Hartselle’s Hannah Jenkins slides safely into home during the Lady Tigers 14-0 victory over Decatur during the first game of the area tournament. | Joy Haynes

The Lady Tigers took home the area tournament title after losing to Cullman and finally seeing victory in a tie-breaking third game with the Bearcats.

Hartselle lost to Cullman 4-3 during the first game of the championship doubleheader.

Hope Cain handled Cullman’s lineup with ease, racking up eight strikeouts. She allowed three earned runs, seven hits and one walk over seven innings.

Cullman never trailed after scoring one run in the first. An RBI single by Ali Forth accounted for Hartselle’s only fourth inning run.

Two runs in the bottom of the seventh helped the Lady Tigers close their deficit to 4-3. A groundout by Sydnee Wiley and an RBI single by Hayes triggered the unsuccessful rally. Hayes ended up the first game with a 2-for-4 record, and Taylor Wascavage, Wiley, Anna Stinson and Hope Cain added a hit each.

Hartselle was able to pull out a 4-0 win in the decided game to score the Lady Tigers the area title Friday evening.

An ace performance by Hayes lifted them to the win in seven innings. Cullman managed just one hit off Hayes, who allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out 10 during her seven innings of work.

Hartselle took the lead in the third, scoring one run on a Wiley groundout.

They scored three more runs in the fourth. Mary Jane Wooley’s double got things going, bringing home Bailey Powell. That was followed up by Riley Corum’s double, plating Wooley. Wascavage and Cain added a hit each, and Powell finished 2-for-3 from the plate.

Hartselle will now advance to the regional tournament to play Southside-Gadsden Fri., May 8 at 2:30 p.m. at the Huntsville Sportsplex.

 Lady Tigers hang on against Cullman

Hartselle beat Cullman 6-4 and thwarted late scoring attempts by the Bearcats Friday during the second round of the area tournament.

Despite its efforts, Cullman couldn’t overcome Hartselle’s early lead.

Hannah Jenkins went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for Hartselle. She doubled in the first inning and singled in the third, fifth, and seventh innings.

Jada Hayes struck out 12 hitters en route to the Lady Tigers’ win. Hayes allowed three earned runs, nine hits and one walk over seven innings.

Taylor Wascavage had a solo homerun in the first inning, and Ali Forth added an RBI single.

The Lady Tigers built upon their lead with three runs in the third. HHS capped off its offense with another score in the fourth.

Hayes and Forth finished with two hits apiece.

 Hartselle trumps Decatur in first area gam

Thursday was a great day for Hope Cain, as she threw a shutout to carry the No. 1 Lady Tigers to a 14-0 victory over No. 4 Decatur at Hartselle during the first game of the area tournament.

Cain struck out 12 batters en route to the Lady Tigers win. She pitched five innings of shutout ball and allowed only one hit without any walks.

The Hartselle bats came to life in the second inning. Decatur had no answer as the Hartselle Lady Tigers scored nine runs. HHS scored in the second on an RBI single by Taylor Wascavage, a groundout by Sydnee Wiley, a steal at the plate by Wascavage, an RBI single by Riley Corum, an RBI triple by Cain, an RBI single by Wascavage and several errors.

Wascavage, Cain, Jada Hayes and Corum combined for seven hits and four RBIs. Ali Forth had a sacrifice fly for two RBIs.