MADISON- Bob Jones recognized six seniors Thursday and all six had a hand in the 11-1 six inning win over Decatur. The win will boost confidence going into next week’s area tournament where two wins would mean the Patriots could move on the Northeast Regional where they missed out last year.

“We needed some confidence, we have had some tough losses lately,” said Bob Jones head coach Kent Chambers. “We needed something to make them feel they could win and now they know they can. Hopefully this will be a little momentum. For the area tournament the records are thrown out and you start over.”

Senior Hannah Manis pitched a complete game for her fourth win of the season. At the plate she smacked a long home run over the fence 200 feet away in the sixth inning to put Bob Jones up 8-1.

Senior Maddie Duthu had three walks and scored three runs. Another senior Darian Mitchell had a walk, single, RBI and scored two runs. Kathryn Joliffe drove home the clinching run the sixth. Two more seniors played the whole game. Desiree Eason had the catch of the game in rightfield and Maya Stafford played catcher.

“The win feels good and on senior night it makes it special,” Chambers said. “All the seniors contributed in the game so that makes it even better.

Darian is hitting real well right now, Hannah is pitching very well, Desiree and Caitlin are normally our courtesy runners and both had a good game.”

Maddie Duthu has started most games in leftfield. At the plate, she has started to contribute more.

Chambers will need contributions from all players to get past James Clemens in the opening game of the Class 7A, Area 8 tournament. The teams have played three times this season and James Clemens won all three. But they have been getting closer, the last win was by one run.

Bob Jones’ top pitcher Hannah Pope is still recovering from an illness that caused her to miss a week of school.

“We will lean on Hannah Manis and Bailey Anderson pitching and Kathryn Jolliffe is up from our junior varsity,” Chambers said. “That was Hannah’s best outing (pitching) of the season. Hannah Pope we hope is back for the area tournament. She is back at school now and feeling better.”

Coach Chambers with Bob Jones seniors (l to R) Maya Stafford, Maddie Duthu, Caitlin Strother, Darian Mitchell, Hannah Manis, Desiree Eason

After the game all six seniors brought their families out on the field.

Each girl was recognized. A common theme for what the girls will remember most about playing softball was the friends they have made.

“Not only have these girls been great for the Bob Jones softball program, they have also been great students,” Chambers said in a statement read over the public address. “They have maintained very high GPA’s, and have high ambitions for their future careers. We know they will be successful the rest of their life.”

Chambers then thanked the six for their leadership on this year’s team.

“You have set the bar high for future senior classes. You have led on and off the field and you will be sorely missed.”