The softball program has never been afraid to schedule tough teams and the lineup of opponents at the Lions Classic Softball Tournament was no exception. ACA (1-2) took on Class 7A Prattville, 7A Smiths Station, and the defending 3A state champs, Opp. The Eagles won one of three as they defeated Smiths Station in an eight inning thriller.
In the opener, ACA was over powered by the Prattville pitching as they were held hitless and struck out ten times in four innings. Adalee Lincoln, Emma Redmon, and Peri Lane Holley made their varsity debuts in the game. In the last game of the weekend, Alabama Christian once again faced dominant pitching as thirteen batters struck out over five innings. The highlight of the game was a two-run bomb by Maddie Traywick in the fifth for ACA’s only runs. Traywick finished with two hits as Izzy Warrick and Adalee Lincoln collected the other two hits.
The middle game of the tournament was by far the most entertaining as both teams overcame multi-run deficits during the contest. Smiths Station scored one in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, but the Eagles got the run back in the bottom half. Izzy Warrick led off with a single to right and advanced to second on a Lily Sconyers fielder’s choice. Adalee Lincoln drove her in with a single to center to tie the game. The Panthers added a run in the second to lead 2-1 after two.
In the third, ACA took its first lead of the game. Izzy Warrick and Lily Sconyers both reached to start the frame. Maddie Traywick singled Warrick in and a ground out from Adalee Lincoln scored Sconyers for the 3-2 lead. Traywick had her first three-up, three-down inning in the fourth to get the offense back at the plate. The bats responded as Warrick drove in Bentley Lamberth on a double to center and Sconyers knocked in Ann Marie Lincoln and Warrick on a single to right for a 6-2 lead. The Panthers answered and cut the lead in half with two runs in the fifth to make the score 6-4. Neither team scored in the sixth and Smiths Station needed two in the seventh to keep the game alive. After the first two batters were retired, ACA gave up two runs to force extra innings.
Back to back doubles to start the eighth by the Panthers made the score 8-6 in favor of Smiths Station and a third run scored on a passed ball for a 9-6 lead. ACA needed three to keep playing and four to win. With one out, Laura Matthews delivered a pinch-hit single to cut the lead to two runs. A fielder’s choice from Izzy Warrick followed and the Panthers were feeling good with a two run lead with two outs in the frame. Lily Sconyers worked a walk to put runners on first and second. Maddie Traywick came up clutch as she whistled a double to center which scored both runners and tied the game, 9-9. Ann Marie Lincoln came in to courtesy run for Traywick as she smartly advanced to third on the play. On a 2-0 count, Adalee Lincoln drove her sister in with a single to left for the game winner.
The offense put together 15 hits in the game and were led by Bentley Lamberth who was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Adalee Lincoln who went 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Four players delivered two hits as Lily Sconyers went 2 for 4 with two runs driven in and two runs scored while Sam Burgess finished 2 for 4. Izzy Warrick was 2 for 5 with a double, four runs scored, and an RBI. Maddie Traywick went 2 for 5 with a double and three runs driven in and pitched all eight innings to earn the win in the circle.
Alabama Christian hosts PCA in its next game on Tuesday, February 18th.