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By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – As the sun began to set over Oak Mountain High School, the Oak Mountain Eagles knew they could not let another close game get away from them in a rivalry showdown with the Hoover Buccaneers.

Luckily for Oak Mountain, that mindset allowed it to make a powerful statement in the late stages of its contest with Hoover, pulling away in the sixth inning to earn a 9-2 victory on Thursday, March 6 at Oak Mountain High School.

The Bucs started the game off on the right track with a lead-off single. After the runner later advanced all the way to third base, a ground out to third base allowed a run to score and give Hoover a 1-0 lead in the early going.

The Eagles did not see its offense get going until the bottom of the third, but they remained in a comfortable position. Sheridan Andrews led the inning off with a ground ball into center field. A couple of batters later, Brooke Monosky got hit by a pitch before Marian Cummings singled into left field, quickly loading the bases with one out.

Elia Carrillo then stepped up to the plate and drew a five-pitch walk, getting the tying run in and making it a brand new ball game for the time being.

The Bucs did not let the tie last for long though. On the second batter of the top of the fourth inning, Hoover launched a solo home run into center field to get the lead back at 2-1.

Oak Mountain did not let that deep shot hurt its offensive momentum though. Instead, it may have increased its motivation. In the bottom of the fourth, Bella Williams got things rolling with a one-out triple and was scored on the next at-bat thanks to a double from Andrews. 

Following the RBI, Anna DuBose joined in with a double of her own out to right field, giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead heading into the late stages of the game.

Oak Mountain shut down the Bucs’ bats over the next couple of innings after that, and in the bottom of the sixth, it found some more light at the plate.

Williams led the frame off with a single into right field before handing the bat off to Andrews, who stroked a double into center field. An intentional walk issued to DuBose immediately following that loaded the bases with no outs recorded.

A couple of batters later, Cummings recorded a two-RBI single into left field that extended the score to 5-2. However, the Eagles were not done just there. Following a single from Carrillo to load the bases again, Addison Green drew a walk and Emma McGregor got hit by a pitch to make it a 7-2 game. 

Rylie Redden continued the party with a walk of her own to drive in a run before Williams came up once again in the inning, this time getting a single off a bunt and driving a sixth run across the plate in the bottom half of the inning.

With the score sitting at 9-2, Hoover went down in order in the top of the seventh and the game ended, earning the Eagles a monumental win heading into the weekend.

Kelsey Crain earned the win for her 3.1 innings of work in the circle, giving up no runs on no hits while striking out two batters in her outing. 

On the offensive side though, while they only combined for one RBI, Williams and Andrews collectively recorded seven hits on the afternoon and played a big reason in why Oak Mountain walked away with the victory.