AHSAA SOFTBALL: PCA, Brew Tech qualify for trip to Oxford
Alivia Messick led PCA to the Central Regional title, sending the Panthers to Oxford next week. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
With Prattville Christian Academy moving up to Class 4A this year because of Competitive Balance Factor, Panther coach Randy Stough wasn’t sure what to expect as his team negotiated through a higher classification for the first time.
“At one point, we were 5-6 at the beginning of the year,” Stough said. “We played a lot better after that slow start and three of those losses were to Baldwin County, Fairhope and Orange Beach. I think the schedule tested us well for this (regional). Every game is going to be intense.”
PCA (31-11) rolled through the Central Regional unbeaten, outscoring three opponents 23-4 to earn the Panthers their third consecutive trip to the state tournament. But after getting a test from Munford in the region opener, Stough had no trouble evaluating this year’s tournament field as opposed to previous 3A opponents.
“It’s much tougher,” he said. “You can have a bad game and it changes the whole complexity of the route you’ve got to take.
“I feel like this year, more than any year, we’ve got to do what we’re supposed to do and not worry so much about everybody else. If we do what we’re supposed to do, I think we’ve got a good team.”
In the first game, a 7-2 win over Munford, Sarah Williams went 3 for 4, including a two-run home run, and drove in three runs, while Saniyah Weaver was 1 for 2 with two runs scored.
Alivia Messick picked up the win in the circle, allowing just four hits while striking out nine.
The Panthers reached the finals of the winner’s bracket with an 11-1 win over American Christian Academy. Laura Beth NeSmith, almost duplicating Messick’s performance, allowed just four hits and struck out seven in the five-inning win.
Weaver was 3 for 3 with three RBI, Chloe Hollon was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run and four RBIs and Brinkley Sailors added a solo home run.
PCA qualified for the state tournament with a 5-1 win over Handley as Messick scattered five hits, Williams went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Weaver was 3 for 4 with two runs scored.
Prattville Christian will face perennial favorite Curry in the opening round of the state tournament on Friday at 10:45 a.m. and Stough understands the importance of having two pitchers (Messick and NeSmith) ready to navigate through the 4A bracket.
“It’s great because you know you’re going to have competitors in the circle that can dominate a game if they’re on,” he said. “You just have to play good ‘D’ behind them and get some runs for them but you feel confident with them going out there that they’re going to get the job done.
“You’ve got to have two. They’ve flip-flopped (as the lead pitcher) all year long and we feel confident with either one of them out there.”
Brew Tech qualifies for State Tourney
GULF SHORES - Brewbaker Tech went 3-1 in the 5A South Regional, picking up two wins against Faith Academy and a win against Rehobeth to claim Qualifier 2 in the South Regional Tournament.
Gabbie York led the tournament with nine hits, five runs, five RBIs. Lyl Bandy, Kyra Wallace and Taniyah Brown had five hits. Grace Hunter had three hits with a home run while Khamiyah Brown had three hits including two homers.
Taniyah Brown led all pitchers with 28 innings, giving up three earned runs and totaling 36 strikeouts.
The Lady Rams will face Scottsboro at 9 a.m. on Wednesday in Oxford.