SPRING GARDEN – It took a few innings for the Spring Garden Lady Panthers to find their rhythm Tuesday against Collinsville in the Class 1A, Area 12 softball championship.

But once they did, they left no doubt they’re ready for North Central Regional play at Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills on Friday.

Thanks to a five-run fourth inning, No. 9 Spring Garden captured its fifth consecutive area championship with a 13-2 drubbing of No. 10 Collinsville. Both teams advance to regional play, with Spring Garden (19-6) playing Area 9 runner-up Appalachian at 10 a.m. Friday. Collinsville (17-11) takes on the Area 10 winner South Lamar, also on Friday at 10 a.m.

“We’re very proud and excited we made postseason again,” Spring Garden coach Ann Welsh said. “The same group has done this for five years in a row now, and that says a lot for their dedication and work ethic. They’ve been very exceptional.”

Despite winning in convincing fashion on Tuesday, Spring Garden got behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Collinsville plated a pair of unearned runs in the inning, which starting pitcher Alisha Bowen made stick until the top of the third.

Jordan Sides walked to lead off the inning. Heather Smart followed with a bunt single and Tara Mullinax loaded the bases with a walk. Bree Blevins singled to left center to bring home Sides, cutting Collinsville’s lead to 2-1. Brianna Messer lined out to center to score Smart to tie the game at two.

After Blevins retired Collinsville in the bottom of the third, Spring Garden sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth and plated five runs to take a 7-2 advantage.

Mullinax accounted for one of those runs on a sacrifice fly to center. Ivy Franklin drove in another run with a single to center. The Lady Panthers scored the other three runs of the inning on a fielder’s choice, a wild pitch and a walk with the bases loaded.

Spring Garden added six more runs for good measure the rest of the way for the win.

Sides and Smart led Spring Garden at the plate. Both went 3 for 4 with a double apiece. Sides drove in three runs, while Smart drove in another.

Messer, Mullinax and Franklin all went 2 for 4 with a RBI. Elizabeth Spoon went 2 for 5 with a double and a RBI. Harley Bonds was also 2 for 5 with a RBI. Blevins went 2 for 2 with three RBI.

Blevins also recorded the win in the circle. She went the distance, scattering three hits and two runs with three walks and 16 strikeouts.

Taylor Nelson led Collinsville at the plate. She went 2 for 4. Alisha Bowen, Breanna Bowen and Erica Osborn all had a double. Heather Henderson added a single.

Alisha Bowen suffered the loss for Collinsville after working three innings. She was relieved by Breanna Bowen in the fourth.