FLORENCE, Ala. – West Point returned to Coffee O’Neal Park in Florence early Thursday morning to continue its run through the North Regional Tournament and got started with an elimination game against Russellville. The Lady Tigers took an early lead in the opening inning and the Lady Warriors were able to get some runs on the board later in the game, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Russellville and West Point’s season ended with an 8-4 loss to the Lady Tigers.
A pair of homeruns put the Lady Tigers in front 3-0 in the top of the first and they were able to string more hits together in the top half of the second and make it a 5-0 game. West Point was able to cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Bethany Minck ripped a 2-run single into left field to plate a pair of runs and make it 5-2 going into the third.
However, Russellville got both runs back in its half of the third to maintain a 7-2 lead going into the fourth inning. The Lady Tigers added another run to their lead in the top of the fourth to make it 8-2 and the Lady Warriors went down in order in the bottom half of the inning. After a scoreless fifth inning, West Point was able to put some runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Carlie Wilkins led off the inning with a single and Sydney Sellers blasted a 2-run homer over the left field fence to make it an 8-4 game going into the seventh.
The Lady Warriors went back to the plate trailing by four and down to their final three outs but weren’t able to chip away at the lead anymore and Russellville held on to defeat West Point 8-4.
Sellers (two RBIs), Bethany Minck (two RBIs), Ella Minck and Wilkins posted the only four hits for the Lady Warriors in the loss. West Point’s impressive 2021 campaign ends with another county championship, an area title and a record of 24-20-2.
With several impact players set to return next spring, the Lady Warriors will no doubt be back in the postseason hunt in 2022.
Copyright 2021 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
