The Mortimer Jordan softball team (20-13) handed top-ranked Gardendale its second loss of the season on Thursday night in Kimberly thanks to a tiebreaking solo shot off the bat of senior Morgan Maze.

After Gardendale (31-2) climbed back from a six-run deficit, the shortstop put her team out front 10-9 with a fifth-inning bomb.

“We have the talent, we have the tools to win the whole thing in 5A,” said Mortimer Jordan interim head coach Stephen Manning.

Mia Townsend led the sixth-ranked Blue Devils with three RBIs to go with three hits from Ansley Grimes and two walks from Danilyn Moore. Maddie Maze struck out seven batters in 4 2/3 innings on Thursday.

For Gardendale, Abbie Waters slapped in three runs on as many hits. Second baseman Carlee McCondichie chipped in with two RBIs of her own.

The Mortimer Jordan baseball team (24-8) clinched the Class 5A, Area 11 championship with a 15-10 home win over Springville (18-10) Thursday.

Four runs in the first and seven more in the fourth helped the Blue Devils secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Mortimer Jordan will host the Area 10 runner-up—likely Central Clay County (14-9)—for a best-of-three series beginning next Friday.

Center fielder Garrison McCleney swung in two runs on a 2 for 4 effort while scoring two runs of his own. Ian Ellerbrock and Zach Prisoc both came through with a pair of RBIs.

Mortimer Jordan opened the Area 11 series with an 8-4 road win on Tuesday.

The Corner baseball team (17-14) closed out its Class 5A, Area 11 schedule with a series win over St. Clair County this week.

An 8-6 win on Tuesday followed by a 10-0 spanking on Thursday gave the Yellow Jackets their first two league wins of the season. Corner did not qualify for the 2018 state playoffs.

The Corner softball team (18-12) went to Pinson for a 4-2 win over the Class 6A Indians on Thursday night.

While throwing a strong seven innings for the ninth-ranked Jackets, Ivey Hill made plenty of time for offense as well. The junior left-hander struck out five batters, walked none and surrendered two runs on five hits to earn the win. She went to the plate for two hits and three RBIs.

The Gardendale baseball team (19-8) clinched its second straight Class 6A, Area 12 championship on Thursday night. Get the full recap of Gardendale’s series win over Clay-Chalkville here.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.