Staff Reports

OXFORD – After three close battles went against the Cherokee County Lady Warriors earlier this softball season, Sand Rock finally defeated the Lady Warriors 3-2 on Saturday to win the Lady Tiger Classic at Oxford Lake on Saturday.

Maggie Hester led the Lady Wildcats (24-13-1) by going 2-for-2, with a home run, a double, two runs and a RBI. She gave Sand Rock a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with her solo home run.

It remained 1-0 Sand Rock until the top of the fifth when the Lady Warriors (18-11) scored a pair of runs to take a 2-1 advantage. Sand Rock scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the final.

Katelyn St. Clair went 1-for-3 with a run and a RBI for the Lady Wildcats. Jadyn Foster and EllaGrace Hood also both went 1-for-3. Maggie Tinsley tallied a RBI.

Abby Lea doubled and drove in both Lady Warrior runs. Carson Coley contributed a hit and scored a run. Alana Loyd had a hit and a walk. Karlee Perry and Reachel Russell both finished 1-for-3 at the plate for Cherokee County.

Hood earned the win after working two hitless innings. She finished with three strikeouts. Foster tossed five innings and gave up two earned runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Loyd suffered the loss after working six innings. She gave up three earned runs on five hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts.

Sand Rock also defeated Ragland 9-3, Woodland 4-1 and Ranburne 11-1 on Saturday to reach the championship game.

Cherokee County’s path to the tournament championship on Saturday included wins over Randolph County (6-0), White Plains (5-1) and Horseshoe Bend (7-0).