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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Thorsby High School’s Makinley Turner is this week’s athlete of the week after her performances at the AHSAA Class 2A State Softball Tournament on May 16-17. The senior entered the tournament with the number of games left in her high school career up to her as she controlled the circle for the Rebels. On May 16, Turner threw 284 pitches and stacked 27 strikeouts to help punch Thorsby’s ticket to the Final Four.

In the first round, Turner threw a no hitter in a 2-0 win over Pisgah High School that saw her place one base runner on by way of a walk, just one batter away from a perfect game. She had 11 strikeouts in the win that advanced the Rebels in the winner’s bracket to face Zion Chapel High School.

Turner threw a complete game again with a day-high 101 pitches, and 74 being called for a strike. She gave up two earned runs and put two batters on with walks, but she composed herself to pile up a day-high 12 strikeouts as well and send Thorsby to the Final Four against Wicksburg.

With a spot in the Class 2A state championship game on the line, Turner again threw a complete game and gave up just three hits and three runs, but only one was earned. She struck out four batters on 93 pitches, but the Rebels fell 3-0 to fall into the elimination bracket on May 17 for a rematch with Pisgah.

On May 17, Turner took the circle again and hurled seven more innings with 10 strikeouts. She was the lone Rebels hitter with multiple hits going 2-for-2 with an RBI-triple to lead the Rebels to the 2A state championship game.