OPP TO OXFORD: Lady Bobcats earn first state tournament bid since 2018

Published 11:00 am Saturday, May 13, 2023

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Opp did not allow a single run over three dominating performances at the South Regional in Gulf Shores and earned the top seed for its first state tournament bid in five years.

The Lady Bobcats improved their season record to 35-10 with the three wins. In the opening round, OHS took down Flomaton, 15-0, and then knocked off Thomasville in the semi-finals, 4-0. The team closed out regional play with a 12-0 win against Ashford in the winner’s bracket finals.

Game 1: Opp 15, Flomaton 0
Reese Cauley was 2-for- 2 with a single, double, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Jaidyn Ivey also went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two RBIs, and scored two runs. Caroline Courson finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Courson also threw a three-inning perfect game and struck out six of the nine batters she faced.

Game 2: Opp 4, Thomasville 0
Amaya Womack had a 1-for-2 showing with a single and two runs scored. Taylor Adams went 1-for- 3 with an inside-the-park home run, and Cauley was 1-for-3 with a single and two RBIs. Cauley threw a complete-game shutout and allowed only two hits with 14 strikeouts.

Game 3: Opp 12, Ashford 0
Bradleigh Lanier finished 2-for-3 with a single, triple, two RBIs, and a run scored. Courson was also 2-for-3 with two singles, an RBI, and a run scored, while Womack went 2-for- 4 with a single, double, and two runs scored. Cauley had a 2-for-5 outing with two singles and threw a complete-game no-hitter with 11 strikeouts. She had a perfect seventh inning and struck out the side on nine pitches.

The Bobcats will travel to Choccolocco Park in Oxford for the double-elimination state tournament Wednesday, May 17, and Thursday, May 18. Opp will face Piedmont, the second seed from the East, in the opening round Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. on Field 4.

Other teams joining Opp in the state tournament field include Ashford (South second seed), Beulah (Central top seed), Danville (North top seed), Mars Hill Bible (North second seed), Piedmont (East second seed), Plainview (East top seed), and Saint James (Central second seed).

In 1A South Regional action, Red Level finished with three wins in Gulf Shores and finished in third place. The Lady Tigers battled back from a 7-1 opening-round loss to Leroy and won three straight elimination games: 11-7 over Sweet Water, 10-0 against Millry, and 4-1 over Kinston. RLS fell short to Brantley in the loser’s bracket finals, 6-0, and ended the season with a 19-13 overall record.

Amaya Williams hit a solo home run against Leroy, and Summer Beverly delivered a three-run blast against Millry. Red Level overcame a 7-1 deficit in the team’s win against Sweet Water. Elizabeth Cross struck out 15 batters in a complete-game win over Kinston.