Featured image: Pictured L to R, back row: Lydia West, Geraldine, Jaden Dismuke, Crossville, Emily Ellis, Fort Payne, Hannah Buffington, Fort Payne Middle row: Lilly Rowell, Geraldine, Livia Cowart, Fyffe, Bella Pettis, Fyffe, Haley Lisenbee, Sand Rock Bottom row: Lily Boswell, Plainview, Mia Tidmore, Plainview Not pictured: Riley Jones, Crossville
By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
CULLMAN, Ala.—The Xplosion 04, an ages 12 and under all star softball team, based out of Crossville, traveled to Cullman this past weekend to play in the USSSA 12U State Tournament. Twenty-four other teams took part in the tournament.
The Xplosion 04 won their first five straight games. In their sixth game of the series, they faced the Kraze 04 team, losing 4 - 0.
The Xplosion 04 team then faced the Patriots in the semifinals game. The Crossville team was down 2 - 1, but after a rain delay, came back to win 6 - 5.
The girls would get a rematch with Kraze 04 in the Championship game. The game was called due to rain in the first inning. Kraze 04 had the upperhand due to beating the team earlier in the series, 4-0 and would not schedule a makeup game. Due to USSSA rules, the tournament director can declare a tie. The Xplosion place first in the tournament by default and will travel to the World Series held down in Gulf Shores, on July 17 thru 24.
Xplosion 04 scored a total of 64 runs and only allowed 22 during last weekend’s tournament.
The Coaches of the Xplosion 04 weighed in on their team:
“The thing I was most impressed with was the effort of the girls in the heat and the way we hit the ball. If I understood the bookkeeper, we scored 64 runs in the tournament. The next closest team scored 36. We went there knowing if we hit the ball, we would do well and we crushed the ball all weekend,” said Coach Todd Dismuke.
“Our pitchers played great. They made big pitches in stressful situations to hold our opponents to only a few runs throughout the entire tournament. The pitchers had several strikeouts, but understand that their overall success was a team effort and was not possible without the quality plays from the defense,” said Coach Paul Ellis.
“This weekend these girls have shown everyone what it was like to be the best softball player you could be. Through the heat and the humidity, they had their mental game where it needed be. Every proper fundamental and good mechanic was exemplified by this team and they showed up and showed out, only allowing 22 runs in 8 games! This defense was flawless! Every girl stepped up and although each individual may have been successful in their own they all came together as a team. The character of these girls is amazing! Just goes to show that hard work and determination gets the results that you want,“ said Coach Keith Pettis on the victory.
Southern Torch wishes Xplosion 04 the best of luck and we will continue to follow them as they play in Gulf Shores for the World Series.
