By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Chelsea High School softball team advanced to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 5A state tournament following a runner-up finish in the South Central Region tournament May 14 in Troy.

The Hornets will meet Mortimer Jordan, which has captured two of the past three AHSAA Class 5A championships, in the quarterfinal round of the double-elimination tournament at noon May 20 at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

Chelsea fell to Hueytown 14-7 in the AHSAA Class 5A South Central Region championship game.

Kacie Craft led the Hornets at the plate as she finished 2-for-4 with a double. Craft drove in one run and scored two runs in the defeat.

Morgan Pence finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs. Alex Osborn, who drove in two runs and scored one run, went 1-for-4 at the plate with a homer.

Osborn gave up five earned runs on four hits with four walks in three innings in the defeat. Pence allowed four earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in three innings.

Chelsea opened the region tournament with a 10-0 win over Chilton County.

Caitlin Bice led the Hornets at the plate as she finished 3-for-4 with a homer and a double. Bice drove in five runs and scored two runs in the victory.

Allie Luster went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and drove in one run. Carley Toretta, who drove in two runs and scored one run, finished 2-for-3 at the plate.

Pence earned the win after giving up just two hits with three strikeouts and a walk in four innings.

The Hornets topped Demopolis 4-0 in their second game.

Bice led Chelsea at the plate as she finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and drove in one run.

Amanda Mock, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a homer. Pence went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in two runs. Osborn finished 2-for-3 at the plate.

Bice earned the win after giving up just one hit with eight strikeouts and four walks in a complete game.

Hueytown handed Chelsea its first loss, 4-2, in the Hornets’ third game in the tournament.

Osborn led Chelsea as she finished 2-for-2 at the plate and scored one run.

Pence allowed one earned run on one hit with two strikeouts and three walks in two innings. Bice gave up two earned runs on four hits in three innings.

Chelsea advanced out of the consolation bracket following a 10-0 win over rival Shelby County.

Toretta led the Hornets at the plate as she finished 3-for-4 with two doubles. Toretta drove in two runs and scored two runs in the victory.

Amber McCarty, who drove in one run and scored three runs, finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Osborn, who drove in one run and scored two runs, went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Bice earned the win after giving up just five hits with four strikeouts in a complete game.