Brew Tech wins regional to earn third trip in four years to state tourney

Brewbaker Tech won the Class 5A Central Regional earlier this week and will play in the state tournament beginning May 12. (Contributed)

COMBINED REPORTS

BrewTech edged Beauregard on Tuesday to earn the Class 5A Central Regional championship at Lagoon Park Softball Complex, sending the Rams back to the state tournament for the third time in four years.

Brew Tech will face Faith Academy in the opening round of the 5A state tournament on May 12 at 9 a.m. in Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.

The Lady Rams beat three different area champions en route to their regional championship, beating Area 7 champion Demopolis 8-2 in game one on Monday before beating Area 8 champion Shelby County 13-8 in game two to put them into the championship game.

The 5A Central Regional championship game provided a matchup with Area 6 champion Beauregard. The Lady Rams got on the board in the first inning thanks to a two-run home run from sophomore Kaymarria Bandy.

Beauregard would tie it in the top of the fourth and score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning. Trailing 3-2 in their last at-bat, the Lady Rams had the top of their lineup due up and they produced a pair of runs to pull out the victory.

Junior Jaila Griffin started the inning with a single to center field and proceded to steal second, putting the game-tying run in scoring position. Senior Taliah July also singled up the middle, moving Griffin to third before July stole second base. Junior Kyra Wallace worked a full count before hitting a walk-off, two-run double to right field for the regional title.

Wallace was a key component to the regional championship run, giving up just five earned runs in 18 innings pitched while striking out 11 and walking just one batter. At the plate, she was 5 of 9 with three RBIs, including a walk, two times hit by pitch along with her game-winning double.

Taliyah Chuku was 5 for 10 with a walk and three runs scored, while Heleyna Pennic also batted .500 in the tournament, going 4 for 8 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a walk.

Kaymarria Bandy went 4 for 11 with two RBIs, a run scored, a walk and a home run, while Kelsey Williams was 4 for 11 with three RBIs.

The Lady Rams will play in their third state tournament in the last four years and are aiming for their second state championship in softball. Brew Tech finished fifth in its first state tournament appearance in 2022 before winning the 5A state championship in 2023.