Contributed by Brian Schooley
Prattville’s varsity softball team took care of business in the opening game of the 7A Area 3 tournament by knocking off Lee 10-0. The Lady Lions scored in each of the first four innings to earn a shortened mercy rule game. The win advances them to Tuesday’s winner’s bracket match-up with Enterprise. Another win would put them in the title game later Tuesday evening.
Melissa Townsend set the tone for the evening when she put the Generals down in order in the top of the first. The Lady Lions then struck for a solo run in the bottom half of the inning. Ty Wilson walked and quickly stole second base. She would score on Melissa Townsend’s single into right field. Townsend mowed Lee down again in the second inning, and once again, Prattville struck for runs in their half of the inning. Pyper Castro walked to start off the inning. Kensley Jarman lined a single into center field and the ball got past the defender to the wall. Castro scored and Jarman ended up on third base thanks to the two-base error. With one out, Eavie Lou Polk drove Jarman home on a fielder’s choice. Wilson followed with a double down the left field line. She would score on an infield error. After two innings, Prattville held a 4-0 lead.
In the third inning, Townsend struck out the side on 10 pitches. In Prattville’s half of the inning, the Lady Lions took advantage of Lee miscues. Gracie Pittman was hit by a pitch to get things started, followed by Aliyah Hamilton’s walk. Castro reached base safely on an error, and pinch runner Jordan Harlow scored on the play. With one out, Miracle Johnson had an infield single which scored Hamilton. Polk then lined a single into center field to score Johnson. The Lions lead expanded to 8-0.
Maddie Ray Coker relieved Townsend in the fourth inning. After a one out double, Lee catcher Alexis Coker hit a line drive into left field for what looked like a single. Left fielder Jarman made a nice play on the ball for the out, then threw a strike to second baseman Kaelyn Campbell to get the runner off second base. Double play…inning over. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lions struck for two more runs. With one out, Caroline Mills was hit by a pitch, followed by another Hamilton walk. Castro singled home pinch runner Harlow, then Jarman drove home Hamilton with a sacrifice fly. Coker finished the deal in the fifth inning, inducing a ground out to third base and two strike outs.
Townsend struck out seven batters and earned the victory.
In the second game of the night, Enterprise held on to beat Jefferson Davis 7-5. In the final game, Jefferson Davis pounded Lee 19-4 to advance in the loser’s bracket. Lee’s season ended with the loss.
On Tuesday at 4:30, Prattville will host Enterprise in the winner’s bracket final. Jefferson Davis will then face the loser of that game in the loser’s bracket final. The championship game will start at approximately 7:30, with an additional game to follow if the loser’s bracket team wins.
