Cottondale and Sneads To Battle for District Title

By Clint Cox

Photo Caption: Cottondale’s Michelle Bassin fouls off a pitch against Bozeman on Tuesday night. Photo by Clint Cox

Photo Caption: Samantha Culpepper of Sneads hits a RBI double that helped the Lady Pirates to a 4-1 victory over Blountstown on Tuesday. Photo by Clint Cox

The Cottondale Lady Hornets and Sneads Lady Pirates traveled to Altha on Tuesday night for the opening round of their district tournament. In the opening game the Lady Pirates took on Blountstown and posted a 4-1 win over the Lady Tigers. Sneads jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Kayla Kelly reached on a single. Kali Pringle followed with a single and Samantha Culpepper got the Lady Pirates on the scoreboard with a RBI single to score Kelly. Kayla Rabon then stroked a 2 RBI triple to bring home Pringle and Culpepper. Blountstown managed a run in the third inning but the game entered the seventh inning with Sneads leading 3-1. Kelly and Pringle both singled to get two Lady Pirates on the base pads. Culpepper hit into a fielder’s choice but Kelly was able to score and give the Lady Pirates their winning margin of 4-1. Karissa Childs held the Lady Tigers in check as the winning pitcher struck out 14 Blountstown batters.

In the night capper the Lady Hornets took on the Lady Bucks of Bozeman and came away with a 6-1 win. The game was scoreless through 2 ½ innings but Cottondale finally stung the Lady Bucks in the bottom of the third inning. Shanae Dickens led off with a bunt to reach first and then stole second base. Deb Davis also reached base on a bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error. Dickens and Davis scored on the next play as Michelle Bassin hit a grounder back to the pitcher that she misplayed. Bassin scored on a RBI double from Liz Krauser to give Cottondale a 3-0 lead. They added two more runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth to make the final score 6-1 in their favor.

Sneads and Cottondale will play for the District Championship in Altha on Thursday evening. While both squads will advance to the FHSAA Regional Quarter Finals the following Tuesday, the winner will host that game while the loser will have to travel. The Lady Hornets won the two regular season matchups with the Lady Pirates.