Lady Rebels force three-way tie atop area

Vestavia Hills needed a win on Monday night, and they got it.

The Lady Rebels knocked off Spain Park, 4-2, on Senior Night at the Vestavia Hills Softball Complex, in a Class 7A, Area 6 matchup, thanks in large part to RaeAnn King's home run in the fourth inning to give her team a lead that would stand the rest of the way.

"It's one of those situations where we needed to beat them," Vestavia head coach Lissa Walker said. "It's kind of been the monkey on our back the whole season. We play well against them, but we just always seem to find ways to give up more runs."

Spain Park jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Jenna Olszewski hit a sacrifice fly and Caroline Parker grounded out to bring in another run. Kynadi Tipler came within inches of hitting a go-ahead home run later in the game, but the ball was tracked down on the warning track, leaving the first inning runs as the only one the Lady Jags would score.

The Lady Rebels played fundamental baseball to get a run home, setting the stage for King, who blasted a two-run shot over the fence in center to give Vestavia Hills the 3-2 lead in the fourth. 

"We laid the bunt down to get the run home to kind of start our momentum and RaeAnn's home run jump-kicked us to the next level," Walker said.

Taylor Coe doubled in the fifth inning to plate the final run of the game.

The right arm of Jessica Perley carried the Lady Rebels the distance on the mound. She allowed two runs on nine hits, two walks and four strikeouts for the game.

Caroline Parker went 3.1 innings for Spain Park, and was relieved by seventh-grader Anna Widra, who was outstanding in 2.2 innings. Six of the eight outs Widra recorded were via strikeout. 

With the result, Area 6 has three teams with a 4-2 record in area contests, Spain Park, Vestavia Hills, and Hewitt-Trussville. This sets up a coin toss to determine which school will host the area tournament.