For the first time this season, Montevallo softball coach Ron Holsombeck was reminded of last year’s team when he watched his Lady Bulldogs take the field.

Saturday was a good day for

Holsombeck as Montevallo (5-3) swept the Lady Bulldog Invitational, giving the coach a welcomed reminder of the potential of a team that went 26-9 last season before falling in sub-state play.

Senior pitcher Katie Jones was dominant for host Montevallo, working 15 innings across three games in which she allowed only four hits.

&uot;She has such great movement,&uot; Holsombeck said of Jones. &uot;She can work the corners as well as anyone I’ve seen. She can find a hitter’s weakness and attack it.&uot;

The Lady Bulldogs didn’t give up a run the entire tournament, defeating Jemison 3-0 in the morning game, then downing Chelsea 11-0 before beating Oak Grove 2-0 to clinch the tournament title.

While Jones’ impressive outing on the mound took pressure off of MHS batters, Holsombeck said he was equally pleased with his team’s performance at the plate – even in the absence of starting leadoff hitter Lauren Stephens, who was competing in a cheerleading competition out of town.

&uot;For us to have done so well offensively without (Stephens) is a good sign,&uot; Holsombeck said. &uot;She has been a real steady leadoff hitter for us for the past two years.&uot;

Temporarily filling Stephens’ spot in the lineup, outfielder Amy Boyd was a solid 3-for-8 with three runs and two RBIs on the weekend.

Montevallo 3, Jemison 0: Jones led off the tournament with 12 strikeouts against Jemison, who entered Saturday’s game at 4-0 on the season.

A mishandled bunt in the first inning kept Jones from recording a no-hitter as she went the distance and earned the shutout for Montevallo.

Haley Dennis put the Lady Bulldogs out to an early lead with a two-run double in the first and Jordan Archer scored Montevallo’s final run in the fourth.

Montevallo 11, Chelsea 0: Dee Dee Ray’s two-run double sparked a six-run third inning for the Lady Bulldogs.

Ray was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Amy Boyd and Melissa Staffney each had two RBIs and two runs scored.

Seventh grader Anna Nix didn’t allow a run in two innings of relief.

Montevallo 2, Oak Grove 0: Jones struck out seven in her second one-hitter of the day, walking only two batters in six innings.

Whitney Farrington and Amy Boyd scored Montevallo’s only runs while Staffney earned an RBI for the Lady Bulldogs