Pell City managed to keep its high school softball season alive with a walk-off triple play during the Alabama state playoffs. It was exhilarating for the Panthers and heartbreaking for the Hartselle Tigers.
The incredible play came in the bottom of the seventh inning of an elimination game. You can’t ask for a better finish!
Pell City played three softball games on Thursday to determine who would advance to the final day of the Class 6A state tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford. The Panthers jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the morning game but could not hold on and allowed the Athens Eagles to win 12-8 in extra innings. That initial loss moved them to the elimination bracket. A second loss would/will end their season.
However, Pell City rallied to beat Brookwood 8-5 to advance to the third game of the day against Hartselle. It took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning when things became precarious.
The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs. The winning run was on first base.
Hartselle flew out to center field on a ball not quite deep enough for the runner to tag up and score. She was tagged out at third base for out No. 1.
Meanwhile, the runner on second tried to advance to third but she got caught in a rundown when the runner on third chose not to try for home. The Panthers’ third baseman threw to the second baseman, who threw back to the third baseman for out No. 2. The next throw was to the centerfielder covering second base. She tagged out the runner coming from first to compete the third out and win the game.
If that written account of the epic triple play is confusing, here how it went down on the broadcast:
Bases loaded. No outs. 7th inning. How about a TRIPLE PLAY to get out of it to survive and advance.
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) May 16, 2025
Pell City with the win in a playoff elimination game in Alabama. pic.twitter.com/znB82vArH7
Here is closer look from center field:
Haven't seen many finishes like this one.
— Trevor Denton (@trevordenton37) May 15, 2025
Pell City softball beats Hartselle on a TRIPLE PLAY in a playoff elimination game: @AHSAAUpdates pic.twitter.com/EjkXv70s6f
I put the triple play as much on Hartselle as I do Pell City. Although it was great defense from the Panthers, it was the runner on third base who ultimately caused the Tigers’ season to end. She was committed to coming home until it was too late. By the time she turned back around, her teammates were in too deep on the base path to recalibrate. Chaos ensued. An epic triple play sealed their fate.