GDW Analysis:
Good Hope softball experienced a busy Friday from participating in the Cullman County schools media day during the morning followed by a pair of assignments in the afternoon and evening from the Gardendale Invitational.
The Lady Raiders come into 2026 as the defending Cullman County tournament champion, defending AHSAA 4A Area 13 champion and a qualifier to the North SB Regional from Florence.
A 2 & 2 start is what the Lady Raiders encountered when they took to the field turf at Bill Noble Park Friday in their first game with Gardendale.
Good Hope began to collect timely hits from the 3rd and 4th to put away Gardendale by the final of 8 to 2.
The Lady Raiders were scheduled to play Spain Park in the evening time to close out Day 1 of their trip to Jefferson County.
Good Hope's last game in the round robin part of the tournament was set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday against Mountain Brook.
For the media day, the Lady Raiders sent seniors Campbell Koch and Lizzy Steed along with junior Molly Benefield to answer a series of questions from Gameday Weekly and other media outlets.
Koch spoke out the team's chemistry as it has blended into quality for this program has 44 wins and solid playoff runs with Tim Tucker and Phillip Keef directing them for the last 2 years.
Steed described the group as finding ways of getting along and executing on the diamond.
Steed was chosen the MVP of the 2025 Cullman County tournament by Gameday Weekly.
These three are the leaders with solid experience in the quest to keep Good Hope softball to a high success.
After allowing a run in the 1st and a run in the 2nd against Gardendale, Benefield went to work with four consecutive scoreless innings. She would earn a complete game victory of 6 innings, 6 hits, 0 walks and 6 strikeouts.
Benefield was 1 of 4 at the plate.
Koch provided a pair of hits in 3 plate appearances.
Another valuable member is freshman Kylee Smith. Smith shows steady play from the shortstop position with a series of handling ground balls and throwing out Gardendale runners trying to reach first base.
Smith collected a base hit in 3 times she entered the batters' box.
Early season adjustments are being made by the Lady Raiders with the goal to develop consistency that will carry them through the remainder of the 2026 season.
Photo of Good Hope athletes at the Cullman County Schools spring sports media day Friday at the CCBOE Conference Room.
On the left row back is SB players Molly Benefield, Lizzy Steed and Campbell Koch. Behind them is coach Phillip Keef.
Photo courtesy of Cullman County schools.
