By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

GULF SHORES – The Spain Park softball team is off to its usual dominant start in 2018 and looks to be a favorite yet again to compete for a state championship this season.

During spring break, the Jaguars to that success down to Gulf Shores to compete in the 2018 Gulf Coast Classic March 26-28. Spain Park, who won the tournament a season ago, finished with a 4-2 record after falling to eventual champion Thompson in a second-round elimination game.

Spain Park started pool play with an 8-3 loss to Beech (Tenn.) High School, before reeling off three consecutive pool-play wins. Against Hayden, Headland, and Colbert Heights.

The Jags then beat Sumiton Christian 9-0 in the first elimination game, before falling to Thompson 4-1 in the second elimination game to end their run.

A recap from each game is below.

Game 1: Spain Park 3 – Beech 8

The first game of the tournament didn’t go according to plan for Spain Park as Beech scored at least one run in the first four innings of action, while the Jags didn’t.

Spain Park did mount a comeback effort in the fifth with three runs, but couldn’t erase the eight-run deficit as they fell by the final of 8-3.

Both teams picked up eight hits in the game, but Spain Park committed five errors in the game.

Bailey Bowers and Caroline Kendrick led the way at the plate with two hits apiece, while Maddie Majors, Annabelle Widra, Savannah Rogers and Caroline Wooley all had one hit. 

Game 2: Spain Park 7 – Hayden 2

Later that same day, Spain Park turned things around both offensively and defensively.

After committing five errors in the opener, the Jaguars didn’t commit an error in the second game and outhit Hayden 8-4 to pick up a 7-2 victory.

SPHS scored one in the first before closing the game out with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth.

Lindsay Parker led the way at the plate going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Wooley also had three RBIs with a 1-for-1 day at the plate. Majors also had a strong performance with a 2-for-2 game at the plate including one RBI.

All three of those players hit a home run for the Jaguars.

Widra tossed all five innings of the game in the circle and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out nine.

Game 3: Spain Park 10 – Headland 2

Spain Park used a five-run first inning to spark one of its most dominant wins of the tournament that included outhitting headland 13-4 to pick up an easy 10-2 win.

The Jags used three singles, two doubles and an error to score their five first-inning runs and take command of the game early. They went on to score one more in the third and had another breakout inning in the fourth with four runs to seal the deal.

Wooley led the way at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance that featured two RBIs and one run scored. Majors, Widra, Bowers and Kate Campbell all had two hits, while Bowers had a game-high three RBIs.

Campbell pitched a complete-game five innings in the circle and allowed four hits and two runs while striking out two.

Game 4: Spain Park 11 – Colbert Heights 5

In their last pool-play game, the Jags picked up 11 more hits and scored at least two runs in three of the four innings to pick up a dominant 11-5 victory.

Thanks to four walks, three singles and an RBI-double from Wooley, Spain Park scored four runs in the first inning to take early control.

The Jaguars went on to score two more runs in the second and put up a five-spot in the fourth to win the game with ease.

Wooley went on to add a home run to her stat line as she finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBIs and one run scored. Alexis Anderson also went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the game.

Campbell and Parker added two hits apiece as well, while Bowers scored three runs in the game.

Widra and Kendrick combined to strike out nine in the circle and allowed just six hits. 

Game 5: Spain Park 9 – Sumiton Christian 0

In Spain Park’s first elimination, the Jags rose to the moment and played to perfection in a 9-0 victory against Sumiton Christian.

The Jaguars scored four runs in the first and four more in the second to take a quick 8-0 lead. They added one more in the third inning to finish off the scoring thanks to 12 hits.

In the circle, Anderson allowed just one hit to pick up the complete-game win in four innings of action.

At the plate, Maddie Majors finished 2-for-3 three with a home run and three RBIs. Parker added three RBIs as well, while Campbell posted two RBIs.

Widra and Bowers also picked up two hits apiece and both scored twice as well.

Game 6: Spain Park 1 – Thompson 4

Spain Park gave up two runs in the first to fall behind early and couldn’t recover despite scoring one run in the fifth to fall by a final of 4-1 and end the Jags’ run.

Wooley, Majors and Campbell picked up the only hits in the game for Spain Park, while Wooley added the team’s only RBI.

Widra allowed five hits and four runs in the game while striking out two batters.

After the tournament had ended, Spain Park improved to 25-5 on the season as they prepare for the final stretch of the year.