Lady Rebels head to state on hot streak

It’s about who’s hot this time of year, and since that’s the case, Vestavia Hills may be in pretty good shape.

The Lady Rebel softball team is in the state tournament -- scheduled for Friday and Saturday (weather permitting) – and playing as well as it has all season.

After flirting with a .500 record for most of the year, the Lady Rebels have won five of their last seven, including three crucial victories in the Class 7A, Area 6 Tournament to push them into the North Central Regional.

The resiliency of the team displayed itself at the regional, following a delayed start the first day, and the resumption of a game the second day. But the team battled through it and picked up wins over Oak Mountain and Hoover to seal a spot among the eight teams in the 7A portion of the state tournament.

“Finally the hard work had paid off,” third baseman RaeAnn King said of the feeling after advancing to state. “All the workouts at the beginning of the year, all the sweat, and tears and blood was finally put to the reason why: to make it to state.”

There is still work to be done, however. The double elimination tournament is no walkover, and if success is to be had, it’s going to take a complete effort.

“We’re just going to have to bear down and finish the game,” junior Savannah Hayes said. “We have to start out strong and finish strong.”

The Lady Rebels feel like they have the ability to do that, because of the way that the team’s production comes from so many different places.

“It feels great that we’ve worked to get here as a team, it’s not just two specific talents that have gotten us to state. It’s everyone working together,” junior Audrey Meloun said.

Vestavia Hills is familiar with half the teams in the tournament, having played Spain Park, Auburn, and Central-Phenix City. Not knowing the other teams is not a concern, and King said it keeps them from overthinking.

There’s no lack of confidence in this bunch, either. A hot streak towards the end of the season will do that for you.

Hayes said, “I’m excited, I think we can take state.”

The Lady Rebels take to the field at noon on Friday against Baker, the reigning state champ.