In 2015 the 03 Birmingham Giants became the only team in organization history to win the state tournament, and in 2016 they became the only Giants team to do it back to back, winning the 2016 open class USSSA State tournament. Posting a 7-1 mark in the tournament, their season record now stands at 13-8. In game 1 of the tournament the Giants were matched with Sharks Fastpitch. Chy Barnhill started the game in the circle, pitching all 4 innings of the 7-3 win, allowing 4 hits while striking out 2. At the plate hits came from Reese Lowery (1), Lauren Dill (2), Kailey Hicks (1), Krista Glaze (1), Abbie Warnick (2, 2b), Julia Petty (2b) and Taylor Simpkins (2).
In the 2nd game of pool play, Julia Petty took the circle allowing just 2 unearned runs over 4 innings, and no hits to go with 7 strike outs in the 3 -2 win. The no hitter was the first of 2 she would throw in the tournament. At the plate Chy Barnhill (1), Piper Lowery (1), Krista Glaze (1), and Julia Petty (1) all had hits for the Giants.
The win seeded the Giants first overall in their pool and slated them to play the saints first. Whitney sellers started the game in the circle, pitching the first 2 innings allowing just a couple of hits and 2 earned runs, before being relieved by Julia petty who struck out 5 of the 9 hitters she faced. At the plate hits from Chy Barnhill (2, 3b), Lauren Dill (3b), Kailey Hicks (1), Krista Glaze (3b), Julia Petty (1), Taylor Simpkins (1) and Piper Lowery who’s walk off single won the game in the bottom of the 5th inning to move the Giants into a match up with the Culman slammers.
Julia Petty tossed the Giants 2nd no hitter of the tournament striking out a 8 in 5 innings, while walking just 3, the only 3 to reach base. At the plate hits from Lauren Dill (2), Kailey Hicks (1), Piper Lowery (1), Krista Glaze (1), and Julia Petty (1) produced the 3 Giant runs.
In the 3rd round of bracket play, Julia Petty started the game in the circle pitching the first 3 innings striking out 4, before being relieved by Chy Barnhill. In a game that took 2 extra innings to decide the Giants hitters pulled out the 6 -5 win. Hits came from Chy Barnhill (2, 2b), Lauren Dill (2, 2b), Kailey Hicks (2), Krista Glaze (2,3b), Abbie Warnick (1), Julia Petty (2), and Taylor Simpkins (2).
The win moved the Giants into the semi finals of the State tournament against the Angels. The Giants battled the scrappy Angels team for 4 innings, scoring 3 runs in the last inning to pull out the 6-5 win. Reese Lowery (2, 2b), Chy Barnhill (2), Lauren Dill (1), Julia Petty (1), Taylor Simpkins (1), and Whitney Sellers (1) all had hits and Crimson Russell drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly to give the Giants the 6-5 win.
The win moved the Giants into the finals for the second year in a row, as the undefeated top seed, to face the Jags 03 team.
The Jags posted 6 runs in the first 2 innings before the Giants got going, scoring 6 of the own the last 3 innings before falling 7-6. Hits in the first championship game came from Chy Barnhill (1,2b), Piper Lowery (1,2b), Krista Glaze (1), Julia Petty (1), Taylor Simpkins (2), and Whitney Sellers (2b). Although the loss was disappointing it did not eliminate the Giants, but set up a winner take all final game with the Jags.
As she has done so many times in the past, Julia Petty took the circle and promptly tossed a 3 hit shut out, while striking out 3. At the plate Chy Barnhill (1), Lauren Dill (2), Krista Glaze (1), Julia Petty (2, 3b), and Whitney Sellers (1) had all the hits the Giants needed in the 5-0 win, and their 2nd straight state championship.
