Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

MOUNTAIN BROOK – Fresh off a 2-2 tournament record in Oxford over spring break, the Oak Mountain Eagles set the tone early on offense and cruised to a 13-3 win over the Mountain Brook Spartans on Monday, April 1 at Mountain Brook High School.

Emma Hawkins kicked off the game with a leadoff double and a passed ball and an error put runners on the corners for Anna DuBose.

After Sheridan Andrews stole second, DuBose hit an RBI single to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. An error on the next play extended that advantage to two runs.

Elia Carillo walked to load the bases right after, and while Mountain Brook took its first out on the next batter, Maggie Miller hit into a sacrifice fly to bring home Jenna Burson to make the lead 3-0.

The Spartans hit back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the first and score a run in response, but Oak Mountain got right back to work in the top of the second with Hawkins’ second lead-off double in as many innings and an Andrews walk.

After both runners stole bases, DuBose’s sacrifice fly on the next pitch brought Hawkins home for the fourth run of the game.

Alea Rye quickly made that lead 5-1 off a sharp RBI single to left that scored Andrews.

The Eagles only faced the minimum in the bottom of the second, and in the top of the third, a one-out single and stolen base by Bella Williams put another runner in scoring position for Oak Mountain.

Hawkins then hit a bunt single to get on base, and an error sent her to second and Williams home to increase the lead.

Mountain Brook then walked the next three batters, with the third scoring a run and making the score 7-1.

Two pitches later, Carillo plated a pair of runs off an RBI single, and then two pitches after that, Carolyn Graham hit into a ground out that brought Rye home for the 10-1 lead.

The Spartans got a run in the bottom of the frame off a bases-loaded walk, and after they held Oak Mountain scoreless in the top of the fourth, they scored again on a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 10-3.

However, a leadoff walk followed by Rye and Carillo singles loaded up the bases once again for the Eagles in the top of the fifth.

Then, Graham drew a bases-loaded walk, Miller plated a run off a fielder’s choice and an Emma McGregor sacrifice fly scored the 13th and final run of the game.

That score triggered the run rule, and Oak Mountain scored the win after dispatching Mountain Brook in four batters in the bottom of the inning.

Hawkins ended the day a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, joining Rye in reaching base in all three plate appearances as she went 2-for-2 with a walk, three RBIs and two runs. Williams went 3-for-4 with a run and Carillo had a 2-for-3 day with a walk and two RBIs.

Marian Cummings took the win with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings as she worked her way around two earned runs plus one unearned run, six hits and two walks.

The Eagles will have a few days of rest before traveling to Pike Road for a tournament on April 5-6. They will face Smiths Station and Montgomery Catholic in the opening day on Friday.