Diamond darlings

By Staff
City softball team places at state tourney
Kim West
JASPER – The 8-and-under Russellville All-Stars recently capped a successful showing at the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association state softball tournament with a fifth-place finish among 12 teams.
Russellville, which beat Winfield 28-6 and 16-7 in two games prior to the tournament, defeated Jasper 6-1 and Albertville 9-5, while falling to Piedmont 15-1 and Talladega 12-5 at Memorial Park.
"There were only four teams left in the tournament, and we lost to probably the best two teams in the tournament," Russellville coach Ralph Parrish said. "Our team really showed a lot of heart. After the first game, I saw a team that didn't look that good in the first game, come together and play very well."
Parrish said he appreciated the support from the parents and credited the players for their hard work.
"All of the players played well, and we were led in hitting by Cortny Williams, Brianna Wood, Jaylen Warren, Rebecca Parrish and Sydney Burcham," Parrish said. "Our defensive leaders were Haley Aycock, Caroline Jackson, Ashton Moore, Brooklynn Bogus.
"Emma Claire Bragwell, Jasmine Galloway and Cady Studdard did a great job baserunning for us."
The team was comprised of players from the four Russellville city league teams, the Pink Panthers, first-place Backstreet Girls, Five Star Pizza and the Knockouts, which finished as league runners-up.