For the 5th time in the history of the Birmingham Giants, a Giants pitcher turned in a No Hitter. Making her first start in Giants orange, Skylar Street went 4 innings, striking out 4 and walking 0 on her way to her first win of the season, during the Giants state tournament campaign.
The Giants began the tournament facing a Bama Pride team from Rainsville Alabama, and it took nearly all of the 5 innings for the Lady Giants to pull off a 5th inning 4-2 come back win. Through the first 41/2 innings the Giants found themselves trailing 2-1, and when the 5th inning started with a strike out, the outlook seemed grim. Lauren Cabiness singled, followed by a single from Emily “red” Shirley, and a triple by Ka’Mya Hampton, and an RBI from Skylar Street and the Giants had a 4-2 victory.
In game 2, the Giants faced the Fyffe Strikers, and a 3 run home run put the Giants down early 3-0. In the bottom of the first, the Giants lead off Hitter Abby Kellogg hit the second pitch of the game into left field for a lead off home run, followed by a single from Emily Shirley, and a double from Ka’Mya Hampton, and the Giants trailed 3-2 after the first. To lead off the bottom of the second, singles from Kinley Hall and Kim Livingston and Olivia Renta who reached on an error led the charge and the Giants had a 5-3 lead going into the last inning. The Strikers scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, and the Giants trailed 6-5 going into the home half of the inning. A walk to Ka’Mya Hampton, and a double from Skylar Street and the Giants had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out, but were unable to push the tying run across, and fell 6-5. Offensively the Giants were lead by Abby Kellogg (HR), Emily Shirley (single), Ka’Mya Hampton (double), Skylar Streets (double), and singles from Kinley Hall, Kim Livingston, and Maci Harris.
In the first game in Bracket play, the Giants again played the Bama Pride team, this time the outcome was a bit different. Skylar Street’s no hitter, combined with 11 hits and the Giants had a 6-0 victory. Streets no hitter was the third this season and second by a pitcher making her first start of the season. Offensively the Giants were lead by Abby Kellogg (2-2), Emily Shirley (2-2), Ka’Mya Hampton (1-1) , Maci Harris (2-2), and hits from Kim Livingston, Kinley Hall, Skylar Street, Olivia Renta.
For their 4th game of the day, and second bracket play game, the Giants again faced the Strikers from Fyffe. Despite a well pitched game from Olivia Renta (21-17) the Giant were beaten 4-2, again stranding the tying runs on 2nd and 3rd in the final inning. Offensively the Giants were lead by Abby Kellogg (2-2), Kim Livingston, and Elizabeth Wheat.
In their 3rd bracket play game the Giants managed only 3 hits against the Tomahawks, highlighted by a double by Emily Shirley and 2 outstanding defensive plays by Abby Kellogg and Cassi Williams and fell 5-0 to be eliminated from the tournament.
Despite allowing just 17 runs in 5 games (3.4 per) the Giants finished their first Nsa state tournament 2-3, and 28-22 overall on the season, 1 win shy of the club record of 29 with 1 tournament remaining.
