WEEKEND PREPS: St. James softball reaches school-record 40 wins
COMBINED REPORTS
SOFTBALL
St. James 8, Tallassee 0
TALLASSEE -- Emily Needham pitched a perfect game, striking out 14, in the Trojans’ six-inning victory over the Tigers at the Purple and Gold Round Robin on Saturday.
Needham faced 18 batters, striking out 14 in a dominating 81-pitch performance.
Sydney Johnston went 2 for 4, scoring a run and driving in another as the Trojans broke open a close game with four runs in the fifth inning after scoring just three runs in the first four innings.
Ava Stanford and Mary Olive Maddox both went 1 for 2 with an RBI, while Kaitlyn Hudson and Tat Shuford both went 1 for 4 with an RBI.
The game was a pitcher’s duel early as Needham and Tallassee starter Kamille Tate held the opposing offense in check. Tate pitched into the fourth, allowing three runs on three hits but leaving after walking five batters. Marlee Osborne pitched the remaining 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and five runs, three earned.
St. James (41-6) will travel to Prattville on Monday, Prattville Christian on Tuesday and Autauga Academy on Wednesday to close out the regular season.
St. James 10, Handley 0
TALLASSEE -- Aleigha Davis pitched a one hitter, walking one and striking out five in a complete-game performance limited to five innings by the 10-run mercy rule at the Purple and Gold Round Robin on Saturday.
Kaitlyn Hudson went 3 for 3, scored three times and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Trojans at the plate. Ava Stanford went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and a drove in a run, Lily Stanford went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs, Emily Darby went 1 for 2 with a pair of RBIs and Tat Shuford went 1 for 1 with two RBIs in the win.
Brynnley Lane had the Tigers’ lone hit, a double, while Keira Addison was the only other base runner, drawing a walk.
St. James (40-6) reached the 40-win plateau for the first time in school history and returned to the field later in the day to play Tallassee.
Prattville Christian 3, T.R. Miller 1
PRATTVILLE -- Laura Beth NeSmith pitched a four hitter and struck out seven as the Panthers defeated T.R. Miller 3-1 in the PCA Spring Fling on Saturday.
Saniyah Weaver went 3 for 3 to lead PCA at the plate, while Chloe Hollon and Peyton Thrash had RBI hits.
PCA (32-6) will remain home to host St. James on Tuesday in the Panthers’ final regular season game before hosting the Area 5 Tournament.
Prattville Christian 8, Pelham 3
PRATTVILLE -- Alivia Messick pitched a four hitter and struck out 11 in a complete-game performance as the Panthers defeated Pelham 8-3 on Saturday morning in the PCA Spring Fling.
Chloe Hollon and Holley Beth Rollan both went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Panthers at the plate. Chasiti Lindsey went 2 for 3 and Caralee Janes went 2 for 4.
PCA (31-6) returned to the field later in the afternoon to play T.R. Miller.
St. James 13, Reeltown 1
St. James used an 11-run second inning to coast past the Rebels 13-1 in a three-inning game on Friday.
Aleigha Davis pitched a four hitter, allowing one run while walking one and striking out three in three innings of work.
Emily Darby went 2 for 2 with a home run and drove in three runs, Lily Stanford went 1 for 1 with a triple and drove in three runs and Ava Stanford went 1 for 2 and drove in a pair of runs. Kaitlyn Hudson, Emily Needham and Arden Green also had RBIs.
Reeltown got singles from Lillian Johnston, Crisdan Dunn, Kellie Whitlow and Maddie Stockdale.
St. James (39-6) set a school record for wins with the victory and will play Handley in the Purple and Gold Round Robin at Tallassee on Saturday.
TRACK AND FIELD
Montgomery Academy competes in Hewitt-Trussville meet
TRUSSVILLE -- Montgomery Academy closed out the regular season by competing in an event on Friday at Hewitt-Trussville.
Livia Dwyer and Elle McBride led the MA girls, placing fourth in the 1600-meter run and the 400-meter run, respectively. Isabella Arnett was eighth in the 400-meter run.
Knox Wingate led the MA boys with a sixth-place finish in the pole vault.
Montgomery Academy now turns its attention to the Class 4A Section 2 meet at Northridge High next week.