Opp took home three of the five games played during Oxford in addition to Jacksonville in the softball state championship this week. It also capped off an impressive season by being the 3A state runner-up on Thursday 18 May.
The Lady Bobcats finished the season with a 38-12 overall record and secured their first place finish in the State Tournament. In the final, the Lady Bears won their second victory in three seasons with a 47-1 mark.
“I thought that when I started the season that I needed to prepare a schedule that was challenging enough to keep our team motivated to improve and keep working for the next season. After the schedule was complete I informed one of my assistant coaches that we could be the most disappointing score of the teams that play within Gulf Shores. The strategy worked and the team played difficult. In the state championship We had been defeated just twice from May 1 to May 1. both times we came up to the 7A Daphne,” Head Coach David McVay said.
McVay said that the state championship was a goal that the team set when they first started their day.
“You know that when you enter the tournament, each team will be extremely talented. I’ve tried to make our players realize that they were to this tournament and that they were as good as the other teams that was there. This team was a success. .”
McVay expressed his appreciation at Caroline Courson, Haylei Henagan McVay expressed his gratitude to Haylei Henagan, Caroline Courson and Brooke Moseley for showing great senior leadership. “I am extremely satisfied with the memories they’ve created during this time,” he said.
Opening Round: Opp 2, Piedmont 1
Opp defeated Piedmont during a pitched battle. Courson won the complete victory and gave up one earned run on five hits, with nine strikeouts. Reese Cauley and Taylor Adams were both 1-for-3 and had an RBI.
Semi-final: Opp 9, Saint James 2
The Lady Bobcats used a five-run third inning and a 14-hit offensive to beat Saint James. Amaya Womack was 4-for-4 and scored three runs and an RBI. Allie Wismer was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. Cauley was 3-for-4 and had two RBIs in the plate. He also pitched an entire game, scoring two runs that were unearned with two hits and Nine strikeouts while in the circle.
Winner’s Bracket Finale: Plainview 4, Opp 2
OHS defeated Plainview but was able to score four of the runs scored in the first innings. Womack, Cauley, Courson, Adams, Madeline Wilson and Jaidyn Ivey all scored a hit in the loss. Cauley pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, and struck out nine.
“We took on three contests the first day and ended up 1-1. We were able to pitch well, play defense and quick striking,” he said.
Final Bracket of the Loser: Opp 6, Mars Hill Bible 5
Opp was able to overcome a 5-1 deficit by scoring 3 runs during the third with two additional runs in the fourth. Cauley had a 4-for-4 performance, scoring the four RBIs on the field. He took the win in the complete game by scoring five hits (four scored) with nine strikeouts and four hits.
The Championship Plainview 14 Opp 4
Courson offered his Lady Bobcats an early 2-0 lead after hitting a two-run homer in the opening inning. The Lady Bears scored four in their half. They won by the mercy rule. Cauley pitched the first 2 1/3 innings before Courson finished the game. Womack and Cauley had a combined score of 2-for-2 in addition, Addison Moseley and Henagan finished 1-1. Courson and Adams both hit 1-for-3 and added 3 RBIs.
“We were a bit slow and uninspired, but we managed to recover and overcome an extremely strong Mars Hill team to advance to the final game. I am very satisfied with these guys and all the progress they’ve achieved this season. This was only the third time in the history of the school to be in the state championship and the first ever in school history to be a contender for the state championship.” the coach said.
Cauley, Wisner, and Womack were selected for the All-Tournament Team for OHS.
The article Opp softball team finishes the season with a historic record as 3A state third was originally published in The Andalusia Star-News.
