Sardis wins Etowah Co. softball tourney

SARDIS CITY — It was a long Saturday for Sardis, but the Lions made sure it was worth it.

Sardis, the No. 5 seed, won three games at home to win the Etowah County softball tournament. The Lions ended the day with an 11-1 victory over No. 3 seed Hokes Bluff in the finals.

The Lions last won the county tournament in 2013, which also was the last time Sardis hosted the tournament. The Lions (9-8) beat fourth seed Glencoe 5-0 in the first round then beat top-seeded Southside, who beat Sardis in the county finals last year, 9-1 in the semifinals.

“It’s been a long day,” Sardis coach Richey Lee said. “We played three games to get here. The girls played hard all day long. They did the little things. Pitched well and only gave up two runs in three games. That’s pretty good.”

Sardis pitcher Sarah Beth Hallmark was the tournament MVP. She started for the Lions in the title game and only gave up two hits in three innings while striking out two. At the plate, she had two hits and drove home four runs in the finalé. Hallmark also picked up the win over Glencoe.

The county title had extra meaning for Hallmark after the senior didn’t play last year.

“When we came here to begin with, I was so excited,” Hallmark said. “It just felt like it was going to be a good day. I actually took off last year playing softball so it meant a little more this year because I didn’t get to participate in the county championship last year. I was super-excited.”

The Lions jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings against the Eagles after a five-run second inning. Sardis added two runs in each of the third and fourth innings and scored one in the fifth. Hokes Bluff scored its lone run in the fifth inning.

Jade Bonds was 4-for-4, including a double and triple, at the plate for Sardis with three RBI. Jaylyn Minshew was 3-for-3 including two doubles. Harlee Vincent and Emily Cook each totaled one hit and one RBI. Analee Dilbeck tossed the final two innings and allowed two hits, one run and struck out one.

No. 3 seed Hokes Bluff had a long day as well. The Eagles beat sixth-seeded Gaston 13-3 in five innings in the first round, and then beat No. 2 seed West End 11-2 in the semis.

The Eagles (9-9-1) had four hits in the title game. Bailee Latronico tallied one hit and one RBI. Mackenzie Coffelt, Madison Wolfe and Taylor Horne each had one hit. Madison Ingram was the starting pitcher with Kileigh Blackwell pitching in relief.

Sardis travels to Douglas for a Class 5A, Area 13 matchup Tuesday. Hokes Bluff hosts Etowah on Tuesday.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Sardis: Hallmark (MVP), Kayden Tarvin, Cook and Bonds. Hokes Bluff: Bailee Latronico, Coffelt and Ingram. West End: Payton Canady and Jayleigh Kirby. Southside: Lexi Rennhack and Kaylee Brown. Gaston: Emily Browning. Glencoe: Hylan Higdon.