Last Thursday did not start out good for Springville pitcher Savanna Hennings. First, she did not feel good when she arrived at school. Then there was a field trip to Visionland where she rode some rides. Then on the way back to school, they stopped to eat where she ate a few bites of a grilled cheese sandwich and some crackers.
Once they arrived at Moody for the opening round of the area softball tournament, Hennings got off the bus, when straight behind the dugout to throw up.
But before the clock struck midnight (literally) Thursday night, Hennings had tied a state record by striking out 28 Moody batters in a 1-0 win that took four and a half hours and 19 innings to play.
Her counterpart, Molly Washington, was just as superb as she struck out 22 batters in the heartbreaking loss.
Officials and coaches were still checking Tuesday to see if the combined 50 strikeouts in one game were a new state record.
In the championship game Friday, the Lady Tigers beat Moody again, this time by a score of 6-2 in seven innings to win the area title.
Springville 12, Talladega 0
In the opening round 12-0 win over Talladega, Hennings pitched just one inning before giving way to Mallory Waldrop and McKinley Tribble. Hennings, on the other hand, was asleep in the dugout.
Springville scored six runs in the first inning and six more in the third inning. Haley Garrison had two hits, scored two runs and drove in one.
Also collecting hits were Lauren Beason, Kirsten Gipson and Taylor Earley and all three scored two runs each. Katelyn Tribble had a two-run single while Raianna Wilson and Brittany Burgett had run-scoring doubles. Brittany Jones had a hit and scored a run while Sydne Waldrop and Tanner Earley scored runs.
McKinley Tribble, 3-2, picked up the win working two innings and giving up one hit and striking out three. Waldrop also worked two innings and gave up no hits and struck out two.
Springville 1, Moody 0
Hennings knew she was going to pitch in the Moody game, she just didn’t realize she would have to go 19 innings.
“I didn’t warm up a lot because I felt real weak,” Hennings said. “I was thinking there is no way I’m going to make it through this game.”
Lauren Gilmer slapped Hennings’ first pitch of the game, a change-up, back up the middle for a single.
“I was thinking this game is really not going to go good,” she said. “I was worried and all I know is that God gave me the strength because I felt like I couldn’t push off. The rest of the game I was fine and I just have to thank God.”
Hennings and Washington battled even for 18 innings and then Springville got the offensive break they were looking for in the 19th inning.
Eighth grader Danyelle Martin had a bunt single. She was sacrificed over to third base and then scored the winning run on a single to left field by Beason.
Springville coach Chris Williams said Beason had been hitless in the game until she delivered the game-winner.
“She is probably a career .250 hitter but no coach wants to see her step in the batter’s box in the clutch,” Williams said. “She always seems to come up with the big hit in big games. She is mentally tough.”
Williams added that this was one of the most interesting softball games he has ever coached.
“To see two pitchers go at it for four and a half hours and dominate from start to finish is amazing,” Williams said. “What made the game even better was to see both defenses play phenomenal. It was going to take someone at the plate to push home a run instead of a mistake being made in the field. Hennings was great on the mound and Katelyn Tribble was phenomenal behind the plate.
Hennings was quick to point out she had a great defense playing behind her.
“Although I had 28 strikeouts, the defense came through with 29 more outs,” she said. “I’m excited I tied the state record but I’m glad we won the game and the defense shines.”
Moody coach Amanda Ellis said her girls played their hearts out and it was a phenomenal game.
“We had it all together,” Ellis said. “Pitching hitting and defense. We executed very well and defensively, I could not have asked for a better effort. We did, however, leave way too many base runners on. I think we left 14 runners out on the base path.”
Springville 6, Moody 2
Moody took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but it quickly disappeared as the Lady Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and went on to win 6-2. Springville scored in every inning but the fourth inning.
Beason had four hits including a double and scored one run. Jones had a double that plated two runs while Hennings helped her own cause with a run-scoring single.
Taylor and Tanner Earley scored one run each while Waldrop scored two runs. Martin had a hit and scored a run.
Hennings improved to 24-11 with a complete game five-hitter. She gave up two runs but both were unearned. She walked three and struck out 11.
Washington suffered the loss.
In this game, Williams said his girls swung the bats better.
“I’m sure a lot of that had to do with both Molly and Savanna being tired,” he said. “Molly is a phenomenal pitcher. She always holds us in check but today, finally, we swung the bats. I am very proud of our five seniors and the other 13 players I have on this team.”
Ellis said the effort shown by her girls today was different from the great effort shown the night before in the 19-inning marathon.
“The mindset of the girls was probably like ‘Oh, we are in the hole and we have to fight back and win,’” Ellis said. “That probably had a little bit to do with it but we are not going to make excuses.”
Springville hosted Wenonah Tuesday in the opening round of the sub-state playoffs while Moody traveled to Pleasant Grove.
