By DREW GRANTHUM/For the Reporter

The Pelham Panthers defeated the Hueytown Golden Gophers in the opening round of the AHSAA 6A State Softball Championships, 2-1.

The game was mostly a pitcher’s duel between Hueytown’s Taylor Doriety and the combination of PHS pitchers Becky Fox and Whitney Gillespie. Pelham got the lead early in the bottom of the 4h off a Caitlyn Sapp solo home run. Maddie Walker later scored on a error to make it 2-0.

Fox threw three strikeouts through four innings, as Gillespie came into to try and limit the innings each pitcher threw.

Pelham looked to be in control until the top of the 7th, when Hueytown mounted a charge, scoring off a throwing error to bring the game within one, but Gillespe struck out the Gophers’ Paige Barnett, leaving the tying run stranded on third to end the game. She finished with six strikeouts.

Pelham will take on Austin in the second round. Check shelbycountyreporter.com for continued updates.