0 shutout win over the Blue Devils. Scoring a run in the second and fourth innings, the Tigers had a big fifth to seal the deal, scoring four runs. At the plate, S Hathcock would have two hits on as many tries driving in three runs to lead the team. On the rubber, Chancellor would get the complete-game shutout for the Tigers, going all five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine Moody batters.
The final game of the tournament would be a rematch between the two rivals and it would end with a similar result, with the Tigers taking home the title after a 9-3 victory over Moody. The game was scoreless for two innings, but Springville’s bats went crazy in the third as the Tigers score eight runs. Moody would answer in the third with three runs of their own and Springville would add another run in the bottom of the inning. The rest of the game would be scoreless, ending in the 9-3 win for Springville, allowing them to claim the championship. Bullington went the distance in this one, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four batters. Leah Bowden and Kiley Christopher each had three RBI to lead the team from the plate.
Springville coach JP Taruc had the following to say about his team’s performance over the weekend. “Defensively we played well throughout the tournament. Our bats came in spurts, but was good enough to earn runs in a timely manner. As a team, this tournament has helped us to learn from our mistakes and grow as a team. I am extremely proud of our seniors for being leaders on and off the field that helped us win this county tournament. Kiley Christopher, Bella Bullington, Layla Bradshaw, Emmy Leopard, and Lani Otwell. Winning the county means a lot to us because St. Clair County school system is loaded with softball talent and any team can win it.”
Bullington won the tournament MVP award and teammates Ashlyn Cooley, Kiley Christopher and Georgia Chancellor were named to the all-tournament team.
Moody’s representatives on the all-tournament team were Abi Gray, Kendall Trimm and Hannah Rutledge.
The Tigers, now 10-3 on the season, will take host Hayden on Tuesday night and then head to West Point on Thursday.
Moody, now 9-9, will look to get back to their winning ways this week with games at Helena on Tuesday and Southside on Thursday.
