CULLMAN, Ala. – After defeating Randolph County 3-2 to advance to their first ever State Tournament, head coach Kim Lewis and the Hanceville Bulldogs’ matchup is set. In round one, they’ll face T.R. Miller from Brewton, AL, who qualified out of the south region.
All tournament games will take place at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL, but the Bulldogs’ opening game will be played Thursday, May 21 at 9 a.m.
THE OPPONENT
The Tigers currently sit just under a .500 record (19-20), and qualified for the State Tournament with a 6-3 win over Thomasville to come out of the 3A, south’s elimination bracket. Against eventual region champion Wicksburg in the semifinals, T.R. Miller fell 13-0 and only produced four hits.
Before that loss, the Lady Tigers were riding a five game win streak where they scored almost eleven points per game on average. Leading the offensive attack is shortstop and leadoff bat Ashlee Reeves, who, over the last five games, has hit .478 (11-23) with three doubles, a triple and brought in five runs.
KEYS TO THE GAME
The Lady Bulldogs possess a strong balance of defense, led by pitcher KK Butler, and offense, pushed by the bats of Kynzlee Farr and Isabella Spinks. Where they truly excel, however, is in their base running.
While they still have an arsenal of base running weapons (Farr, Butler, Peyton Mariano and more), Hanceville will be without their most dynamic runner, Bentley Childers, after she suffered an ACL injury late in the Region Championship on Thursday, Lewis told the Tribune. Without Childers, by far their most effective bunter as well, the second base spot in the infield will also need filling.
As long as the Bulldogs can maintain their energy, defensive discipline and chaotic but effective nature on the base paths, however, they’ll be in prime shape to make a run in the 3A bracket.
