GDW Analysis:
Opening weekend of the 2025 AHSAA softball began with three local teams getting on the field, adjusting to different weather conditions.
Good Hope was the first to play as the Lady Raiders were able to defeat Hueytown in the opener 5 to 4 down in Jefferson County.
The defending Cullman County tournament championship split a twinbill Friday with a 14 to 4 win against Oak Grove and an 8 to 3 loss to Corner.
Hanceville went to a tournament in Priceville with games vs, Priceville and Florence Friday and against Grissom on Saturday.
West Point served as host for an opening weekend invitational.
Under new coach Kevin Folds, the Lady Warriors dropped their opener Friday to Danville 6 to 2 at Mike Brown Field.
On a blustery Saturday morning, Gameday Weekly withstood the elements as did West Point. The first victory for coach Folds came by an 8 to 3 triumph against East Lawrence.
West Point was scheduled to finish up its assignment with an afternoon matchup vs. Madison Academy.
Others that were involved in this two day affair were Danville, Madison Academy, East Lawrence, Athens and Brewer.
West Point has a mixture of experience and newcomers to work with Folds, who was on the staff as an assistant coach in 2024.
The experience returning includes P/1B Kara Jones, 3B Macie Brown, CF Katie Beth Yovino.
Two days before, Brown, Yovino and Kealie Harbison were in basketball attire, playing for the Lady Warriors in the Northwest Regional semifinal against Arab. That season ended with a 51 to 50 loss.
A day later, the three went on to the diamond in making the adjustment from an indoor sport to playing outdoors.
Game time conditions Saturday were cloudy skies, temperature in the mid 50s and gusty wins of over 15 mph. It made the feel like condition to be in the upper 40s.
The tournament was a round robin setup with the games to be played in a time frame of 1 hour, 15 minutes.
West Point started the East Lawrence as the visitor and finished the contest at 10:20 a.m. a total of an hour and 14 minutes.
Shortstop Averee Folds belted a solo home run in the 1st for West Point to take the lead.
A single from Kylee Burks in the 2nd scored Folds who led off the inning with a double.
Burks raced home when Zailee Love doubled. Love scored on a ground out to short by Yovino and the Lady Warriors were up 4 to 0.
Folds stroked a single in the 3rd and was home on a misplayed ground ball hit by Burks to short and a 5 to 0 advantage.
Courtni Baker was in the circle for West Point and in good form until East Lawrence scored three in their half of the 3rd.
Two runs came in when the Lady Warriors had two bad throws on a bunt single.
Baker then got out of further trouble.
Yovino singled in a run in the 4th and scored on a wild pitch. Jones delivered a run scoring double with the Lady Warriors going into the bottom of the inning ahead 8 to 3.
Baker ended the game with a strikeout. She allowed 3 unearned runs on 3 hits, 3 scoreless innings and 2 strikeouts.
West Point had four extra base hits, including a first inning blast by Folds. Folds would deliver 3 hits and score twice.
Photo of West Point softball in pregame at Mike Brown Field Saturday morning.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton
