Story By DRUW GIAMALVA
The Boaz Lady Pirates softball team is headed to the State Touranment for the first time in 21 years. “We are feeling good, we have hit a stretch for the past month where we have been playing really good softball,” said Chad Hall, head coach of Boaz softball. The Lady Pirates opened up regional play on the wrong foot, as they fell to the Arab Knights 10-8, but Boaz would complete a four-game win streak over two days with wins over Priceville, Russellville, Ardmore and Lawrence County to make it to the State Tournament.
“We chip back, and we find a way to get back into the ballgame. The girls are excited about getting to play in the last tournament of the season. It is really exciting for our girls, our school and our community to be able to do this.”
Boaz 6 Priceville 0
After losing their opening matchup to Arab, the Lady Pirates bounced back with a shutout 6-0 win over Priceville. On the mound, Bailey Lusk pitched a complete shutout game. In seven innings, Lusk allowed only four hits, while also producing seven strikeouts. On offense, Boaz produced nine hits for six runs. Leading the way was leadoff hitter Ava Rhoden, who finished with three hits and two runs. Peyton Hall and Lusk would also have two hits. Lexie Bennett and Addison Bowlin would also come up with a hit.
Boaz 7 Russellville 6
With their season on the line, the Lady Pirates would walk off Russellville for a close 7-6 victory. Being down 6-4 in the final inning, Boaz would put three runs on the board to keep their season alive. The starter on the mound would be Hall, who struck out three batters in two innings. The winning pitcher would go to Lusk, who closed out the final four innings. Lusk would also lead the offense, as she finished 3-4 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs. Addison Simpson would make a big impact on offense, as she finished 2-4 with two RBIs. Braelyn Burke and Addison Harden would also finish with a hit.
Boaz 4 Ardmore 0
The Lady Pirates would produce another shutout victory, as they defeated Ardmore 4-0. The shutout was produced by Hall, who had her second straight start. In seven innings, Hall allowed just four hits and one walk. Hall also produced three strikeouts. On offense, the Boaz offense had multiple players with one or more hits. Lusk, Bennett and Simpson all finished with two hits, while Rhoden and Burke had one hit.
Boaz 6 Lawrence County 5
In their fourth game in two days, Boaz would advance to the State Tournament with a 6-5 win in extra innings. Starting on the mound was Maples, who pitched a complete game. In eight innings, Maples gave up five hits and three earned runs, while also producing three strikeouts. The offense was led by Rhoden, who went 4-5 with two runs and an RBI. Maples and Hardin would finish with two hits, while Lusk, Burke and Jaylee Camper would all produce a hit.
With winning the elimination bracket of the North Region, the No. 2 North qualifier Lady Pirates will face off against the No. 1 East qualifier Moody Blue Devils on May 12 at Chocclocco Park in Oxford at 9 a.m. The state tournament will feature a double-elimination format.
“We are going to have to be confident going in. We are still a young group. We start three ninth graders, an eighth grader and a tenth grader. We still start a bunch of young kids. We just have to make sure we stay confident in our abilities and go out there execute our game plan. We just have to play as a team,” Hall concluded.
