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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson Warriors continued their recent hot streak in area play as they got revenge against the one area team that has beaten them this season: the Vestavia Hills Rebels.

Thompson blanked Vestavia Hills 3-0 at home on Monday, April 8, and in the process, it claimed its 30th win of the season in its quest for a state championship.

Before the Warriors could pull away for the win, they had to overcome a pitcher’s duel throughout the game, but particularly for the first four innings.

Thompson’s Aubree Hooks remained in control in the circle, shutting out the Rebels while not allowing more than a hit an inning through the opening four frames. Vestavia Hills replicated the feat on the other side and prevented the Warriors from gaining momentum.

However, after Hooks took a strikeout to open the top of the fifth, the Rebels hit back-to-back singles to put the pressure on the hosts. That pressure only intensified when a fielder’s choice advanced the runners to second and third and a walk loaded the bases.

Hooks dealt with the pressure well and claimed her second strikeout of the inning to get out of the jam.

Keara Hall then immediately broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth as she launched a home run to center field on the first pitch of the half-inning, giving Thompson a 1-0 lead.

After a one-two-three inning in the top of the sixth, including another two strikeouts for Hooks, the Warriors got back to work in the bottom of the sixth.

Dailynn Motes drew a four-pitch walk with one out in the inning, and Laney Williams drove her home from first with an RBI double to increase the lead to 2-0.

After Mallory Flournoy came in to run for Williams and Vestavia Hills went to the bullpen, Kadyn Bush hit a line-drive single to center to bring Flournoy home, making the lead 3-0.

That proved to be the final run of the game for Thompson, and Kayla Haney came in with one out in the top of the seventh to finish the job after Hooks’ ninth strikeout of the game, securing the shutout win in the process.

In addition to her nine strikeouts, Hooks earned the win with 6.1 shutout innings while working around five hits and three walks. Haney was perfect in her 0.2 innings of relief.

Bush was the lone Warrior to finish the game with two hits in a 2-for-3 afternoon. She had one RBI as well, joining Williams and Hall as the other Thompson players to earn an RBI.

The 30-4 Warriors will hope to improve on their 3-1 area record as they host Tuscaloosa County on Thursday, April 11 at 4:30 p.m.