Both the Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots and Zion Chapel Lady Rebels advanced to the Class 2A Softball State Championship on Monday. 

Pike Lib throttled Isabella by a score of 12-2 in the first round. Isabella jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning but Pike then scored nine runs over the next three innings and never trailed again. Haylie Brown went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs for Pike, while Alissa Barron went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run. Sarah Strickland also went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. 

Camryn Brown drove in two runs and Shelly Stephens drove in two runs and scored two runs. Mary Holland Stephens pitched all six innings and struck out two batters, while giving up five hits and one earned run. 

In the semifinals, Pike defeated West End by a score of 7-2. The Patriots were propelled by a five-run third inning and never trailed in the contest. 

Barron led PLAS at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and a run. Strickland went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Haylie Brown drove in two runs. Barron pitched all seven innings and fanned two batters, while giving up five hits and two earned runs. 

Zion Chapel also topped Horseshoe Bend by a score of 3-2 extra innings in the first round. The two sides ended regulation tied 2-2. In the top of the eighth inning, Zion Chapel’s Karli Kidd drove Kaylee Hodge home to put the Lady Rebels ahead 3-2. In the ninth, the Lady Rebel defense secured the win with three outs in the first three at-bats. The outs consisted of two pop outs to Shea Wambles and Hodge, and a strikeout from pitcher Riley Bannin.

Wambles led ZCHS at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs. Sydney Boothe went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. Hodge also went 2-for-3 with a run. Bannin pitched all eight innings and mowed down 15 batters, while giving up three hits and two earned runs. 

In the semifinals, Zion Chapel beat Pisgah 4-3. Pisgah went ahead 1-0 but Zion Chapel tied things up 1-1 in the top of the second. The Lady Rebels scored three runs in the top of the third and never trailed again.

Landry Hataway went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Audrey Bassett went 2-for-4 with a run. Sydney Boothe pitched all seven innings and struck out three batters, while giving up four hits and three earned runs. 

Pike and Zion Chapel will play in the first game of the 2A State Championship later today at 5 p.m. As the state softball tournament is a double-elimination style tournament, the loser of that game will advance to the elimination bracket finals. 

The winner of the elimination bracket will then face the winner of game one in the championship bracket in the second game of the championship round on May 13. If a game three is needed, it will be played later in the day.