The Troy Belles All-Stars traveled to Montgomery this past weekend and went undefeated as they took the Alabama 15U Dixie Softball State Tournament, to earn a spot in the Dixie Belles World Series. 

Troy outscored its opponents 46-1 in the state tournament, giving up just one run as they went 3-0 on the weekend. The Troy pitchers also struck out a combined 23 batters and gave up just four hits and one run for the entire tournament. 

“They played really well,” Troy Belles Coach Scott Reeder said. “We jumped on all these teams in the first inning and our pitching was dominant. We couldn’t have asked for anything better.” 

Troy opened things up with a 23-0 thrashing of Dallas County in the opening round, scoring seven runs in the first inning and an eye-popping 16 in the second. 

Pike Lib’s Shelly Stephens went 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and three runs, while Charles Henderson’s Calleigh Compton went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and two runs. Charles Henderson’s Reece Garrett also drove in three runs, stole three bases and scored two runs, while Mary Holland Stephens and Crenshaw Christian Academy’s Brooke Horn scored three runs each. 

Mary Holland Stephens pitched three innings and struck out nine batters, while earning the shortened no-hitter and shutout. Crenshaw Christian Academy’s Abigail Stroud earned six putouts and no fielding errors on defense.  

Troy followed that up with a resounding 12-1 win over Eufaula in the second round. Troy scored six runs in the first inning and led 8-1 going into the fifth when the Troy Belles added four more runs to secure the win. 

Stroud went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs, while Charles Henderson’s Janazia Cantlow went 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, an RBI and two runs. Horn hit a two-run home run and Pike Lib’s Yaley McLendon drove in two runs. 

Horn pitched all five innings and mowed down nine batters, while giving up three hits and one earned run. Stroud earned five putouts and one assist with no fielding errors, while Compton tallied five putouts and no errors. 

Troy secured the State Championship with an 11-0 shutout win over Eufaula in the championship round. Mary Holland Stephens went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run, while Garrett went 2-for-3 with a run and Horn went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBIs and two runs. Stroud also drove in two runs. 

Mary Holland Stephens struck out four batters and gave up just one hit and no runs in five innings pitched. Pike County’s Hailey Griffin earned six putouts and no errors. 

While Reeder is proud of how his team has played, he knows things will be ramped up heading into the World Series. 

“We scored a lot of runs, hit the ball well and the pitching was really great,” Reeder said. “When you get to the World Series there won’t be anymore 3-5 inning games. So, a lot of pitchers that haven’t had to pitch as much will have to be used more at the next level. We’ll be going up against the best of the best.”

Reeder said pitching and hitting is key but he feels like defense is in a solid position heading into the World Series.

“I just want to see good hitting and pitching when we get there,” said Reeder of the World Series. “This is probably one of the best defensive teams I’ve ever coached. Most of these girls are interchangeable, so if you move one to a different spot you don’t lose anything anywhere. I’m not so much worried about defense but we just have to keep going with our pitching and hitting. Those will be the keys.”

All of the Troy Belles are high school players around the area and Reeder said he hopes their level of play can inspire younger players watching.

“What I hope for is that younger girls see this and keep playing rec ball,” he emphasized. “Travel Ball has sort of slowly taken over everywhere but as a coach, I just hope the younger kids and parents see this and say, ‘Hey, you know what? Rec ball is pretty fun,’ and they keep playing until they can’t play anymore.”

The Troy Belles will represent Alabama in the Dixie 15U Softball World Series in Ruston, La., beginning July 26.