OXFORD, Ala. – After securing their first ever region title, the Hanceville Bulldogs traveled to Oxford’s Choccolocco Park on Thursday to play in their first State Tournament. The Bulldogs were missing one of their most dynamic players after Bentley Childers suffered a season ending ACL tear, but they started strong with a first round win over T.R. Miller. Despite all around great pitching, Hanceville’s lack of offensive output, plus self-inflicted errors, lead to two losses that ended the Bulldogs’ season.
Round One – Hanceville 1, T.R. Miller 0: In a game that went against expectations in terms of offensive output from both teams, the Lady Bulldogs needed just one score to get past the Tigers.
The defining play came in the bottom of the third after Kynzlee Farr knocked a two-out triple to deep center. On the first pitch she saw, Peyton Mariano snuck a grounder through the infield, sending Farr home and making it 1-0, Hanceville.
For most teams, one score would be insufficient run support, but with KK Butler on the mound, the Bulldogs were just fine. Still riding a hot streak from regionals, Butler was ice cold, and allowed just two hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out five Tigers.
Round Two – Colbert County 8, Hanceville 0: In round two, a Hanceville offense needing to find its legs again ran into a defensive buzzsaw. Colbert County, the number one ranked 3A team, features one of the top pitchers in the state in UNA-commit Makayli Davis.
Davis was nearly un-hittable, only giving up one hit in an incredible 20 strikeout complete game shutout.
On the mound for Hanceville in game two, Isabella Spinks flashed in moments and only gave up one earned run while striking out seven batters. On top of a lack of offense, eight total defensive errors allowed the other seven runs to score, further hurting the Bulldogs.
Elimination Bracket Round Two – Madison Academy 4, Hanceville 0: The Lady Bulldogs’ third game of the day was an old school pitcher’s duel. Butler took the mound again for Hanceville, completing the game with just three hits allowed and zero earned runs while striking out three.
Two scores came early, with an infield error allowing the Mustangs’ Adelaine Pressley to score, then another error in the third let Evie Stephenson touch home on a fly ball. In the final frame, the other two came on yet another error, with a dropped grounder allowing one, then an errant throw allowing the final runner to cross.
Pitching a gem for Madison Academy, Cataryna Schreiber threw a complete shutout, only giving up two hits while striking out 12.
Once again, Hanceville’s lack of offense was killer, and the Bulldogs’ historic season that saw them win their area and come out of regionals for the first time in school history, came to an end.
In Kim Lewis’ first year at the helm, Hanceville went 22-18-1 and should return underclassmen Kynzlee Farr, Peyton Mariano, KK Butler and Laila Lewis along with juniors Isabella Spinks and Piper Butts. The future of Hanceville softball has never been brighter.
