By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
GULF SHORES – The number three-ranked Hewitt-Trussville Lady Huskies (19-4) have won the 2024 Gulf Coast Classic.
The Lady Huskies went 7-1, 5-0 in bracket play, and defeated #1 (7A) Thompson in the championship game 7-0.
Hewitt defeated Coffee County Central (TN) 2-1 and Springboro (OH) 8-1 before falling to #8, (6A) Spanish Fort 3-0 Monday.
Games were rained out Tuesday, and the top 24 teams moved to bracket play Wednesday.
The Lady Huskies defeated #6 (5A) Southside 6-2, #7 (7A) Vestavia 4-1, #2 (7A) Hoover 2-0 and #5 (6A) Harstelle 10-5 to set up a rematch of an early season game against top-ranked Thompson.
Junior Zaylen Tucker stole home to get the Lady Huskies on the board in the first inning.
Freshman Presley Hull’s single scored junior Ryleigh Wood and sophomore Corey Goguts then singled to score junior Peyton Hull to give Hewitt a 3-0 lead in the second.
Senior Lexie Kelly’s homer in the third put the Lady Huskies up 4-0.
Hewitt extended their lead to 7-0 in the fifth with a Kelly single that scored senior AhKeela Honeycutt and a homer by senior Sara Phillips that scored Kelly.
Kelly and Phillips led Hewitt with two hits and two RBIs.
Phillips was the winning pitcher. The senior gave up two hits and had seven strikeouts on 67 pitches.
“Our season has seen some ups and downs but the girls are working hard getting better every time they step on the field,” said Hewitt head coach Taylor Burt.
“I’m proud of our progress so far and am looking forward to the second half of the season.”
The Lady Huskies host #1 (5A) Springville next Thursday at 6 PM.