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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CLANTON – The Calera Eagles are heading back to regionals after finishing as the runner-up in the Class 6A, Area 5 tournament on April 25 and 26 at Chilton County High School, emerging as one of the two finalists from the three-team area.

Calera secured that spot with two wins over the Benjamin Russell Wildcats, first in a 9-7 first-round game on Friday before winning a 7-5 elimination game on Saturday.

In game one, the Eagles fell behind by multiple runs in the top of the second. A lead-off error turned into an RBI double on the very next pitch, and before long, a two-run single with one out and a pair of errors led to a 4-0 lead for Ben Russell.

However, Calera fought right back, building off a lead-off single in the bottom of the second from Armiya Shamburger to get on the board off a Lily Townsend RBI double.

An error put two runners on for Alexi Johnson, who ripped an RBI single to right ahead of another RBI single from Neeley Carstensen to cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Wildcats got a lead-off triple in the top of the third and would on to score two runs, first off a fly out and then off a two-out RBI single to extend the lead back to 6-3.

Townsend got the Eagles back within two with a two-out solo shot in the bottom of the third.

While the fourth inning came and went without a run, a dropped third strike in the bottom of the fifth put two on with two out for Calera. Megan Overton then came in and made it a one-run game with an RBI single.

The Eagles continued the rally in the bottom of the sixth as two of the first three batters singled. With two on and one out for Mia Wade, she tied the game up on an RBI single while leading the bases loaded for Kinley Rodgers.

Disaster then struck for Benjamin Russell as an error at short led to two runs crossing home plate, giving Calera its first lead of the game. Shamburger followed that up with an RBI double to increase the lead to 9-6.

A couple of errors in the top of the seventh let the Wildcats draw within two, but the Eagles secured the final two outs to take the win.

Townsend was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, including her home run, Issy Overton finished 2-for-4 with a run and Shamburger went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Carstensen had a 2-for-3 game with an RBI and a run and Johnson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Townsend got the win in the circle, striking out four batters in seven innings while working around seven runs, three of which were earned, six hits and three walks.

Calera would then lose the winners’ semifinal 11-3 to Chilton County, sending the Tigers to regionals and the Eagles to a do-or-die elimination game against Benjamin Russell.

After a scoreless first inning, the Wildcats broke through in the bottom of the second with an RBI single after a two-out triple to take a 1-0 lead.

However, in the top of the third, two walks and an error loaded up the bases with one out for Megan Overton, who sent a hard grounder to left field to plate two runs for a 2-1 lead.

Ben Russell took the lead right back in the bottom of the third after two walks and a bunt set up an RBI single and a two-run double for the 3-2 Wildcats lead.

Quintanilla immediately punished the new Ben Russell pitcher in the top of the fourth with a triple, and Carstensen quickly got her home with an RBI single to tie the game. A single and an error kept the rally alive and forced the Wildcats to get the out at first while allowing two runs to score.

Shamburger then made the score 6-3 in Calera’s favor with a run off a fly out.

The following inning, Issy Overton took the lead to 7-3 with a two-out RBI single to keep the momentum in the Eagles’ favor.

Back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the fifth set up a one-out, two-run single from the Wildcats, but that was as close as they would get as Calera didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way.

The Eagles faced a bit of adversity from back-to-back one-out walks in the bottom of the seventh, but a 5-3 double play sealed the 7-5 victory and a spot in regionals.

Megan Overton was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, Issy Overton finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run and Carstensen went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run.

Townsend finished the job in the circle with 2.1 hitless innings against just two walks.

Calera would go on to lose the championship game 8-0 to Chilton County but still advances to regionals as the runner-up. The 11-20 Eagles will play in the Class 6A Central Regional at Lagoon Park in Montgomery on May 7 and 8.