Their games had been nip and tuck all season long and the Class 2A, Area 12 softball tournament proved to be no different this past weekend. Pleasant Valley fell in the tournament championship game 6-1, sending the Lady Raiders on the road for Tuesday’s first round of sub-state softball action.
With the loss, Pleasant Valley will encounter quite a strong opponent, West Morgan, which was ranked in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association prep softball poll.
Fellow local Jacksonville Christian, ranked No. 7 in the final ASWA rankings, was hosting Lynn. JCA had decided its final area standings nearly two weeks ago.
The results from both of Tuesday’s games were not available at the Jacksonville News’ press time.
In Saturday’s championship game, Pleasant Valley scored its only run in the first inning. Ashley Bryant reached base with a single, then stole second. She later scored on an error.
Pleasant Valley started the double-elimination tournament in much different fashion that it ended it.
The Lady Raiders picked up two quick wins on the tournament’s first day.
Pleasant Valley defeated Sand Rock 9-3. Miranda Tisdale got the win, scattering six hits and striking out three. Danielle Johnston was the offensive cog with four RBIs on two hits. Sarah Swindle added three hits and three runs scored.
In the first of what would be three meetings between Piedmont and Pleasant Valley, it was the Lady Raiders that came out on top with a 6-4 win.
Jordan Estes played the role of hero as she had three hits and two RBIs. One of her hits was a two-run home run. Ashley Miller added two RBIs and a run scored, and Ashley Bryant had two hits and two runs scored.
Estes and Miranda Tisdale combined to give up two hits and one earned run with five strikeouts.
That PV win sent Piedmont to the losers’ bracket. From there, the Lady Bulldogs knocked off Sand Rock 12-10 to set up the second meeting with the Lady Raiders.
That game proved to be a lopsided affair with Pleasant Valley falling 15-5 in six innings.
That loss forced the final if-game.
