“It’s an area win,” Tucker said. “So, it’s a big game from that standpoint. Weaver’s real young and I think inexperienced. But we had a little trouble early, hitting the ball hard. After we’d seen the pitcher a couple innings, we started hitting the ball hard.”
Leadoff hitter Kabrina Snell led the way offensively for the Lady Wildcats, ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 3A in the most recent Alabama Sports Writers Association poll. The senior outfielder went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and crossed the plate four times.
She reached third base on a Weaver throwing error to spark a four-run bottom of the first that got her team going.
Junior Taylor West, Saks’ ace pitcher, got the start at third base and went 2-for-3, knocking in a pair of runs and scoring three others. Laken Haynes was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and MyKynlie Nunez went 2-for-3 while adding an RBI.
“Laken had struggled some the last week or so and she came up with two hits tonight,” Tucker said. “So, it was encouraging to see that we actually hit the ball in the bottom half of the lineup as we did in the top half.”
Haley Cobb picked up the win for Saks, giving up two hits and striking out six while walking none in three innings of work. West came on in the fourth and struck out the side.
Kaitlyn Rhodes took the loss for the Lady Bearcats.
Weaver scored its lone run in the second when Bobbie Ray, who’d got on with a single to start the inning, reached home plate from third after a wild pitch.
Saks added four runs in the second, third and fourth innings to end the game.
Weaver (1-9) travels to White Plains Thursday for another area matchup.
The win ups the Lady Wildcats’ record to 10-3 (3-1 against area competition). Saks will head to the beach next week where it will participate in the Gulf Coast Classic.
The competition will be stiff. Robertsdale and Oxford, both Class 6A schools, along with Class 4A Jemison, LAMP and Lauderdale County (Class 3A) will be in the Lady Wildcats’ pool.
“We’re looking forward to that,” Tucker said. “We’ll see some teams we don’t normally see. Our ultimate goal is to make it back to state. This will be a good tournament because we’ll be playing some big schools, some real good competition and we need to do that.”
Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.
