South Team Ties One, Wins One In All-Star Softball
MONTGOMERY – The South All-Stars continued to close the gap in the all-time series against their North counterparts Tuesday night in the 18th annual All-Star Sports Week North-South softball all-star competition.
After a 3-3 tie in the first game at Lagoon Park, the South squad posted a 4-1 victory in the nightcap after splitting with the North last year. The North leads the series 22-9-3.
South 3, North 3
In the opener, it was the North that rallied to avoid defeat. Facing a 3-0 deficit, the North team scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to rally for a 3-3 tie. The South committed two errors in the sixth to aid the comeback bid.
Athens Bible standout Megan Davidson delivered a two-out single that scored two runs to tie the game for the North. She was one of only three North players to record a hit in the opener.
On the mound, Lexington’s Jessie Butler, Central-Florence’s Ashley Irons and Hartselle’s Jada Hayes contributed with eventual North MVP Maddie Moore of Winfield.
South starter Caitlyn Perry of Alabama Christian pitched three hitless innings and struck out five. Katelyn Wilson of Mary Montgomery hurled two scoreless innings, and Jeff Davis’ Kaylin Finch, who slugged a homer, pitched the last two innings giving up three runs, two unearned.
South 4, North 1
In the second game, the South team used timely hitting to win its ninth game in the series. The North was unable to score until the final inning, plating a single run and leaving runners on base with the tying run at the plate.
South starting pitcher Danielle Clark of Enterprise picked up the victory after hurling four shutout innings. The team scored two runs each in the second and fifth innings to grab a 4-0 lead. Finch was 1-for-2 in the second game to wrap up MVP honors for the South.
The North got its lone run in the bottom of the seventh when Butler singled to right center to drive in Ider’s Courtney Blevins. The North squad, however, would not score again.
Hartselle’s Taylor Wascavage added a hit while Moore was 2-for-2 in the second contest for the North to finish with three hits. The pitcher worked three strong innings in game one and struck out three over the last two innings in game two.