By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
ALBERTVILLE – The Lady Blue Devils of Moody have made themselves known amongst the best of the best in 5A softball on day one of regional tournament play, winning both of their games in an attempt to punch their ticket to the state championships next week.
The first win of the day for Moody was quite an eventful one. The Boaz Pirates had their way earlier on as they held a 6-2 lead after four innings of play. The fifth and sixth would go scoreless for both teams. In the seventh, the Blue Devils got into the bottom of the inning without the lead changing and that is where the drama ensued. Down by four runs, Abi Gray doubled in the first at-bat of the inning. Cheyenne Moore singled to left field and then Emma Kyle got a single of her own to score Gray and Moore and make it 6-4. Taylor Rogers and Kendall Trimm would each get walked, putting the tying run on base. Bella Turley would tattoo a ball to center field and get a double, bringing home Kyle and Rogers to tie the game at six apiece. With Turley on base, the Pirates decided to walk Charleigh Chaisson and bring up Lacey Nichols. Nichols would slam one to center field for a double that brought home Trimm and pinch-runner Mya Long for the walk-off win. Ryleigh Hodges started on the mound, giving up three hits and six runs while striking out one. Turley took over and picked up the win, allowing four hits and no runs and striking out a batter as well. Turley, Kyle and Nichols all had two RBI each to lead at the plate.
After the big celebration, the Blue Devils would have to regain focus and play another game, this time against the Alexandria Valley Cubs. A letdown was not in the cards for Moody as they whipped Alexandria 12-5. Once again, the Blue Devils used a big inning, this time the fifth, to seal the deal. Until the fifth inning, Moody was tied with Alexandria. In the fifth, the Moody bats would explode to the tune of seven runs. Each team would score one in the sixth and two in the seventh to end in the 12-5 Moody win. Bella Turley went the distance, allowing 12 hits and five runs and striking out a batter in the win. Emma Kyle would lead at the plate with three RBI.
Needing just one win on Wednesday to make it to the state championship, Moody took on Southside and kindly whipped the Panthers in five innings to win the East Region’s number one qualifier.
The Blue Devils jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first inning and used two runs in the second and four in the fourth to get the 12-1 victory over the Panthers. Southside would get their lone run in the bottom of the first. Libby Higgins had four RBI with a home run to lead at the plate to go along with three RBI from Charleigh Chaisson. Ryleigh Hodges picked up the win going four-plus innings, allowing two hits and a run and striking out three. Bella Turley and Hannah Rutledge saw time in the fifth to finish things out and secure the win.
The 5A state championship will be played in Oxford at Choccolocco Park on Wednesday and Thursday.