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It was a grand start to the 2020 softball season for the Maplesville Red Devils as they defeated Montevallo 10-7 on the road Feb. 14.

The Maplesville hitters were in midseason form, which resulted in the Red Devils outhitting Montevallo 12-5.

Laci Cook and Emilee Smith both had productive nights at the plate with three RBIs apiece.

Senior Gracie Harrison is expected to be one of Maplesville’s big bats this season and although she only had one hit in the contest, it was an RBI triple that gave MHS an early 3-0 lead in the third inning.

Montevallo ended up coming back to tie the game and both teams traded runs throughout the middle innings.

That is, until the Red Devils erupted for a five-run eighth inning to take a commanding 10-5 heading into the bottom half.

Emily Smitherman kicked off her senior season in a big way with a three hits in four at-bats, the last of which was a single to leadoff the final inning’s barrage.

Shortly after, Cook drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double to center field.

Montevallo answered with a couple of its own runs but Maplesville’s advantage was too much to overcome.

Kaylee Wright pitched seven innings and allowed just two earned runs on four hits. She also had three strikeouts.

Lexi Smith pitched the final inning in relief and allowed two earned runs before finishing it off.

Maplesville improved to a record of 1-0 on the season.