Opp, Straughn still in tournament hunt
Published 1:03 am Saturday, May 10, 2014
GULF SHORES — Straughn and Opp got off to slow starts, but bounced back to split in day one of the Class 3A South Regional on Friday.
The Lady Tigers found themselves in a 5-0 hole during their first game against Slocomb, and went on to lose 8-2, but played a little better in their second game, a 9-4 victory over Cottage Hill.
Opp battled back from a 6-3 deficit, but Geneva hit a walk-off hit to win 7-6 in seven innings during the first game. The Lady Bobcats scored seven runs in the first inning of game two and went on to beat Pike County, 17-2.
Both teams are still in the mix, but in the loser’s bracket.
SHS plays T.R. Miller, and Opp plays Slocomb today starting at 11 a.m.
Lady Tigers coach Kenny Skipper said the girls did “somewhat” better in the second game.
“We kind of lacked a little focus,” Skipper said. “We did some good things from time to time. We struggled in this game.”
Skipper said the pitch count was getting behind and that the team played a little lethargic.
Straughn’s Kristen Peavy, Paige Taylor and Brentley Armstrong went 2-for-4 each; and Katelyn Kinsaul went 1-for-3 in their win over Cottage Hill.
Opp scored seven runs in the first, and five runs each in the fourth and fifth innings over PCHS.
“We didn’t start like we wanted to,” OHS coach Jimmy Reeves said. “Maybe we can finish. Geneva played a really good game. We didn’t play our game, and it cost us. We don’t need to get into a scoring contest.”
It’s going to take a lot of heart from the Lady Bobcats today like they showed during the game against Geneva in order for them to be successful, Reeves said.
Slocomb 8, Straughn 2
Slocomb blasted out to a 5-1 lead after the first inning, and Straughn couldn’t recover despite loading the bases late in the game with no run production.
Skipper said there were something in the neighborhood of three errors committed in the first inning.
“When you put yourself in a hole like that, and if they’re good teams, then they’ll do a good job at getting ahead,” he said. “We couldn’t catch a break.”
Straughn scored one run in the first and fifth.
Jacie Williamson and Peavy went 3-for-4 each.
Geneva 7, Opp 6
Geneva’s Anslee Finch hit a walk-off single to help lift the Lady Panthers over a late-rallying Opp Lady Bobcats.
GHS got in the game with a five-run third inning to go ahead 6-3.
Opp bounced back with three runs in the top of the seventh to tie it at 6-all. Laiken Free reached on an error, which scored two runs to cut the game to one.
Tori Reisnour then hit an RBI double to bring it to the 6-6 tie.
Kelley Pierce went 2-for-4 to lead OHS. Katie Spurlin went 2-for-3.
Kaylee Raines, Mallory Wise and Finch went 2-for-4 each.