Northview advances to semifinals

MONTGOMERY — Northview’s defense never rested.

So the Cougars got some extra rest on Day 1 of the Class 6A state softball tournament.

The Cougars (38-14) showed poise and pitching while winning a pair of extra-inning games. Northview beat second-ranked Hueytown 1-0 in 10 innings to start the tournament, then edged No. 5 Satsuma 2-1 in eight innings.

As a result, Northview will play Sparkman today at 9 a.m. for a spot in the finals. The Cougars can finish no worse than third in the state.

Northview coach Jessica Noble said starters Emily Peterman and Mollie Hanson kept the Cougars in the game long enough for the offense to manufacture runs.

“The girls realize that when Em and Mollie and Kate (Benton) are pitching great games, they know one or two runs is going to win the game,” Noble said.

Of course, the defense behind the pitching was crucial.

“We played great defense today,” Noble said. “We had a couple double plays that were real momentum killers.”

The biggest of those came against Satsuma, which got Lannah Campbell aboard on an error to start the bottom of the seventh in a 1-1 game.

But Hannah Campbell followed with a liner right back to Hanson, who quickly fired to first and doubled off Lannah Campbell. The next two batters — Courtney
Singley and Marissa Odom, respectively — singled and doubled to put runners on second and third.

Haley Brown popped up to catcher Kristen McLure to end the inning.

“Runner on first, no outs, bottom of the seventh,” Noble said. “You think things are going to happen. For Mollie to turn that double play, that was big.”

Northview scored in the top of the eighth. After two quick outs, Peterman drew a walk against Satsuma left-hander Lannah Campbell. Brynn Benak also walked.

Kasey Cooper then lined an 0-1 pitch to right-center for a single. Peterman charged around third. Center fielder LeLe Martin’s throw to the plate was a bit up the
first-base line and Peterman slid in safely as catcher Haley Brown lunged back for the tag.

“I was due for a hit,” Cooper said. “I was looking for a changeup, and as soon as I got one I hit it.”

“I knew without a doubt if Cooper got a hit I was going to send Em (from second),” Noble said. “You want to make the outfield make the play. Coop hit it just
right, and we scored.”

Hanson, a sophomore, had two strikeouts in a scoreless bottom of the inning to preserve the win.

“We knew they were really good hitters and we knew had to make plays on defense — and we definitely did,” Hanson said. “The defense definitely stepped up.
I’m so excited for the seniors. We’re at least top three in the state.”

The game’s other runs came in the first inning. Northview took a 1-0 lead when Kate Benton led off with an infield single. She moved around to third and scored
on a fielder’s choice.

“They tried to pick Kate off and the ball went off her toward the fence in foul territory and she came home,” Noble said.

Satsuma tied it in the bottom of the first when Martin led off with a triple and scored as Courtney Lollar reached on an error.

Benton and Hanson each had two singles in the game.

Hanson scattered four hits and struck out seven.

Northview 1, No. 2 Hueytown 0: The Cougars started the tournament in style with a 10-inning victory over Hueytown.

Northview (37-14) scored in the bottom of the 10th. Brynn Benak reached on an error to lead off the inning. While Hueytown’s Leigh Streetman was retiring the next two batters, she also had passed balls that allowed Benak to reach third.

Benak scored the game-ending run on an 0-1 passed ball to Taylor Martin.

Northview’s Emily Peterman pitched a three-hitter and struck out nine batters.

Streetman surrendered only an infield single to Kate Benton in the fourth inning. She finished with 18 strikeouts, including 11 of the first 13 Cougar batters.

Peterman got a double play from her defense to end the fourth inning. She also got out of a jam when Hueytown had two of its three hits in the fifth. Heather
Johnston and Kensley Taylor doubled and singled, respectively, to put runners on first and third with one out. But Micala Tramel flied out to Benton at
shortstop, and Kendall Coker’s fly ball to right was caught by Madison Poland to end the inning.

“Em got us off to a great start in the morning,” Noble said of Peterman.