Red Bay falls in regional tournament
VESTAVIA HILLS — For the third season in a row the Red Bay varsity softball team came close to clinching a spot in the state tournament, but could not earn the needed victory to punch its ticket to Montgomery.
The Lady Tigers started the Class 2A North Central Tournament with a pair of wins to reach the finals of the Winners’ Bracket. They dropped that game against Sumiton Christian 8-2 and later lost to Ranburne 8-4 in an elimination game during the Losers’ Bracket finals with a chance to earn a trip to state.
In both losses, Red Bay fell behind early and could not rally. Against Sumiton Christian the Lady Tiger trailed 2-0 heading into the third inning, but allowed the top-ranked Lady Eagles to score three runs in that inning to pull away for good.
Red Bay cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Whitney Sharp led off the inning with a solo home run. Hannah Sharp singled with two outs in the inning and scored on a double by Monique Dulaney.
Whitney Sharp, Lexy Lindsey and Mariah Horton all singled for the Lady Tigers.
Ranburne scored four runs in the first inning to take control early and added an insurance run in the second inning.
Red Bay looked ready to seize control of the game in the third inning when Kelly Ballard scored on a Whitney Sharp single and the Lady Tigers had runners at first and second with no outs.
Unfortunately, the next two batters could not get the ball out of the infield and two runners were retired heading to third base. Lindsey later scored on a single by Hannah Sharp, but a line out by Dulaney ended the threat, leaving Red Bay trailing 5-2.
Red Bay had another golden opportunity in the fourth when it loaded the bases with no outs, but the runner on third was retired when Lauren Pacetti reached on a fielder’s choice. Two batters later Ballard hit into a double play to end the inning with Red Bay scoring only one run.
Ranburne made a Red Bay rally seem impossible in the bottom of the inning when it scored three more runs to extend its advantage to 8-3.
Pacetti singled in the sixth inning for Red Bay and scored on a double by Whitney Sharp, but that was the most offense the Lady Tigers would come up with for the rest of the game.
Whitney Sharp led the Lady Tigers with a double and two singles while Hannah Sharp and Pacetti each hit a pair of singles. Dulaney, Horton and Ballard hit one single each.
Red Bay 11, Woodland 1
Emily Cox gave up one hit and struck out five to lead the Lady Tigers to a win in the opening game of the tournament.
Dulaney, Cox and Horton were all 2-for-3 at the plate.
Red Bay 8, American Christian 1
Whitney Sharp allowed three hits and struck out four to earn the win for Red Bay as the lady Tigers clinched a berth in the Winners’ Bracket finals.
Cox was 3-for-4 from the plate while Lindsey was 2-for-4.
