Zion Chapel, Ariton compete in 2A South Regional Softball Tournament

Published 12:11 pm Thursday, May 9, 2024

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On Wednesday, both the Zion Chapel Lady Rebels and Ariton Lady Purple Cats headed to Gulf Shores to compete in the Class 2A South Regional Softball Tournament.

While Zion Chapel split its two games, Ariton was eliminated in day one after taking two losses.

Zion Chapel started off the tournament with a 6-3 win over Clarke County on Wednesday. Sydney Boothe led the Lady Rebels at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double. Amber Kidd also went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Sydney Boothe pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts and just three hits and one earned run allowed in seven innings in the circle.

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Zion Chapel followed that up with a tight 4-3 loss to GW Long in the second round of the double elimination tournament. ZCHS led 3-1 going into the fourth inning but Long scored three unanswered runs.

Kennedy Hussey went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Riley Bannin pitched six innings and gave up five hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts. Boothe pitched one inning and gave up two hits and no runs.

For Long, Carlie Davis went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Anna Free struck out seven batters and gave four hits and no earned runs in seven innings in the circle.

Zion Chapel followed up with a 4-3 win over JU Blacksher in an elimination game on Thursday morning.

Kaylee Hodge went 2-for-4 at the plate for ZCHS with a double and a run, while Riley Bannin went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Boothe pitched another complete game with seven strikeouts, while giving up six hits and one earned run in seven innings.

Next, Zion Chapel topped Luverne by a score of 11-6 in another elimination game on Thursday. Zion Chapel scored six runs in the second inning and never looked back.

Aubrey Bassett went 2-for-3 at the plate for ZCHS with an RBI and two runs. Kennedy Hussey earned two RBIs and three runs. Emily Rhodes also scored two runs. Shea Wambles scored one run and earned two steals. Bannin pitched a complete game with five strikeouts, while giving up eight hits and four earned runs in seven innings pitched.

For Luverne, Zyan Peterson went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Lacey Kelley pitched six innings and gave up five hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts.

Zion Chapel rematches with Long next in the runner-up game. Both the champion and runner-up advance to the state tournament.

Ariton fell to Wicksburg in the opening game by a score of 12-2. Beth Dixon went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while Reece Peters and Macileigh Bragg scored one run each. Sydney Adams pitched five and 1/3 innings with four strikeouts, while giving up six hits and three earned runs.

For Wicksburg, Dahlia Ganz went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and three runs. Ellie Cox pitched six innings and fanned 14 batters, while giving up three hits and two earned runs.

Next, Ariton faced off against JU Blacksher in an elimination game with the Lady Cats falling 7-5 despite a late rally attempt. Ariton trailed 7-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning and Ariton scored two more runs to cut the lead to 7-5 but couldn’t get any closer.

Peters went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and one run, while Bragg went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Dixon scored two runs and also pitched six and 2/3 innings with five strikeouts, while giving up 13 hits and six earned runs.