Story by Cinthia Rico
Defending Class 4A state champion North Jackson earned a No. 1 seed in the Class 4A state tournament in Oxford, after defeating Madison County 9-2 and capturing its fourth title for the 2022 season.
The AHSAA East Central Regional champions secured an early 2-0 lead when Jayda Hutchins, Trinity Seale and Bailey Abernathy advanced their ground in the third inning during last week’s championship game at Sand Mountain Park in Albertville.
Destry Lambert earned the win for North Jackson on the mound, allowing two hits and three runs while striking out five and walking one over seven innings.
Jayda Hutchins scored a double from Sarah Garner for a 6-0 advantage, as North Jackson continued its offensive advances. Peyton Hill and Abigail Guess plated home off a hit from Jayda Hutchins. Hill scored the Chief final run for a 9-2 victory over Madison County.
North Jackson’s Ja’Khia Hutchins is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in stolen bases for the 2022 softball season with 93 stolen bases in 54 games. She also holds the 11th spot for runs in the nation, with 70 runs for the season.
The Chiefs tallied 10 hits in the game, with Hill and Hutchins firing multiple shots.
Taytum Lowe took the loss for the Tigers, allowing four hits and five runs over two and two-thirds innings. Marion Gamble threw three and third innings in relief.
Madison County’s two lone runs came at the top of the sixth from Anna Sanders and Allison Yeary.
The Chiefs the East’s No. 1 seed, faced the North’s No. 2-seeded Brooks at 9 a.m. Thursday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford. The game was not completed before press time.
North Jackson 4, While Plains 3
On Tuesday, North Jackson and White Plains were at a stalemate 3-3 when Arielle Haynes doubled to drive in Peyton Hill with the winning run in the top of the eight.
Lambert took the win for the Chiefs on the mound, striking out two and allowing four hits and three runs over eight innings.
The Chiefs kicked things off early with Hutchins and Garner scoring on an error by shortstop Callyn Martin for a 2-0 advantage. Hutchins scored again at the top of the third and led North Jackson with three stolen bases.
Camden Wilson scored on a Martin ground ball at the bottom of the first, and Martin and Callie Richardson scored at the bottom of the sixth evening to tie the scoreboard 3-3.
White Plains’ Leighton Arnold allowed six hits and four runs and struck out 13 over eight innings.
North Jackson 6, Oneonta 0
Also on Tuesday, North Jackson defeated Oneonta 6-0 in the early round of the AHSAA East Central Regionals at Sand Mountain Park in Albertville.
