After milestone year, No. 4 Hillcrest falls on 2nd day at AHSAA softball state tournament
OXFORD − No. 4 Hillcrest softball fell short of its championship hopes at the AHSAA state tournament when it lost in the second round in the 6A elimination bracket 4-3 to No. 9 Hazel Green on Thursday at Oxford Lake Park.
Hillcrest was 1-2 at the tournament, suffering a 12-6 first-round loss to No. 2 Athens before defeating No. 9 Pell City 4-2 in the elimination bracket Wednesday. Each Patriot earned their first career state tournament win vs. Pell City.
The 40-win team scored three runs in the first inning against Hazel Green in its season finale, but Hazel Green scored three runs in the fourth inning and the game-winner in the top of the sixth.
Hillcrest left the bases loaded twice against Hazel Green, including in the sixth. It out-hit Hazel Green 10-9 but had one error and allowed an unearned run.
"Both times (bases were loaded), we hit one that was just barely about to get over the third baseman's head, but she makes a great play," Hillcrest coach Ted Swinney said. "Then on an in-betweener, the shortstop, she makes a great play on it. That ball goes either way. We barreled some balls. It just didn't go our way. It's the game of softball. You do all of this all year long, and it comes down to one weekend, and that's just tough to swallow sometimes. But when you look at the whole picture, I'm extremely proud of them."
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The Patriots graduate seven seniors, including five everyday starters. Senior Cara Larimore starred in the tournament, batting 7-for-11 with four runs and three RBIs.
"You come up a couple games short, but that doesn't take away 40 wins, an area championship and a state championship appearance," Swinney said. "There's so many things to be happy about that you can't get caught up in one game you didn't get to."
To win the championship, Hillcrest needed to beat Hazel Green, win two more games in the elimination bracket and defeat Wetumpka twice for the championship. It would've been five games, instead of four, in one day because of Thursday weather postponements.
Hillcrest returns all of its pitching, Swinney said, and that's where the team will build from in 2024.
"Once you get in that loser bracket, it's just a battle," Swinney said. "These girls fought for us 100%. Big thank you to these seniors. Bittersweet. great year, but these seniors have just been like daughters to us. Couldn't love them more. Truly led us the way that you need to and brought us joy every day."
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA state softball: Hillcrest's milestone season ends on second day
