Phil Campbell wins sectional tourney
By Staff
Bart Moss, Franklin County Times
PHIL CAMPBELL – The Phil Campbell Bobcat softball team breezed through to the finals of the 2A, Section 16 softball tournament with easy wins over Cherokee and Red Bay.
Then they were forced to sit and wait. The Bobcats had to wait on the elimination game between Red Bay and Mars Hill.
After dispatching Cherokee, Mars Hill carried their momentum to a victory over Red Bay ending the Tigers season.
In the double elimination tournament Phil Campbell knew they had an insurance policy with a game to give the Mars Hill Panthers.
Bobcat coach Greg Winstead didn't want to cash that policy in, however.
"We were in a dangerous spot," said Winstead. "We had been sitting and waiting for a while and Mars Hill built more and more momentum with each win through the loser's bracket. I was concerned about our state of mind going into the game."
That concern was well founded early on when the Panthers were able to get runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the first inning. Bobcat pitcher, Melissa Russell, did her team a huge favor striking out the next two Mars Hill batters to end the inning.
"That was huge for us," said Winstead. "That seemed to take all that building momentum and switch it back to our side."
It would be short lived, however. In the top of the third inning, Russell walked the leadoff batter, Torri Orr. The next batter, McKenna Wright, bunted the ball moving Orr to second. A double-steal landed Wright and Orr on second and third base with no outs. Ashley Astencio laid down a sacrifice bunt scoring Wright giving the Panthers the 1-0 lead. Russell struck out the next batter and Amber Ashley, who was courtesy running for Astencio, was called out for leaving second base while the pitcher was in her throwing motion.
This was a huge break for the Bobcats. Not only was it out number two it likely saved a run.
On the next pitch Katie Hill ripped a single to center field scoring Orr from third. Mars Hill led 2-0 at the end of the top of the third inning.
The Bobcats responded in the bottom of the third.
Alexis Maggerise got a base hit moving Carrie Fell to second base.
Fell had drawn a base on balls to lead off the inning. Fell then stole third base and Maggerise moved up to second base.
Caitlin Stancil hit a sacrifice fly ball deep into the outfield allowing Fell to score and moving Maggerise to third. The next batter, Shayla Pace, singled to right field scoring Maggerise. Erica Halcomb singled to move Pace over to third base but the Bobcats were unable to get more runs leaving the game tied 2-2 at the end of the third inning.
Phil Campbell took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Chasity Morgan reached on a base hit and stole second base. Fell hit a single but Morgan's speed allowed her to score from second base giving Phil Campbell a 3-2 lead.
Mars Hill tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning when Wright scored her second run of the game for the Panthers.
With game still tied going into the bottom of the seventh inning Phil Campbell quickly put them into position to win the game. Melissa Russell led off the inning by reaching first base on a throwing error. The Bobcats substituted Tiffany Miller as a courtesy runner for Russell to get more speed on the base path. For the second time in the game, Maggerise came through with a hit to move Miller to second base. With runners on first and second base, Caitlin Stancil laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Miller to third. However, the second throwing error of the inning went over the first basemen's head allowing Miller to score and give the Bobcats the win.
"Caitlin laid down a perfect bunt," said Winstead. "We knew with Tiffany's speed on second base we could get her to third. The bad throw came at just the right time."
Bay to help seal the win.
Phil Campbell will host the first round of the playoffs next Tuesday. It will be a double elimination format. The Bobcats will host the runner-up of 2A, Section 15 which consists of West Morgan, Tanner and Hatton.
