By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY —  The Spain Park Jaguars softball team gave the defending AHSAA Class 6A State Champion Sparkman Senators all they could handle in the opening round of the AHSAA state softball tournament in Montgomery, before falling 6-5 May 15.

The Jags found themselves in a 4-0 hole in the top of the sixth when M.K. Bonamy blasted a three-run homer, scoring Brittany Anderson and Mary Katherine Tedder in the process.

The Senators added two more in the bottom of the inning and looked to put the Jags away, 6-3. Spain Park answered with a rally, as both Casey Kizer and Bailey Bowers came home to cut the lead to 6-5.

Unfortunately for the Jags, the inning ended on a groundout with the tying run at third. Spain Park now moves to face rival Hoover in an elimination game at 7 p.m. Check Shelbycountyreporter.com for updates.