By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
OXFORD – The Lady Blue Devils from Moody traveled to Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama, to join the true best of the best in the state of Alabama in the softball playoffs on Wednesday. In their first game, they whipped St. Paul’s Episcopal 4-0 but found no such luck in the next game against Ardmore, losing 4-2. They found themselves in the loser’s bracket against Scottsboro, where they took a 6-4 loss to end their season. While the season did not end with the Blue Devils bringing a blue map to 411, the future is bright for Moody softball as they only lose one senior this year in Alex Harvard.
“The future of Moody softball is very bright,” said Head Coach Becky Seymour. “I am so excited to be here for every minute of it.”
In their first game of the state tournament, the Blue Devils leaned on the pitching of seventh grader Bella Turley, who pitched a complete game against St Paul’s. Moody got 2 runs in the second and 2 more in the sixth to complete the shut-out win over the Saints. Turley went 7 innings, allowing no runs and just 4 hits and a strikeout to get the win. Not only did Turley throw over 110 pitches in the game, but she led at the plate as well with 2 RBI.
In game two, the Blue Devils drew the Ardmore Tigers, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. They would add a run in the third and Moody would answer with 2 of their own to make it 3-2 Tigers. Ardmore’s defense would hold Moody scoreless for the remainder of the game while adding a run in the fifth to make it 4-2 and that is how the game would end. Riley Hodges would take the loss for Moody, pitching all 7 innings and allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and striking out 4. Kendall Trimm would lead at the plate, going 2 of 3 with an RBI to go with another RBI from Libby Higgins for the Blue Devils.
In their third game of the day, Moody had to win to stay alive in the playoffs and they would be playing a familiar foe in the Scottsboro Wildcats. Moody played this team just a week ago, losing 7-1 to the Wildcats. Scottsboro apparently had Moody’s number this year as they would get the win in the second game as well, this time by a score of 6-4. Moody jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the Wildcats and shut them out until the sixth inning, where Scottsboro would put 6 runs on the board before holding Moody scoreless in the top of the seventh to seal the win. Turley was back on the mound, pitching the complete game, including 5 shutout innings. She allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and had 2 strikeouts. Rogers and Trimm each had 2 RBI for Moody.
“I am very proud of the way my girls played all year, said Coach Seymour. “Just like any other team, we had our share of ups and downs but they fought every day and every game. These young girls are setting standards for what the future of Moody softball should be while upholding the legacy of the ones who have come before them. We have had several different girls stepping up throughout the year. I am excited to be returning 99% of my team as I only lose 1 senior. I know in the offseason that these girls are going to be working to continue the growth that they have shown this year so that we can come back stronger both mentally and physically so we are prepared to take on the best teams in the state of Alabama!
The young Blue Devils (2 seventh graders, 2 eighth graders, 6 sophomores, 4 freshmen, 3 juniors and a senior) finished the season at 28-19 and as one of the top 5 teams in 5A in the state of Alabama.