Class 6A softball: Saraland battles back to top Helena for first state championship

After pitching more than 32 innings in just two days, Myleigh Dobbins faced the biggest challenge of her career: a winner-take-all game against Helena for the Class 6A state championship. When asked if she had enough left in the tank to lead her team, Dobbins didn't hesitate. She looked at coach Donna Sunnycalb and declared, 'I am going to finish this, and we’re going to win it.'”

Dobbins delivered on that promise, throwing 6.2 shutout innings to secure a 5-0 victory for the Spartans. Her stellar performance earned her MVP honors in Oxford, marking the first state softball title in the program's history. Laken Bryan recorded the final out, ensuring that the Spartans' seniors were all involved in the historic win.

A Grueling Road to the Title

The path to the championship was far from easy. The Spartans (48-8-2) fought their way out of the elimination bracket, keeping their title hopes alive earlier in the day with a gritty 3-1, eight-inning win over the defending champion Huskies. Dobbins proved to be the workhorse for Saraland throughout the tournament, logging 39 innings and 545 total pitches across six games, with 304 of those pitches coming on Tuesday alone.

'She’s just a dog out there,' Sunnycalb said of her pitcher. 'She wants the ball. It’s something special when the lights come on and the sun goes down, these girls act like a different beast.'"

Offensive Spark and Defensive Brilliance

While Dobbins anchored the defense, the offense provided the necessary support. Jadyn Byrd shined at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a critical 2-run home run. Kyla Reed also contributed with a 2-for-4 showing in the leadoff spot. The Spartans were further bolstered by an incredible diving catch from Bryleigh Goff in the first game of the series, which prevented Helena from scoring and forced the contest into extra innings.

For the Spartans, the victory served as a redemption arc after finishing as the Class 6A runner-up to Helena last season. 'We really focused on what we needed to do as a team and the one thing that we worried about was just not being afraid to fail,' Sunnycalb said.

Stat Sheet Highlights

Saraland: Jadyn Byrd led the charge with three RBIs, while Jazlynn Skanes and Kyla Reed added two hits apiece. Dobbins contributed a double, and Goff scored twice while drawing two walks.

Helena: Tatum Cooper sparked the Huskies' offense with a fourth-inning triple to plate Karis Cunningham. Hayden Traywick added a double, while Lily Sanderson, Carrington Schiefer, and Lily Hensley chipped in with one hit each.

Did You Know?

With Saraland’s triumph, the Class 6A classification has not seen a team repeat as state champion since the 2012-2014 run by Sparkman, when the school competed in the state's largest classification.

'This has been my favorite group so far,' Dobbins said of the championship squad. 'We are such a family and such a team together, and I love every single one of them.'”