Northview, Enterprise play in 6A tourney

One team enters with plenty of momentum.

The other enters as a perceived underdog.

Both hope to continue that way at the Class 6A softball state tournament today and Friday in Montgomery.

Northview, one of the hottest teams in the Wiregrass, plans to build off two straight tournament titles. Enterprise, one of the most unexpected finalists in 6A, wants to continue to surprise.

The two Wiregrass programs, who finished one-two at the South Central Regional on Saturday, open the double-elimination state tournament today.

Northview (36-14) battles defending state champion and second-ranked Hueytown (37-10). Enterprise (34-22-1) faces third-ranked Tuscaloosa County (49-10). Both games are at 10:30 a.m. Win or lose both play again at 3 p.m.

The other opening games feature fifth-ranked Satsuma (50-6) against Huntsville (38-12-2) and top-ranked Sparkman (49-8) against Theodore (31-15).

For Northview, it marks the second state tournament in three years. Enterprise is playing its third fastpitch state tournament since 1999 and first since 2006.

Cougars on roll
In a span of four days, the Cougars won the area tournament then the regional tournament, going 7-1 in that stretch.

“Things are clicking at the right time,” Northview head coach Jessica Noble said. “We have a lot of good momentum going into state.

“The pitching is on, we are playing great defense and everybody is hitting at the right time.”

Cougar players are also upbeat about their chances.

“We have a lot of team chemistry and we play well together,” senior Taylor Martin said. “We are also a good tournament team. If we play our best, we will do good.”

Five players — seniors Martin, Brynn Benak and Emily Peterman, plus sophomores Mollie Hanson and Kristen McLure — were on Northview’s state tournament team two years ago. The Cougars went 0-2, losing to Hueytown 1-0 and to Vestavia Hills 4-0.

“We know what to expect,” Benak said. “We have been in that environment and we know we have to play hard in that ‘pressured-filled’ environment.”

Martin added, “We are more prepared. We are not as nervous. It makes us more confident because we are not going in there not knowing anything.”

While five players do have state tournament experience, most of the players don’t. However, the veterans said they plan to guide the youngsters through it.

“We will just tell them that we will play the best of the best teams and that we have to play our best to beat them,” Peterman said.

Benak added, “We will tell them to try to focus and treat it as any other tournament, yet know this is state. We have to stay on our game, stay focused and not get nervous.”

Today’s opening opponent, Hueytown, is no stranger to the Cougars. The two played each other at a tournament in Pelham April 10. Hueytown won 1-0.

“We held them 0-0 going into the fifth and they put two hits together and were able to scratch a run,” Noble said. “They have a very good pitcher (Leigha Streetman), but we have seen that pitcher and we know what to expect. We know we can hang with them.”

The players are equally optimistic about “hanging” with Hueytown.

“Obviously they are good hitters, but we played good defense,” Peterman said of the first meeting. “They got just one good hit up the middle that scored the run.

“We can hang with them if we play our best and if we hit better than last time.”

Wildcats hope to be underdog champs
Enterprise head coach Ben Thompson feels his team is the underdog at the tournament and he doesn’t mind.

The Wildcats enter with the lowest winning percentage (.605) of the eight teams.

“I think on paper people will overlook us as probably one of the weaker teams,” Thompson said. “I know our girls are not weak and I don’t think Northview feels we’re weak, but I believe some of the northern teams probably do. Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage.”

The Wildcats haven’t blown people away, but have found a way to win low-scoring games behind solid pitching.

“Our pitching came through as it has all year,” Thompson said. “It gave us a chance to win at the end of the game.”

Like Northview, Enterprise has already faced its opening-round opponent this year. The Wildcats lost to Tuscaloosa County at a tournament in Gulf Shores.

“We lost 4-3, but we had a few runners at third we couldn’t get in, so we had opportunities,” Thompson said.

Enterprise also went 2-4 against tournament participant Northview and lost to Sparkman 6-0 and Satsuma 3-1 in previous tournament games.

“Of the eight teams, we have played four, so we know what to expect and the girls will not be intimidated,” Thompson said. “We are going up there with every intention of winning the whole thing.”