Plainview captures Cherokee Softball Invitational title

The Plainview Lady Bears went 6-0 over the weekend to win the Cherokee Softball Invitational, capped off by a 12-2 victory in five innings over Sand Rock in the tournament championship game. Photo by Shannon Fagan.

CENTRE – The Plainview softball team is making up for lost time.

The Class 3A, No. 3 Lady Bears have dealt with an extended girls basketball season and several rainouts, but they appear to be hitting their stride after their two-day performance in the Cherokee Softball Invitational.
Plainview went a perfect 6-0 over the weekend, including a 12-2 victory in five innings over Class 2A, No. 8 Sand Rock in the tournament championship game on Saturday at the Centre Softball Complex.

“These long days are days we needed,” Plainview coach Jeff Brooks said. “We appreciate the opportunity to play these games. You’ve got to have some endurance, and today it panned out good for us.”

The Lady Bears (13-2-1) were led by their pitching throughout the tournament. In the championship game against Sand Rock (8-7-1), Lily Boswell tossed a two-hitter. She allowed just one earned run with no walks and 12 strikeouts.

“She did an excellent job,” Brooks said of Boswell. “She is very good at hitting her spots and locations. Her curve ball was working tonight, and it worked out real well for us.”

The Lady Bear offense provided more than enough run support for Boswell. Plainview scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, two more in the second, two more in the fourth and ended the game with a five-spot in the bottom of the fifth.

Trailing 5-0 in the top of the fourth, Sand Rock finally began to show a little life. Katelyn St. Clair reached on an error in left to lead off the inning, then Jadyn Foster smacked her third home run of the tournament to cut the Lady Bear lead to 5-2.

After Foster’s homer, Boswell dug in to retire the side and end the Lady Wildcat threat.

“I thought we were going to get a little life about us there, but we just couldn’t overcome them,” Sand Rock coach Josh Bates said. “We made some mistakes when we should’ve gotten outs, but it’s just part of the game. We never did get rolling. Their pitcher did a good job of locating the ball. She did her job and we struggled a little tonight.”

The only other hit Sand Rock had was a bunt single by Maggie Hester in the second. Sammi Parker suffered the loss after working four innings. She gave up two earned runs on six hits with four walks and no strikeouts.

Hannah Regula led the Lady Bears at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a two-run homer in the fourth. She also walked and drove in five runs. Tessa Word went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Elaine Puckett had a two-run double in the fifth. She also walked and was hit by a pitch.

“They’re just a quality team,” Bates said of Plainview. “They did a good job with timely hits, and we struggled to put the ball in play a little bit. They did a good job taking advantage of runners in scoring position, moving runners and making things happen.”

Both coaches are hoping the weekend’s experience propels them the rest of the season.

“It’s a nice tournament, a competitive tournament,” Brooks said. “Hopefully we can take this momentum and go the rest of the year with it.”

“We always want to be in a championship game any chance we get,” Bates said. “We played some quality teams all weekend, and Plainview’s a really good team. We were excited to get to face them and get to see their pitching and their caliber of a team, which will help us in the long run. I was proud of our girls for fighting and working today to be in that spot at the end.”

Saturday’s Tournament Scores
Fyffe 9, Cherokee County 8
Plainview 14, Cedar Bluff 0
Spring Garden 7, Ohatchee 6
Sand Rock 8, Falkville 7
Jacksonville 12, Gaylesville 2
Geraldine 14, Brewer 3

Saturday’s Elimination Bracket Scores
Falkville 5, Brewer 1
Jacksonville 4, Cherokee County 1
Fyffe 7, Cedar Bluff 6
Ohatchee 10, Gaylesville 6
Plainview 9, Falkville 0
Spring Garden 10, Jacksonville 0
Fyffe 10, Geraldine 5
Sand Rock 11, Ohatchee 1
Plainview 4, Spring Garden 1
Sand Rock 5, Fyffe 1
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Plainview 12, Sand Rock 2

Sand Rock’s Jadyn Foster flings a pitch to a batter during the Cherokee Softball Invitational on Saturday. Photo by Shannon Fagan.
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print