Softball: Centennial picks up walk-off victory in Gulf Shores

Makayla Cox singled home Lauren Johnson to complete a come-from-behind victory for the Centennial High School softball team Tuesday in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Cougars defeated Danville, Alabama, 3-2. 

Cox, a senior, went 3-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Centennial. Tied at 2-2, she singled on a ground ball up the middle on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom for the fifth inning.   

Sydney Lord got the start for the Cougars and closed four strikeouts while surrendering two unearned runs.  

Cox opened the scoring with a double that drove in fellow senior Alyssa Johnson in the first inning. In the top of the fourth, Adily Alberti of Danville hit a two-run homer to left field to give the Hawks a 2-1 edge. Lauren Johnson came in for relief and got the next Hawks' batter to fly out to Lord in right field. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Cox doubled again. Centennial junior Maddie Merritt pinch ran and advanced to third on a ground out by fellow junior Alex Brashears. She then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. 

Lauren Johnson singled and advanced to third on a hit by freshman Ansley Vaughn to set up Cox for the walk-off. Johnson earned her first win of the season in relief.

In the nightcap, Centennial lost to Brookwood, Georgia, 10-4. 

The Cougars had a strong third inning and scored four runs. Freshman catcher Ainsleigh Riggs singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt by senior Ellie Chung. Lauren Johnson followed with another single to drive in Riggs, then scored when Vaughn slapped a single over the Brookwood shortstop’s outstretched glove. Cox hit a towering home run to left center, scoring Vaughn as well for a 4-2 lead. 

The wheels came off in the bottom of the inning, as Centennial gave up two walks and several errors leading to six Brookwood runs. Brookwood racked up 18 hits in the contest. 

The tournament, which included more than 40 teams, concluded Wednesday. Centennial will host their first home game on Tuesday against LaVergne. 

Other Williamson County teams that competed in Gulf Shores included Nolensville, Summit, Independence, Brentwood Academy, Page and Grace Christian Academy. 

The Knights went 3-1 in pool play with wins against Tipton-Rosemark, Nashville Christian and Lafayette County. Their lone loss came against Tuscaloosa County, a 3-1 setback Tuesday.

Summit went 2-2 in pool play, while Independence closed 1-2-1, Page finished 1-3, Brentwood Academy was 0-2-2 and GCA ended 0-4.