By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Maplesville defeated Thorsby 4-3 in the first game of the county softball tournament at Isabella High School on March 16.

The crowd was a sea of red and black as the two county teams faced off to open the tournament in a nail-biter.

The tiebreaking score came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Karley Smitherman ran into home plate accompanied by the cheering of her teammates after Emily Smitherman made contact on the pitch.

The game was close throughout after an eventful first inning. Thorsby scored one run in the top half. Maplesville rounded out the bottom with two runs after Josey Smitherman walked and Thorsby made a fielding error on Emily Emitherman’s bat. A single by Emily McGee brought the duo home from their positions on second and third to establish a one-point lead.

Thorsby closed the gap in the top of the third when Ashly Cleckler scored on a sacrifice hit from Madisyn Ellison.

Maplesville returned the favor in the bottom of the fourth when Megan Weaver capitalized on an error to score a run after Brinley Carter’s bat.

After an uneventful fifth, Thorsby’s Cameron Lockhart made a run with a close call at home plate. This brought the score to a tie, but Thorsby could not hold off the Maplesville offense in the bottom of the sixth.

Maplesville’s victory in the opening game came from base hits at crucial moments and runners capitalizing on walks and errors.