Pleasant Valley, AL – Pleasant Valley’s Bryant achieves his 500th career win as Raiders reach the winners bracket final; Piedmont, Spring Garden and Spring Garden are also just one win away from securing a state championship
By Joe Medley
David Bryant says his 500th career win being Pleasant Valley’s softball head coach means he’s got a bit old.
Cookies, balloons as well as a soaked Columbia blue shirt as well as a ball commemorating the occasion and a big smile tell that otherwise.
Madyson Cromer hit a 3-run homer and scored four runs. The Raiders defeated Fyffe 11-4 at the Class 2A East Regional opener on Tuesday at Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park.
The win, which was then followed by a 9-3 victory against West End, sent the Raiders (20-13) to the winners’ bracket final on Wednesday to take on Pisgah. The winner on Wednesday will advance to the next state tournament held at Choccolocco Park.
“I’m just happy to be one game removed from Choccolocco,” Bryant said. “That’s the approach we took. We put two pieces together today, and we’ll have to put the other one together in the near future.”
Pleasant Valley’s win over Fyffe helped propel Bryant to his 500th victory of his professional career.
“It’s an important milestone but it’s also an honor to all my students I’ve worked with,” Bryant said. “I did not throw an out in a single game. I’ve never pitched a pitch. They’ve been through it all and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the journey.”
Cromer provided Pleasant Valley the lead for good by hitting a home run that made it 3-1 in the final inning of the first innings.
“The day before, I was trying to get my bearings,” she said. “I was not confident, therefore we had to work because I was stuck within a large number of spaces and we had to go to the home and worked inside.
“She placed it inside and I was thinking”Oh this is what it was!’ and then I realized that my daddy took it and hacked it.”
Cromer also scored the RBI second in the 5th.
Haylie Lee pitched with a slick pitching style. She was brought in as a relief pitcher and escaped an one-out, bases loaded impasse in the first 5th. The Raiders did not let up with four additional runs, and then added four more in the sixth.
Lee took over in relief in the game against West End, as well she threw seven hits in six innings. She threw out two batters, but did not allow walks and only allowed one earned run.
“I was extremely happy for Haylie Lee’s performance today,” Bryant said. “Today we performed well, but we hit some bumps. We weren’t playing our best ball. We kept pounding it out until Haylie was the first to step up to circles.”
Rebekah Gannaway was the highlight of the offensive game against West End by launching an inbounds ball along the right field line before delivering it into the corner. Her speed brought her back for an inside-the park home run, putting the Raiders in front 3-2, following West End scored two in the final minutes of the game to draw the game.
“Honestly I don’t believe that it was the greatest chance I could have had however, I could see it heading towards the end of the field and knew that she wouldn’t be able to hit the ball in enough time.” Gannaway said. “I thought to myself, either I’m going to need to run or really, truly or end up in second base. As I realized that she was not there I just walked away.
“I found that to be an important turning point during the game. It brought our energy up.”
It was the final straw in a day when Pleasant Valley dominate two opponents, Pisgah upset Sand Rock 5-3, and Bryant take home wins of 500 and 500 and.
Cromer declared the Bryant 500th victory “awesome.”
“‘It’s been a fantastic build-up and for the team, we’ve been able to bond really well this year, and I’m happy to be in the time in which we’ve really have a chance to really hit the mark.”
Bryant said he’s happy to have the achievement behind him.
“I’m fortunate to be a part of so many lives of kids as well as families. And 500 signifies that I’m quite old, and we’ve also won many ballgames,” he said.
Class 3A
PiEDMONT SWEEPSPiedmont’s winning streak that began in late-season extended to eight games in the Tuesday’s East Regional action, and the Bulldogs won in a spectacular fashion.
Carson Young and Savannah Smith both pitched three-hitters, and the Bulldogs defeated Susan Moore 16-1 and Glencoe 12-0.
Fourth-ranked Piedmont was able to get through the first day of the regional competition in nine innings, despite two mercy-rule games and was able to play the top-ranked Plainview in the 10:30 a.m. winners bracket final. The winner will be guaranteed an invitation to the state championship, and the losers must be victorious in the elimination bracket to secure the second qualifying place.
Piedmont produced 12 hits to Susan Moore. Jenna Calvert went 4-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice. Savannah Smith, Cacey Brothers, Armoni Perry and Abby Baird each had two hits.
The Bulldogs scored 13 hits against Glencoe. Calvert hit 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Smith, Perry and Young all had two hits.
“It’s easy to become a pitcher when you hit like this,” said Smith, who knocked out nine batters. “Our bats are in high demand right now, so you can go out with confidence. Everyone’s hit the ball. It’s not as though I’m doing a amount, really.”
Piedmont was awarded unique blue bows adorned with sunflowers in honor of Jacksonville State University coach Jana McGinnis her tragic daughter Kinsey who passed away on the weekend. She was diagnosed with an uncommon genetic disorder.
“Coach McGinnis and her family are adored and valued by the neighborhood,” said Piedmont coach Rachel Smith, who played for McGinnis at JSU. “Coach is extremely important to me. Her family and she always have been an extremely revered and respected part of our community, and we wanted to do something to honour Kinsey with a little manner.”
WEAVER’S RUN CLOSES 9-0 down going into the seventh inning Weaver was able to rally for five runs in the seventh inning against J.B. Pennington, falling 9-5.
Senior Kinley Marvasty took the biggest blow when she hit a double with two runners in the game. She scored an RBI during the play and an outfield error facilitated Marvasty as well as another runner to score.
The Bearcats also scored two runs after a pickoff-throwing error that was redirected into right field’s corner.
Marvasty, Sydney Bitzer, Jadyn Smith, Annaliese Shirvinski, Madison Atchley and McKennah Homesley all scored a hit. Marvasty was credited with two RBIs.
The Bearcats season came to an end with a loss of 15-3 against Hokes Bluff. Kinley Marvasty as well as Peyton Marvasty each had a single and an RBI.
“We chose the wrong day to not perform well,” Weaver coach Gary Atchley declared. “The aim all year was to be here and we achieved that. It’s possible that they’ll be hungry. We’ve got them back, but only two, so most of the expectation for next year is that they will come back and finish out regionals.”
Weaver will be losing senior Kinley Marvasty as well as Peyton Marvasty. They helped lead Weaver to its second regional title and the first since the 2017 season.
“Honestly, I’m grateful that we didn’t have to end up with Calhoun County,” Kinley Marvasty told reporters. “I’m thrilled that we were able to get to this level, as we’ve never had the chance. Since I’ve been playing on varsity, I’ve not had the opportunity to go this far which is why I’m extremely exciting.”
Class 1A
spring GARDEN SWEEPS The 10th-ranked Panthers defeated Appalachian 13-3, and Ragland 14-8. They’ll play the top-ranked Skyline in Wednesday’s 1:15 p.m. winners bracket final. The winner will be guaranteed an automatic state tournament spot, while the losers will need to beat the elimination bracket in order in order to earn the second qualifier position.
“They’re a fantastic group,” Spring Garden coach Stephanie Steward said. “They’ve been ranked at No. one all year long and we’re looking forward to the task ahead. We’ll have a indication of where we’re at.”
A sophomore pitching Avery Steward, playing with fractured hand that she pitches from, won two wins on Monday. She was able to allow four hits and three strikes and five walks against Appalachian. She pitched the entire game against Ragland and allowed 10 hits and just one strikeout. She also walked 8.
She also won a home match against Ragland.
When she played Appalachian, Helena Ingram went 3-for-4, scoring triple, double, two RBIs, and two runs. Maggie Jarrett and Maggie Reedy each scored two hits and an RBI.
For Ragland, Jarrett went 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs and a double And Layla Ingram was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a double. Reedy hit 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
2A 2A
Final: Sand Rock 10, Woodland 0.
Final: Woodland 5, Holly Pond 1
Next: Woodland vs. West End, Wednesday, 9 a.m. 9 a.m. find more sports news…]
