CLASS 3A STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Plainview 14, Opp 4
By Josh Bean | For the AHSAA
JACKSONVILLE – Plainview High School won its second Class 3A softball championship in the last three seasons, capping a strong run through the 2023 state tournament with a 14-4 victory over Opp on Thursday night. The Bears beat the Bobcats earlier in the day 4-2 in the winner’s bracket finals.
Opp downed Mars Hill Bible in the elimination bracket 6-5 to reach the championship game, which was moved from Choccolocco Park to Jacksonville State University’s Jana McGinnis Stadium Thursday night after weather delays pushed back the start.
Tournament MVP Mia Tidmore’s double with two outs in the fifth inning scored Ali Price from first base for the game-ending run. Plainview (47-1) capped a remarkable season that included just one loss and earned the 2023 state crown with four straight state-tournament victories.
“These girls work so hard,” Plainview coach Jeff Brooks said. “It’s good to see these girls succeed.”
Plainview’s roster includes only two seniors, Tidmore and pitcher Lily Boswell, who was the winning pitcher. “This has been our goal for so many years,” Tidmore said, “and we got two of them.”
Boswell added, “We really gave it our all this year.”
Opp (38-12), coached by David McVay, was trying to win its first state softball championship. Opp shortstop Amaya Womack delivered two doubles.
Opp’s Caroline Courson hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, but Plainview replied with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Graidin Haas had a three-RBI double in the first inning.
The Bears scored at least one run in all five innings, including five in the third. Plainview’s Chloe Hatch had two RBIs singles, while Tidmore had two doubles and a single. Plainview freshman Faith Odom hit a solo homer.
All-Tournament Team: Amaya Womack, Allie Wisner and Reese Cauley, Opp; Abby Williams and Lily Boswell, Plainview; MVP – Mia Tidmore, Plainview
CLASS 3A (Earlier games)
WINNER’S BRACKET
Plainview 4, Opp 2: Plainview (46-1) did all of its scoring in the top of the second inning, getting four runs off two triples, a single and a pair of RBI-groundouts. Mia Tidmore was 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Bears. Abby Williams also drove in two runs with a triple of her own. Lily Boswell got the win in the circle, pitching all seven innings. She allowed two runs off six hits with 10 strikeouts. Opp had six players record one hit each.
Opp 9, Saint James 2: Opp took control with a five-run third inning and never trailed. After Saint James (28-14-1) answered with two runs in the top of the fourth, the Bobcats added three more runs in the bottom of the frame to grab an 8-2 lead.
Another run in the bottom of the sixth inning wrapped up the scoring on the day. The top of the lineup did the most damage for Opp, with lead-off hitter Amaya Womack going 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. No. 2 hitter Allie Wismer drove in three runs on a 2-for-4 showing while the next batter, Reece Cauley was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Cauley also got the pitching win with no earned runs off two hits and nine strikeouts.
ELIMINATION BRACKET
Mars Hill 12, Saint James 5: Mars Hill (31-13) scored in five of the seven innings, producing 12 runs off 10 hits. A five-run first inning set the tone as the Panthers sent eight batters to the plate. Olivia Stegall was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Emma Kate Wright and Grace Stanfield added two hits each. Stegall also come on in relief to get the pitching win. She worked six innings and allowed four runs off seven hits. Saint James finished 28-14-1).
Mars Hill 3, Ashford 0: Mars Hill Bible pitcher Kelsie McDaniel recorded a complete-game shutout. The eighth grader worked all seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out two. The Panthers got all the offense they would need in the first two innings. An RBI-single by Anna Jacobs made the score 1-0 in the first inning. In the top of the second, Dylan McDaniel reached third before scoring on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Emma Kate Wright later scored Ella Embry from third to wrap up the scoring. Jacobs was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Olivia Stegal and Molly Wright also added two hits each.
Piedmont 8, Danville 0: Piedmont pitcher Savannah Smith scattered six hits and struck out six in the complete-game shutout. On offense, the Bulldogs (40-18) used back-to-back four-run innings to take control in the bottom of the third and fourth frames. Jenna Calvert went 2-for-3 to lead the way. Smith was also 2-for-4 with an RBI.
