GDW Analysis:
FLORENCE: Good Hope Lady Raiders have shown they are a good softball team in 2025 despite not being ranked in the Top 10 of the 4A state poll.
The Area 13 champion and Cullman County champion has 24 wins for the season, 7 in a row and 11 wins in their last 14 decisions.
Now they come to the AHSAA North Regional at the Florence Sportsplex looking to stay sound on the diamond in to get to the Elite 8 of the state tournament next week in Oxford.
Good Hope has Dora in round 1 in the bottom part of the 8 team regional bracket. The Lady Raiders and Dora play at 9:00 a.m.
On the other side in their bracket is Wilson vs. Hamilton.
The top half is made up of No. 2 Curry vs. Hatton and Danville taking on Cordova. All first round games will be at 9:00 on Tuesday.
Each will have a 2nd round game via the winners or losers bracket at approximately 1:45 p.m.
If Tim Tucker's squad can work their way into the championship segment, they have a good chance to seeing their softball continue for another week.
Dora is 9 & 27 according to reports, runner up from 4A, Area 9.
Cordova carries 30 wins in 44 games, the Area 9 winner with Danville even at 21 & 21, finishing behind Good Hope in Area 13.
Curry stands alone for being superior in winning 47 times out of 50. The Yellow Jackets have won 5 straight and are impressive at neutral sites, 28 wins and 1 loss.
Hamilton's record is 22 & 23 with Wilson, their opponent in the opener at 29 & 22.
Good Hope is a mature team for 2025 following 20 wins and 10 losses the past season.
Strengths for the Lady Raiders comes from pitchers Molly Benefield, a sophomore and senior Addyson Burgess.
The catcher is talented with senior Haley Lay. Junior Campbell Koch and 8th grader Kylee Smith make up the middle infield. At the hot corner of 3rd is senior Natalie Miller.
From the outfield, Maggie O'Neal patrols left, Lizzy Steed is steady in center and Brooklyn Lambert out in right.
Miller was the most outstanding player selected by GDW in the Area Tournament. Miller hit a 3 run homer and drove in 4 runs in going 3 for 3 vs. Danville.
Benefield and Smith were on the all performance team in the area.
Steed stood out to earn top honors from the Cullman County tournament at Vinemont, batting over .700 from her leadoff position.
Photo of Good Hope SB after winning the AHSAA 4A, Area 13 tournament April 28 at Greg Pooh Owen Field.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
