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Abby Walker takes a big swing.

Bella Worley makes a catch in left field.

Tammi Hilson tracks down a ball in left field.

Sissy Martin goes down to make a play on a ground ball to second base.

Rae Rae Coleman hustles into second base for a double.

Bella Worley slides into third.

Ava Bailey winds up for the pitch.

The Pleasant Home Lady Eagles move into the final day of the AHSAA Class 1A State tournament in Montgomery after picking up big wins in the opening rounds of the tournament.

Pleasant Home knocked off Skyline and then took on last year’s Class 2A state champions, Sumiton Christian.

After a lengthy weather delay, the Lady Eagles saddled Sumiton with their first loss of the tournament.

Pleasant Home 8,

Skyline 3

The Lady Eagles started the day strong with an 8-3 victory over Skyline in the opening round of the AHSAA Class 1A state softball tournament in Montgomery.

Sissy Martin drew a one-out walk in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Eagles were unable to move her around.

Ava Bailey got the start in the pitcher’s circle for the Lady Eagles and worked around a leadoff single to keep the game 0-0 heading into the second inning.

After the leadoff hit, Bailey got a ground out and two strikeouts to end the frame.

In the top of the second inning, Bella Worley picked up a one-out walk and then moved to second on single from Taylor McGhee.

Bailey followed with a looping single over second base to load up the bases for the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Eagles then took the lead when Tammi Hilson sent a single into the gap to score Worley.

Hope Gunter followed with a two-RBI single to right field to put the Lady Eagles up 3-0.

In the bottom of the second inning, Bailey picked up two more strikeouts and left Skyline scoreless.

Rae Rae Coleman got the Lady Eagles going in the top of the third inning with two-out double into outfield.

Two batters later, McGhee sent a bloop single over the head of the second baseman that allowed Coleman to come around to score.

Skyline got a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Pleasant Home lead in half.

Pleasant Home responded with to Skyline scoring with a three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Martin and Abby Walker got things started for the Lady Eagles with back-to-back singles.

A single from Coleman then gave Pleasant Home a 5-2 advantage.

With two outs in the inning, McGhee ripped a single into the outfield that scored Walker and Coleman.

In the top of the sixth inning, Martin drove in Hilson with a single to right field to put the Lady Eagles up 8-2.

Skyline tacked on one run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Bailey picked up the win for the Lady Eagles, and struck out 13 batters along the way.

Pleasant Home 6,

Sumiton Christian 5

The Lady Eagles used timely hitting and strong pitching to knock off top-ranked Sumiton Christian 6-5 to advance to the final day of the Class 1A state tournament.

Before the rain set in, both pitchers were wheeling and dealing to start the game.

The Lady Eagles’ first two batters struck out to start the contest before a single from Walker gave Pleasant Home a runner.

On the pitcher’s circle for the Lady Eagles, Bailey worked through a couple of hits to keep the game scoreless after one inning of play.

Sumiton Christian got a bunt single to start the contest and then the runner quickly stole second.

The next batter dropped a bunt that Bulger fielded halfway down the third base line.

With no play on the runner going to first, Bulger faked the throw and then wheeled around and fired a shot to third base.

The throw caught the Sumiton Christian runner off guard so she made a break for the plate.

Walker fielded the throw from Bulger and then whipped it to Gunter at the plate for the first out of the inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, Bailey struck out the side as the score remained 0-0.

The Lady Eagles got a two-out single from Gunter in the top of the third inning, but weren’t able to move her any further.

Just as the Lady Eagles were set to take the field in the bottom of the third inning, a bolt of lighting struck out behind the field and forced a mandatory 30-minute delay.

After a lengthy weather delay, Sumiton Christian grabbed a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Lady Eagles bounced back with four runs to knot the game at 4-4.

Bella Worley drove in a run with a single down the first base line and then a bases loaded walk to McGhee tied the game.

The Lady Eagles grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth inning on a single from Walker.

Sumiton Christian rallied for a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game going into the final frame.

The Lady Eagles loaded up the bases in the top of the seventh inning and then a two-out single from Martin plated Bess Worley for the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Eagles retired the side in order to pick up the win.

“These girls just have guts,” Pleasant Home head coach Jessica Gibson said. “They have been playing out of their minds lately. We have to be ready to bring out ‘A’ game tomorrow against Brantley, because we know they are going to.”

With the win, the Lady Eagles will play Brantley today at 10:30 a.m.

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