Leroy softball off to good start at state and Baggett likes Bears’ chances despite first loss
Leroy’s K.K. Guy delivers a pitch during the Bears’ 11-1 romp over Hackleburg in the opener of the Class 1A state softball tournament in Oxford on Tuesday. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
Leroy coach Tabitha Baggett greets her players as they come off the field on defense during an 11-1 win over Hackleburg Tuesday in Oxford. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
OXFORD, Ala. — Leroy has a history of falling into the frying pan right away in the state softball tournament but on Tuesday the No. 3-ranked Bears whacked Hackleburg upside the head with it, hot grease and all, and might be poised to make some new history.
Mariah Barnes and Gracie Mitchell hit inside-the-park home runs and K.K. Guy twirled a four-hitter as Leroy routed the Panthers 11-1 at Choccolocco Park, marking only the second time the Bears have won a state tournament opener and easily their most convincing victory out of the starting gate.
“A lot of times, we aren’t that sharp in the first game,” said Leroy coach Tabitha Baggett, who has taken the Bears (25-17) to the state tournament eight times. “I told them not to worry about winning or losing, just play your game. Hopefully, it’s a good omen because we usually start slowly. This gives me a good feeling.”
Leroy later escaped bases-loaded threats in the seventh and eighth innings to beat Spring Garden 4-1, then lost to No. 1-ranked Skyline 4-2 to tumble into the losers bracket.
The Bears play either Waterloo or Hackleburg at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, then if they win will likely have to beat Skyline twice at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to win the school’s first softball Blue Map.
With the elimination of No. 2-ranked Brantley, her team’s longtime nemesis, Baggett remains optimistic of returning to the championship round for the second time in two years.
“I still feel good about it,” she said. “Every game at this point is tough. We’re prepared if we do what we’re supposed to do and if we do, we have a decent shot at getting to the finals again.”
Guy threw 202 pitches, 146 for strikes, in her two wins Tuesday while McKenzie Smith threw 66 strikes on 100 pitches.
Leroy 11,
Hackleburg 1
The Bears were in control from the first pitch, leading 3-0 after an inning, adding four runs in the fifth for a 10-1 lead and turning two double plays to keep the Panthers from challenging.
Barnes, the leadoff hitter, hit her two-run inside-the-park homer to right field in the fourth and Mitchell, the No. 2 batter in the order, hit hers to left field in the seventh.
“Those were legit,” Baggett said. “With this deep of a field, you’re going to have a problem with our one and two batters if the ball gets past you because they can run.”
Leroy, which reached the Class 1A championship round for the first time last year only to lose to Brantley, normally has to fight its way through the losers bracket and exhaust its pitching in the process. But Baggett said she feels good about her depth in the circle with Guy (16-7) and Smith (8-6).
“K.K. threw really, really well,” Baggett said. “She did a nice job hitting her spots and kept them off balance. K.K. and McKenzie are ready to go and we’ve got a couple more. I feel confident they can get the job done.”
Baggett also praised No. 9 hitter Ellie Reed, who had two hits and scored two runs.
“She came up big,” Baggett said. “She’s got a skill set in the nine hole and is getting on base for our leadoff and No. 2 hitters.”
Mitchell had three hits and three RBIs, Brookelyn Keith had three hits and an RBI and Hannah Walters two hits and two RBIs for the Bears, who had 14 hits.
Leroy 4,
Spring Garden 1
