Hale County High School downed Pisgah 6-2 Saturday afternoon at Lagoon Park in the finals of the 2016 AHSAA Class 3A State Softball Tournament to win the Wildcats’ third straight state championship.
Sophomore Savanna Holmes hurled the complete-game championship game victory allowing nine hits, two runs and striking out four to get the win. Harley Stokes slammed a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to spark a five-run inning as Coach Lori Wyatt’s team took control 5-0.
The Wildcats got seven hits off Pisgah pitchers Stephanie Schoonover and Leigha Kirby with junior Charlsey Payne collecting two RBIs and one hit. Madalynn Langham also had a double and single for Hale County.
Pisgah got two hits each from Hannahstaysia Weaver, Macy Anderson and Kennedy Barron. Annie Hughes also had a single and RBI for the Coach Billy Duncan’s Eagles have won eight state titles with the last one coming in 2013 – the year before Hale County started its current run.
Hale County met Pisgah in the first round of the state tournament winning 4-0. The Wildcats also beat Slocomb (7-2) and Dale County (9-2) to set up the final win over the Eagles.
Pisgah won four straight games in the loser’s bracket to reach the finals. The Eagles had wins over Oakman, Plainview, Prattville Christian and Dale County.
