Lady ‘Cats have good run at regional

The Opp Lady Bobcats came up one game short of making the state tournament, but were eliminated in the AHSAA Class 3A South Regional runner-up game to end their season in Gulf Shores.

OPP 14, HOUSTON ACADEMY 6

Picking up in the bottom of the fourth inning, Opp was able to hold off Houston Academy for a 14-6 win to earn a spot in the first 3A state tournament qualifier.

Opp was up 4-3 with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning when Thursday night’s downpour halted the contest.

Braya Hodges continued to pitch for the Lady Bobcats as play resumed on Friday.

Houston Academy was able to tie the game 4-4 before Hodges struck out a batter to end the inning.

Graceanne Spears singled to start the top of the fifth inning and moved to second on bunt from MaKenna McDonnell.

Spears stole third and then Emily Mitchell drew a walk to put runners on first and third.

Payton Brown came in as a courtesy runner for Mitchell a broke for second on a steal attempt.

However, Brown wasn’t really trying to steal as she just wanted to bait a throw from the Houston Academy catcher.

The catcher obliged and when she did Brown stopped dead in tracks to invite the defender to chase her back to first.

When that happened, Spears broke for the plate and came across to score the go-ahead run for the Lady Bobcats.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hodges retired the side in order on a pair of strikeouts and a pop out.

Amaya Womack got things started for the Lady Bobcats with a walk in the top of the sixth inning.

McKinley Hill followed with a double and then a walk to Cassadi Adams loaded the bases for Opp.

Opp seventh grader, Reese Cauley, then unloaded the bases with a three-RBI triple to put the Lady Bobcats on top 8-4.

A few batters later, Spears drove in a run with an RBI.

McDonnell picked up a bing single before a hit from Mitchell loaded the bases and gave Opp a 10-4 lead.

Another Opp seventh grader, Womack, the cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple to put the Lady Bobcats on top 13-4.

Houston Academy added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Hodges launched her second home run of the tournament to put the Lady Bobcats up 14-6.

“It is sort of scary when you get sent home and come back to finish a game,” Opp head coach David McVay said. “You just never know how your girls are going to respond, but I can tell you that responded just like we expected them to. Granted when you are playing so many babies, you never know (Opp has five starters that are seventh or eighth graders). I just got finished telling them they left no doubt. Right off of the bat we got a lead and there was no doubt our mind that it was going to be done deal. They just did a great job this morning coming out here and doing what they needed to do to take care of business.”

GENEVA 3, OPP 0

The Geneva Lady Panthers used a pair of long balls from Troy University signee Anslee Finch to knock off the Opp Lady Bobcats 3-0 in the first state qualifier for Class 3A.

Geneva jumped out front in the bottom of the first inning when the Lady Panthers got a solo home run from Finch with two outs in the inning.

The Lady Panthers were able to add a second run with a two-out double from Finch in the bottom of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, Cauley reached after being hit by a pitch.

Hodges kept things going with a double that pushed Cauley to third.

The Lady Panthers then walked Spears to load the bases with no outs.

Geneva then got strong pitching to keep the Lady Bobcats from scoring despite the bases loaded threat.

Finch belted her second home run of the game to put the Lady Panthers on top 3-0.

Geneva was able to hold off the Lady Bobcats for a 3-0 win and earn a spot in the Class 3A state playoffs next Thursday in Montgomery.

WICKSBURG 4, OPP 0

The Opp Lady Bobcats put up a great fight, but fell 4-0 to Wicksburg in the final Class 3A qualifier.

Wicksburg moves on to state and Opp’s season comes to an end.

In the top of the first inning, Hodges worked around a leadoff single to retire the side in four batters.

The Lady Bobcats went down in order in the bottom of the first inning.

Wicksburg got a pair of one-out baserunners in the top of the second inning, but Hodges worked a strikeout and pop out to end the threat.

Hodges worked a perfect top of the third inning as she capped it off with a big strikeout.

Wicksburg pitcher Emily Boin was on top of her game as she retired the Lady Bobcats in order in the bottom of the third for the third-straight inning.

Wicksburg’s first batter in the top of the fourth inning reached off of an error, but the Lady Bobcats worked out of the inning to keep the game scoreless.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Bobcats were sat down in order for the fourth-straight inning.

Hodges struck out the first batter in the top of the fifth inning before giving up an infield hit.

Hodges got the next two batters to ground out to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

In the circle for Wicksburg, Boin struck out the side in order for her fifth perfect frame.

Hodges worked a solid top of the sixth inning to keep the game scoreless.

In a game that turned into a pitching duel, Boin struck out the side in order for her sixth perfect frame.

Opp got a perfect frame from Hodges in the top of the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Boin struck out the first batter for her seventh-straight strikeout.

Cauley then singled with one out to break up Boin’s perfect game.

Spears followed with a double that pushed Cauley to third base, but Boin struck out the next batter to end the inning.

The game remained 0-0 as it headed into extra innings.

Wicksburg singled to start the top of the eighth inning.

Wicksburg then got a pair of perfect bunts to load the bases with no outs.

Theresa Reynolds then delivered the biggest hit of the night as she poked a ball into right field that brought in two runs to score.

Catherine Shields followed with another perfect bunt that scored another run.

After seven scoreless innings, Wicksburg broke through in extra innings to take a 4-0 lead.

Boin struck out the first Lady Bobcat she faced in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Lady Bobcats got a two-out single, but Boin came back and struck out the next batter to end the game.

“I’m super proud of these girls,” McVay said following the game. “That’s a really good and experienced Wicksburg team that we went toe-to-toe with for seven innings and one out. Hey, I couldn’t be more proud of them. I hurt for my two seniors. They have done a lot to keep this team going through the rough times. They are going to be missed.”