MUNFORD, Ala – Only a day after clinching the 5A Area 7 title with a win over Clay-Central, the Sylacauga Lady Aggies entered Wednesday’s area finale versus Munford with another one of their goals in mind – to finish the season undefeated in area play.
That goal was clinched with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Lady Lions.
Sylacauga scored all it would eventually need to win in the first inning when lead-off batter Aurielle Turner blasted a 2-1 pitch up the middle for a base hit. Two outs later and a base stolen by Turner, McKenzie Merkel stepped to plate and knocked one in to right field for a RBI single, scoring Turner. Later in the bottom half of the inning, the Lions got their only hit of the game.
The Aggies scored again in the top of the third when Turner once again got a base hit and then stole second. With two out, she was pushed across the plate when Maddi Ingram base hit in to center field.
Later in the sixth inning, Ingram led off for Sylacauga and ripped a 3-2 pitch towards the gap in right-center field. After stealing second, Ingram scored when Merkel launched a sacrifice fly in to left field.
The Aggies, up 3-0, scored one last time in the top of the seventh. Lani Varner reached base on an error and was moved around when Madison Martin laid down a bunt single. Varner then scored on a fielder’s choice as Turner was being thrown out at first base.
Varner pitched the first six innings for the Aggies, only giving up one hit and one walk while striking out four. Lorel Bryant pitched the last inning to close the game for Sylacauga. She struck out two of the three batters she faced.
The Lady Aggie offense produced seven hits. Team leaders included Aurielle Turner who went 3 for 4 at the dish along with one RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases. Maddi Ingram went 2 for 3 and also had one RBI, scored one run and swiped two bases. McKenzie Merkel (one RBI) and Madison Martin had one hit each.
The Aggies now stand at 13-7-2 (4-0 Area) on the season. Sylacauga will host this year’s 5A Area 7 tournament where the top two teams will advance to the East Regional Tournament to be played in Oxford. Dates and times for the area tournament are TBA.
The Lady Aggies will be back in action this Friday and Saturday when they play in the Randolph Co High School tournament in Oxford.
