Cottondale Darlings experience state tournament
By: Shelia Mader
The Cottondale Darlings swept through the district and were named District Champs for the first time in Cottondale Rec Ball history. The next step was to prepare for the next step which was a state championship in Belleview. Opening ceremonies were out of the way and Friday morning, it was time to get down to business. Cottondale faced off against Port St. Joe in game one and the jitters were there for both teams. It was a 9-6 win for the PSJ but the game was tighter than the score revealed. The team regrouped and met a familiar opponent on the diamond Saturday morning. They took on their county rival from the east, the Sneads Darlings. It was Cottondale with the win. Mixed emotions were all over the field as this was the Sneads Darlings’ second loss and the end of their all-star season. In the second game of the day, and after a lengthy rain delay, Cottondale took the field against Spring Hill. The delay did nothing but build momentum for the young all-stars. They took the field and quickly posted 20 runs while shutting out the other team.
In their final game, they met the undefeated on Sunday morning, the eventual state champions, Okeechobee. They competed through five innings before falling short 4-2 after five complete innings.
PSJ deals Cottondale a loss
The Cottondale Darlings took the field Friday morning to take on the Port St. Joe Darlings. PSJ plated four runs in the top of the first inning with Cottondale answering with three runs. After a scoreless second inning, Port St. Joe added two runs with Cottondale countering with three runs. Port St. Joe tacked on a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to seal the win.
Offensively for Cottondale, Ellie Braxton led the way with two hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs, followed by Khrisalyn Dawson with a hit and an RBI, while Destiny Henderson had two hits and two runs scored. On board with two hits and one run scored was Ayla Christmas, followed by Ella Obert with a hit and a run scored. Millie Obert, Kennedy Parrish, Addison Malloy, Bailey Slay and Lila Obert each recorded a hit to round out the offense.
Cottondale ends Sneads season
Two teams from Jackson County traveled a ton of miles to face off against each other with Sneads and Cottondale both coming out on the losing end in their opening games Friday. When the final out was made, it was Cottondale advancing in the playoffs and Sneads headed back to Jackson County.
Offensively for Sneads, it was Rhylie Branch leading the way with two hits, followed by Amelia Varieur, May Mestas, Ashtyn Varn, and Anslee Williams recording one hit each.
Cottondale was led by Khrisalyn Dawson with two hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs followed by Ayla Christmas with two hits, a run scored, and two RBIs, while Ellie Braxton had two hits, two runs scored and one RBI. On board with two hits and two RBIs was Anna Claire Waters, followed by Millie Obert with two hits and two RBIs, while Lila Obert and Ella Obert each with two hits and two runs scored. It was Anna Claire Waters, Bailey Slay, and Destiny Henderson on board with two hits and a run scored each, while Kennedy Parrish and Addison Malloy added a hit each to their stats.
Cottondale collects 28 hits in shutout of Spring Hill
Everybody hits, everybody scores was the by-line to Saturday night’s rain delayed game. It was get a hit or get hit for the four-inning game for the Cottondale Darlings. They collected 20 runs on 28 hits, and one hit batter to pick up their second win in state tournament play and stay alive in the race for a state championship.
Leading the Cottondale Darlings was Lila Obert with three hits, one run scored, and three RBIs, followed by Ayla Kate Christmas with three hits, three runs scored, and two RBIs, while Ella Obert had three hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs. On board with three hits, two runs scored, and one RBI was Destiny Henderson, while Khrisalyn Dawson had three hits, two runs scored, and one RBI, with Kennedy Parrish and Halle Daniels adding two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI to their stats. Addison Malloy and Bailey Slay added two hits and two runs scored two runs, while Millie Obert added two hits to her stats, with Ellie Braxton taking one for the team and scoring a win.
Cottondale gives it their all
The Cottondale Darlings gave it everything they had Sunday morning when they took the field against the Okeechobee Darlings. Unfortunately, it wasn’t their day, falling 4-2 to the team that would claim the state championship just hours later.
Cottondale plated two runs in the top of the first inning with the opposition countering with three runs. Okeechobee added a fourth run in the third inning but that would be the last score of the game.
At the plate, Cottondale was led by Ellie Braxton with one hit and two RBIs, followed by Destiny Henderson and Ella Obert with two hits and one run scored each. Ayla Kate Christmas rounded out the offense with a hit.
The Cottondale Darlings season came to an end but not without a lot of memories being made. They’ll be back next year in search of a repeat at district champs and another opportunity at a state title!
Congratulations to a great group of players, coaches, and parents!