HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Hanceville Bulldogs hosted Locust Fork in the Class 3A, Area 12 title game on Monday night. In their prior matchup in the winner’s bracket semifinals, the Bulldogs prevailed 2-0. With a stellar all around game from Isabella Spinks and a four inning no-hit relief frame from KK Butler, the Bulldogs secured their first ever area championship, taking the Hornets down 6-1.
After taking over a Lady Bulldog program that went 15-19-1 in 2025 and starting off the ’26 season 2-8-1, head coach Kim Lewis and Hanceville have hit their stride, and will take momentum into regionals.
“There’s definitely been a lot of growth, I’d venture to say I was blessed with some very talented girls when I arrived, so I can’t take much credit for that. However, we have been working on character and work ethic, which to me goes so much further than an athlete’s abilities. So trying to change that culture here has been very challenging, but I feel like we made some leeway and have begun developing good young ladies with good hearts and work ethic,” Lewis said after the victory.
Starting the game for Hanceville was Isabella Spinks, who finished allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out six Hornets in four innings. For Locust Fork, Preslie Ingram got the start and gave up eight hits and six earned runs but struck out seven Bulldogs.
The Hornets opened scoring quickly, getting two runners on by way of walks after the first out. To bring one of those runners home, Dallas Horn drilled a ball to center field to put the Hornets up 1-0.
Hanceville wasted no time striking back, as Kynzlee Farr led the Bulldogs off in the bottom of the first with a double to right, followed by Bentley Childers knocking in a single. With runners on the corners, KK Butler got on first safely on a grounder to left, and an errant throw allowed Farr to tie it at one. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Laila Lewis hit a blooper to center that cleared the bases, making it 3-1 Hanceville.
After a few back and forth defensive frames, Hanceville built on their lead in the bottom of the third. Childers led the inning off with a bunt single, then Spinks added two to the scoreboard with one swing, smacking a ball over the center field wall to make it 5-1 Bulldogs.
In the bottom of the fifth, Childers got on base again with a bunt single, then made it home on an errant throw during a KK Butler pop out, stretching Hanceville’s lead to 6-1.
Sealing the win in the top of the seventh, Butler saw and struck out three straight Hornet batters to spark the celebration.
“I tell them ‘when you cross that fence, onto this field, you’re family’ we’ve really tried to create a family atmosphere between the girls. They know this is where you come to escape the world, you get on that field and all your problems go away,” Lewis said on her tight-knit group.
Leading the Bulldogs at the plate was Childers, who went 2-3 and scored three runs. Spinks and Childers both drove in two runs each, with Spinks’ home run standing as the offensive highlight of the game.
The Bulldogs will return to action next Wednesday at Regionals in Albertville, their opponent is TBD.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Maggie Nail, Holly Pond
Clara Spitzer, Holly Pond
Riley Green, Pennington
Kinsley Culwell, Pennington
Tori Vines, Vinemont
Haley Millwood, Vinemont
Arleigh Thomason, Vinemont
Braylee Calloway, Locust Fork
Kearstin Wilson, Locust Fork
Shanna Johnson, Locust Fork
Annie Aguirre, Locust Fork
Piper Butts, Hanceville
Isabella Spinks, Hanceville
Kynzlee Farr, Hanceville
KK Butler, Hanceville
Karrigan Pipkin, Hanceville
OFFENSIVE MVP: Bentley Childers, Hanceville
DEFENSIVE MVP: KK Butler, Hanceville
