The 01 Birmingham Giants finished their 2015 state tournament campaign at 3-3, playing all the way into sunday. After a rocky start on friday night with a 7-2 loss to Shoals Rythm, the Giants rebounded going 3-2 in their next 5 games, finishing 12th of 26 teams.
In Game 1 of Pool Play, the Giants faced off with the Shoals Rythm. The Giants fell behind early and did not recover in the 7-2 loss. Offensively the Giants were led by Cassi Williams (1), Charity Bibbs (1, HR), and Allison Roberson (1, 2b).
In Game 2, The Giants first game on Saturday, the Giants behind a solid pitching performance from Charity Bibbs, who held Sweat heat to just 1 run over 4 innings, while striking out 4 in the 3-1 win. Hits from Charity Bibbs (1, 2b), Cassi Williams (1), Turner Cole (1), Francis Fowler (1), and Kennedy Jackson (1) drove in the 3 Giants runs on the way to the victory and 2nd seed in their pool.
In their first bracket play game, The 01 Giants were slated to play DFS. After fairly quick first inning from starter , the Giants jumped on DFS for 3 first inning runs and never looked back in the 5-1 win.
Allowing just 4 hits and striking out 5 in the 4 innings, Giants pitchers controlled the game, led by Skylar Street and closed out by Francis Fowler. Hits from Cassi Williams (2), Sarah Grace Moore (1), Allison Roberson (1), and Kennedy Jackson (1,2b) powered the Giants offense to the victory, and moved them on to the next round in bracket play.
In the 2nd round of bracket play, the Giants met up with the Eagles from Fairview. The Giants fell behind early 3-1, and never caught up in the 8-1 loss. Hits from Turner Cole (1), Charity Bibbs (2), Allison Roberson (2), Skylar Street (1), Francis Fowler (1,2b), and Taylor Dawkins (1) were not enough to over come the 8-1 final score.
The Loss dropped the Giants to the Losers bracket to once again face off with Sweat Heat. After trailing early 2-1, a 5 run 4th inning put the Giants ahead for good, as they cruised to a 7-3 win.
In the circle, Charity Bibbs went all 5 innings, striking out 7, allowing 5 hits along the way in the victory. Offensively the Giants were paced by Allison Roberson (1), Turner Cole (1), Charity Bibbs (2, 1 2b), Sarah Grace Moore (2, 12b), Skylar Street (1), Francis Fowler (1,2b), and Kennedy Jackson (1,2b). The win moved the Giants on to a matchup with the North Alabama Thunder.
In a hard fought, competitive battle, the Giants stranded 8 runners over 5 innings, and were upset 2-0.Charity Bibbs pitched all 5 inning in the circle, allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs in the first inning, but it was not enough as the Giants fell 2-0. Offensively the Giants got hits from Allsion Roberson (1), Sarah Grace Moore (1), Charity Bibbs (1), Kennedy Jackson (1), Francis Fowler (1), Tori Layfield (1), and Maci Harris (1), but leaving 5 of the 8 runners in scoring position was the Giants downfall and the lost 2-0.
The Giants are now 14-12 on the season, doubling their win total from the fall, and will play their showcase double header next at Birmingham Southern on July the 11th.
