The 03 Birmingham Giants went 5-0 in their Gardendale tournament this weekend, sweeping the competition, going 5-0 and winning their 4th tournament of the year. Leading the way were 2 No Hitters, back to back thrown by Chy Barnhill, and Julia Petty, the clubs 10th and 11th all time. Elissa Glaze also became the single season and all time softball triples leader with her 7th and 8th on the young season and 11th all time as a Giant.
In game 1 of pool play the 03 Giants faced off with the 03 Geaux Play Saints, a team they had already beaten this season. 10 Giant runs, and their first no hitter of the tournament and the Giants cruised to victory. Chy Barnhill (8-1) pitched her 3rd no hitter for the Giants and first of the season, going 3 innings, allowing 2 walks while striking out 3. Offensively the Giants were lead by Elissa Glaze’s 2 record breaking triples, Chy Barnhill (1), Reese Lowery (2), Ali King (1), Lauren Dill (1), Kailey Hicks (1,2b), Piper Lowery (1), Julia Petty (1), and Abbie Warnick (1 2b), as the Giants won 10-0.
In game 2 of pool play, the Giants took on a mix team of the 02/03 Wild Things. Julia Petty fired the 11th no hitter in Giants History, going 4 innings, striking out 5, while walking 3. Offensively the Giants were lead by Chy Barnhill (2), Reese Lowery (1), Lauren Dill (1), Kailey Hicks (1), Piper Lowery (1), and Krista Glaze(1), and Whitney Goodwin who scored the go ahead run after drawing a 8 pitch walk to start the inning.
After seeding 1st overall, the Giants faced off with the Cleats in the second round of bracket play. Always a tougher team, the cleats battled the Giants, but the Giants 03, emerged with a 5-0 win. In the Circle, Chy Barnhill went 3 innings for the win and Julia Petty closed of the final 2 innings. Barnhill went 3 innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 3, and Petty closed the final 2, allowing 2 hits while striking out 3. This was the Giants 3rd straight shut out of the tournament. The Giants amassed 8 hits, and drew 3 walks enroute to the 5-0 win. Ali King (1), Lauren Dill (1), Kailey Hicks (2, 2b), Julia Petty (2), Abbie Warnick (1), and Krista Glaze (1). The Giants would move on to the Semi Finals to face the 02/03 Going Yard team.
Chy Barnhill started the Semi Final game in the circle for the Giants, going 2 innings, allowing just 1 unearned run, while striking out 1. Julia Petty closed out the final 3 innings for the save, allowing no hits and striking out 3. Chy Barnhill had 2 hits , followed by Elissa Glaze (1,2b), Ali King (2), Kailey Hicks (1), and Piper Lowery (1). the Giants prevailed 3-1 and moved to the finals.
In Game 5, (the Finals), the Giants 03, again faced off with the Going Yard 02/03 team. After falling behind early 3-0 after 2 innings, the Giants erupted for 7 3rd inning runs, to take a 7-3 lead going into the final inning. Going yard capitalized on 3 Giant errors in the final frame to take an 8-7 lead into the home half. Chy Barhill lead off the inning with a walk, but was thrown out at second, and the Giants were down to their final 2 outs with Reese Lowery on 1st. After Lowery stole second, Elissa Glaze doubled her to third with 1 out, and Ali King at the plate. King hit the first pitch into right center field for a walk off double and a Giants win 9-7. Julia Petty(9-3) pitched the Final 3 innings for the win. Offensively the Giants were lead by Chy Barnhill(1), Elissa Glaze (3, 2 2b), Ali King (2, 2 2b), Lauren Dill (1, 2b), Piper Lowery (1), Julia Petty (2), Abbie Warnick (1), and Krista Glaze (1), and the Giants were champions again for the 4th time in 5 tournaments, running their record to 18-5 on the season.
On the weekend the Giants drew 18 walks, while striking out only 5 times for the weekend. Giants pitchers handed out just 16 walks, while striking out 19, in 21 Innnings. Giants hitters out hit the competition 45-9 with 9 extra base hits.
