“As a team this year, we set goals that we wanted to attain,” Munford head coach Darrell Smith said. “We wanted to win at least 20 games and give our seniors over 80 wins for their 9-12 grade career at Munford. Another goal we had was to be area champs. We also set a goal to find a way to get in the playoffs and make that regional tournament. We’ve accomplished these goals, but now our final goal is to find a way to get to that championship weekend in Montgomery in a few weeks.”
The Lions got the tournament started with a 3-2 win over archrival Lincoln.
Freshman Kierra Groce earned the win from the circle.
Senior Jessica Butterworth went 3-for-4 from the plate.
Tashayla Turner, Blakely Harrell and Kelsey Gallahar all went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Smith praised Lincoln’s first year head coach Jessica Dorough.
“Coach Dorough had Lincoln ready to play and we just found away to pull out a win,” he said.”
The Lady Lions defeated Childersburg 3-0 in the second game.
Savanna Macoy got the win after pitching three innings to hold Childersburg scoreless.
Groce, Butterworth, Macoy, Turner and Gallahar recorded two hits apiece.
Munford fought their way back from a run deficit to defeat St.Clair County 13-11 in the championship game.
The Lady Lions came out lifeless to start the championship game after waiting a couple hours to play.
The Lady Saints of St. Clair County led by as many as nine runs before the fifth inning.
“We knew they had to beat us twice,” Smith said. “We came out a little flat and fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. Before we knew it, we were down 9-0 going into the fifth inning. We finally got our bats going and the whole lineup started being patient and hitting the ball hard.”
Munford scored 13 runs in two innings to take a 13-11 lead. The Lady Lions were able to do something they hadn’t done all night in the seventh inning — get outs. Defensive plays by Haley Mitchell, Butterworth and Turner sealed the victory.
Smith was pleased with the pitcher that helped Munford earn the victory.
“Megan Hendrix, a ninth grader that began the year as the B- team pitcher, she did well coming in and having to deal with the pressure of a championship game,” Smith said. Hogan came in relief in the middle innings. Groce earned the win as she shut down St.Clair in the sixth and seventh innings.
Turner earned MVP honors for the tournament. The senior sluggers recorded eight hits and nine RBI’s for the Lady Lions.
“ I have seen Tashayla hit a lot of home runs, but the one she hit in the sixth inning on Monday was probably the hardest hit ball I have ever seen,” Smith said. “Tashayla is probably one of the best hitters in the state of Alabama this year. She has a .405 batting average, 10 home runs and an on-base percentage above .650. She has 38 RBIs in 32 games. She is the complete package with her hitting and fielding. She’s one you will be watching at the next level.”
