Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Verbena High School picked up a crucial AHSAA Class 1A Area 6 win over Billingsley High School 6-3 on April 11. The Red Devils got a superb performance from Jaycee Quinn in the circle throwing all seven innings and giving up just six hits, three runs (two earned) and struck out 14 Billingsley hitters. Quinn was also a force at the plate going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

“Jaycee is a huge part of our program, but we have been getting contributions from other places,” Verbena coach Geoffery Lockhart said. “Kiara (Ray)took the leadoff spot and has been doing a great job at the plate and playing third base for us. Meagan (Shiver) took over our catching duties and has been doing great. It has been great to have some girls step in different spot.”

While the first meeting between the two schools went all Verbena’s way on March 13 winning 12-0, Billingsley showed some fight in game two and aside from one big inning from Verbena was in the game from start to finish.

Jasmin Moates put Verbena on top in the first inning with an RBI double. The Bears pulled the game back to a tie with an RBI double of their own in the second inning from Sadie Primm.

The big inning for Verbena came in the third inning when five runs were put on the board by the Red Devils. The inning was punctuated by an RBI double by Breanna Wright that scored two runs to put Verbena up 6-1. Kiara Ray also had a double for Verbena.

“We are playing pretty well overall,” Lockhart said. “It is one of those times where we are starting to play our best ball, which is perfect timing with the area tournament coming up. It is all going great.”

The Bears got a run back in both the fourth and fifth innings but could not claw back any closer. Amber Johnson was 2-for-3, and Megan Chandler and Primm each picked up an RBI. Ada Willis controlled the circle for the Bears throwing all six innings and gave up six hits, six runs and struck out nine hitters.