1 of 32

Spain Park overcame an early 3-0 deficit to score five of the next six runs and defeat Chelsea in area play behind a stellar relief pitching performance from Jaley Young. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HOOVER – The Spain Park Jaguars remained undefeated against Class 6A, Area 8 foes, but it was anything but easy as they had to fight from behind and use small-ball tactics and strong relief pitching to get past the rival Chelsea Hornets.

Spain Park took the 5-4 win over Chelsea on Tuesday, March 11 at Spain Park High School to improve to 2-0 in area play.

After the Hornets reached on the first batter of the game thanks to an error, the Jags recovered with a 1-6-3 double play to clear up the base paths. Caroline Brown then kept the inning alive with a single and sparked an RBI double from Sydney Carroll.

That put Chelsea in front 1-0, and after starter Alaysha Crews kept Spain Park in check at the plate in the early innings, the Hornets got to add to their lead in the top of the third.

Just like the first inning, the true offense for Chelsea didn’t get going until Brown faced a two-out hole. She doubled to get into scoring position and ignite another rally.

The Jags attempted to get around Carroll’s powerful bat with an intentional walk, but Lorelei Beck immediately struck with a first-pitch line drive to right that led to an RBI single and doubled up the lead.

Sophia Wilson followed that up with a ground ball RBI single to score Carroll and take the lead to 3-0.

However, Spain Park started to turn the tides in the bottom half of the inning.

After getting two runners on with a one-out walk from Charlee Bennett and a single from Grayson Heaton, Klara Thompson got the Jags on the board with an RBI single to left.

That was the first of three-straight scoring plays as Allie Whitaker plated a run off a sacrifice fly before Maxie Provost tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI double.

Chelsea responded in the top of the fourth with a strong series of small ball plays. After Lauren Hilyer hit a lead-off single, Olivia Palfreeman advanced her all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt. Katie Hopson drove Hilyer home on the next pitch to retake the 4-3 lead.

While Spain Park couldn’t tie up the game in the bottom of the fourth, it got the benefit of some control issues from the Hornets in the following inning. Following a lead-off line out, Whitaker, Provost and Chloe Wade all drew walks to load up the bases and call out the Chelsea bullpen.

The Hornets recovered with a strikeout, but Parker drew a four-pitch walk on the next at-bat to tie up the game at 4-4 heading into the sixth inning.

From there, Jaley Young struck out three of the four batters she faced in the top of the sixth and worked around a two-out double from Hopson to set up a strong home half of the inning.

Bennett kicked off the inning in emphatic fashion with a double, and Weiner followed it up with a walk off a 3-2 pitch to put two on with no outs.

The early offensive stretch allowed the Jags to use a pair of sacrifice plays to complete the comeback. Thompson sacrificed herself to put both runners in scoring position before Whitaker scored the go-ahead run two pitches later.

Young finished the job in the top of the seventh, striking out a pair of batters and overcoming an infield error to seal the 5-4 win.

Bennett led the offense with a 3-for-3 day with a walk and two runs while Whitaker finished with two RBI. Young took the win in relief with 3.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven.

For Chelsea, Brown and Hopson each finished 2-for-4 while Brown had two runs and Hopson earned an RBI.

More Sports

Bulls sweep weekend series against Roanoke with Saturday shootout win

Cornerstone celebrates second-straight state title with ring ceremony

Pelham uses high-powered offense to defeat Pike Road

Oak Mountain battles to the end, wins three at Sykes Invitational