Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

ALABASTER – While one game stood between the Thompson Warriors and the start of their postseason journey, they didn’t overlook their regular season finale against the Helena Huskies with such an important night planned.

Thompson held its Strike Out Cancer game against Helena on Tuesday, April 23 at Thompson High School to raise awareness for cancer and support one of its own in their fight with the disease.

The Warriors helped raise funds during the game for Thompson High School principal Michael Lee and his family as his wife battles cancer.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lee expressed his gratitude for everyone who helped plan and organize the event.

“There aren’t enough words to express my appreciation to Thompson softball, Thompson cheer, the THS athletic department and Alabaster City Schools for planning this event to honor my wife and her battle with cancer,” Lee said. “Thank you so much.”

On the field, the Warriors cruised to a 12-2 win in five innings to down the Class 6A No. 1 Huskies.

After a one-two-three top of the first inning, Thompson used a one-out walk and Dailynn Motes single to put a pair of runners on base in the bottom half of the inning.

Laney Williams then laid down a sacrifice bunt to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead, and Kadyn Bush quickly doubled that advantage with an RBI single.

Thompson then resumed its rally in the bottom of the second with a lead-off single from Keara Hall. She advanced to third off a stolen base and sacrifice bunt to set up Neely Davis for the RBI single which made the lead 3-0.

While the next batter got out to put the Warriors in a two-out hole, Olivia Tindell was hit by a pitch to extend the inning. From there, Motes hit an RBI single and Williams plated two runs off a single of her own to take the lead to 6-0.

However, an error and a Presley Lively single put two runners on for Hannah Steele, and she hit a two-run single to put Helena on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to four.

That 6-2 lead wouldn’t hold for long as a walk and a hit by pitch in the bottom half of the third put two runners on with one out for Thompson. While the next batter hit into an infield fly, another walk loaded up the bases.

Tindell capitalized with a two-run RBI single to reclaim her team’s six-run lead, and three pitches later, Motes had a two-run hit of her own with a bases-clearing double to increase the lead to 10-2.

While the fourth inning came and went without a run, Nora Ellis was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the fifth, giving the Warriors a chance to end the game by the run rule.

Hannah Hobbs delivered in the spot with a two-run home run to seal the 12-2 victory.

Aubree Hooks took the win with three strikeouts in 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and no walks in the process. Autumn Ingle earned the save with four strikeouts in two perfect innings.

Motes led the offense with a 3-for-3 day with three RBI and two runs. Williams also had three RBI in a 1-for-2 performance and Tindell earned two RBI and three runs while going 1-for-1 with a walk.