Skyline Lady Vikings Win First County Softball Title

By Cinthia Rico
HIGDON – Olivia Treece took the Lady Vikings as far as she could. Her Skyline teammates did the rest.

Together, they went 4-0 in tourney action and claimed the 2024 Jackson County Softball Tournament crown, rolling past two-time defending North Jackson 5-0 on Saturday night at North Sand Mountain.

The Vikings scored four runs in the third inning after Brinlee Potts tripled on a line drive and Kaina King plated home. Olivia Treece then sacrificed a fly ball, giving Potts the opportunity to score. Two batters later, Sage Lewis singled to left field, and Jayla Ross crossed home for a 4-0 advantage.

Skyline’s final run came at the bottom of the fourth, behind another Potts triple, bringing A Bellomy home.

In the winning circle, Treece surrendered two hits, allowing no runs, walking four, and striking out six over five innings.

Skyline head coach Slade Bellomy emphasized to his team the opportunity for Skyline, the program, and the girls they worked with to make history and contribute to the program’s progress, a message the Lady Vikings used to fuel their county title win.

Leading a young team consisting of two seniors and a slew of sophomores, North Jackson head coach Caleb Wynne guided the Chiefs with determination through their tournament run.

The Lady Chiefs battled valiantly all the way from the verge of elimination to the championship game against the Lady Vikings, but they were unable to complete a county title three-peat.

After working her way through the bracket, Darcy McClendon, the Chiefs’ primary starting pitcher, was unable to pitch in the championship game.

North Jackson’s Millee Grider stepped up to the challenge on the mound for the final matchup, striking out three, walking one, and giving up five runs on nine hits over four innings.

Avery Wynne and Allison Ferguson led the Chiefs at the plate in hits.

The 2024 two-day Jackson County Softball Tournament kicked off last Wednesday at North Sand Mountain and resumed on Saturday.

In the Wednesday quarterfinals, North Sand Mountain overpowered Section 13-1 and Skyline shutout Woodville 14-0.

In the semifinal matchup, North Sand Mountain defeated North Jackson 3-1, and Skyline shutout Pisgah 8-0.

In Saturday’s winners’ bracket final, Skyline bested North Sand Mountain 4-2.

North Sand Mountain led 1-0 after Cloey Davenport hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning. However, Skyline tied the score with an RBI single by Audra Bellomy in the bottom of the third, and Jayla Ross’ leadoff home run in the fourth gave them a 2-1 lead.

In the fifth, after Brinlee Potts singled with two outs, Ross launched a two-run home run, giving the Vikings a 4-1 lead.

In the sixth inning, NSM advanced a tying run to the plate, but a double play reduced the rally. Bison scored one final run, and the Vikings advanced to the championship round.

Earlier on Saturday, North Jackson shutout Woodville 16-0 in the elimination bracket quarterfinals.
The Lady Chiefs got off to a tremendous start, recording 12 runs in the first inning.

In the second, Allison Ferguson doubled, Allie Benson walked, Kinley Burton got a base hit, and Addie Reed walked, extending the Chiefs advantage to 16-0.

Allie Benson earned the win for North Jackson on the mound, striking out three and allowing no runs over two innings.

Breana McLaughlin took the loss for Woodville, allowing 12 runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking five.

The Pisgah overpowered Section 19-2 to move forward in the elimination bracket.

The Lady Eagles put together a 5-scoring first and second innings to jump out ahead 10-0.

Madeline Flammia and Julianne Davis homer twice, bringing in five batters.

In the top of the third, with the bases loaded, Davis added her second homer run, bringing in three for a 14-0 edge.

Section scored on a hit from the bottom of the third to cut the score to 14-1. The Lions then added their final run of the evening for a 19-2 final.

In the elimination bracket semifinal matchup, North Jackson edged Pisgah 4-3 as the Chiefs rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the game in the fifth before advancing in the bottom of the sixth behind a Lyenia Kelley score.

Pisgah took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning on No. 34’s two-run home run and Rylan Lawson’s run on an error after reaching on a single.

In the fifth inning, North Jackson tied the score when Peyton Malley singled in two runs and Camryn Case walked. A wild pitch later decided the game. The Chiefs’ victory was sealed when Lyenia Kelley, their courtesy runner, scored on a Pisgah error while trying to steal third base.

In the winning circle, McClendon recorded 12 strikeouts over six innings pitched.

Piper Anderson recorded six strikeouts and allowed just two hits for Pisgah on the hill. The Eagles recorded hits from Rylan Lawson, Skyler Hughes, and Emma Sisk, among other players.