By DREW GRANTHUM /Sports writer

In case you haven’t noticed, between the signs and the painted windows on Main Street in Columbiana, something very special is going on.

That something special is the Shelby County High Lady Wildcats softball team, and their upcoming trip to Montgomery to take part in the AHSAA 5A State Finals. They aren’t just doing well going into state, they are on an absolute roll, taking down every opponent they’ve faced in postseason play.

“It gives us confidence winning six in a row to get to state,” said head coach Ashley Phillips. “We played some 6A schools to get better, and played them right before area as a playoff test.”

It took a heady play to make the unbeaten streak happen, too. In the regional championship against Briarwood, SCHS was up by the smallest of margins when Briarwood looked to have sealed the game on a last inning home run. Wildcat catcher Jaselyn Harrison noticed that the Briarwood batter didn’t touch home play after running the bases, and protested to the umpire.

The batter was called out, and Shelby County won in extra innings to remain unbeaten.

“(Jaselyn) was watching,” Phillips said. “It was a good call. It’s a shame for the (Briarwood player), she hit a good ball.”
While the Wildcats are on a roll, and they have the No. 1 seed going into the tournament, Phillips said they still have a few things to work on.

“We’re going to have to hit better,” he said. “I think that’s going to be key.”

SCHS will take on Hayden High at noon May 17 at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.