By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

The Pelham High School softball team fell one game shy of reaching the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state tournament following a 7-4 loss to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.

Caitlyn Sapp led the Panthers offensively as she finished 3-for-4 at the plate. Sapp drove in two runs and scored one run.

Mary Morgan Dramer, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 3-for-4 at the plate. Whitney Gillespie, who drove in two runs and scored one run, finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Alicia Richardson went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored one run. Emily Spain finished 1-for-2 at the plate. Madi Walker went 1-for-4 at the plate.

Gillespie took the loss in the circle after giving up six earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Spain allowed one earned run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in one inning.

The Panthers avenged a loss to Mountain Brook in its region tournament opener following a 3-2 win May 12 over the Spartans.

Kristian Foster led the Panthers offensively as she finished 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in one run.

Spain went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Sapp, Walker and Erin Whitman added two hits each, while Reagan Curtis and Gillespie added one hit each.

Gillespie earned the win in the circle after giving up two runs, including one earned run, on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk in a complete-game victory.

Pelham defeated Gardendale 3-2 in the tournament May 12.

Dramer led the Panthers offensively as she finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Foster, Sapp, Gillespie, Whitman, Spain and Becky Fox added one hit each.

Spain earned the win in the circle in relief after giving up one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings.

Pelham defeated Minor 14-0 in the tournament May 11.

Dramer led the Panthers offensively with two hits. Foster, Sapp, Gillespie, Whitman, Fox, Spain and Madison Ledford added one hit each in the win.

Fox earned the win after giving up just one hit with five strikeouts in a three-inning complete-game victory.

Fox led the Panthers with two hits in Pelham’s 2-1 loss to Mountain Brook in its tournament opener May 12.

Gillespie took the loss after giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in a complete game.