Zeth Malcolm chases down a Florence runner in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs. Hartselle won both games 3-2 and 10-9. | Tom Chappell

#2 Hartselle sweeps Florence to set up rematch with #1 Cullman

Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

It was that time of the year again on Friday when the Hartselle Tigers prepared to play for the AHSAA playoffs. The spirits had been pretty low just a week earlier when Hartselle had the chance to eliminate their rival Cullman from the playoffs but fell short in extra innings. They didn’t have time to feel sorry for themselves though, as they had to travel to Florence to take on the previously #1 and now #4 Florence Falcons for a best two out of three series.

Hartselle jumped out on the Falcons early to take the lead. Hayden Bradford scored the first run on a passed ball. Collin Blackwood would follow with a score thanks to a single from Zeth Malcolm. Florence would cut the score to 2-1 thanks to a fielder’s choice at the end of the first inning.

Florence tied the game in the third inning 2-2 when they singled with two runners on.

The game remained a defensive chess match until the final innings. In the top of the sixth Hartselle tried to retake the lead when they put Blackwood and Brady Netherton on base but the Tigers struck  out to end the inning.

Florence would have a chance to seal the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Falcons moved the winning runner all the way over to third with just one out. Florence would try to get the winning run through but Hartselle would have none of it and they threw out the runner at home. Hartselle would get the last out to send the game into extra innings.

The eighth inning would feature six straight outs.

In the top of the ninth Hartselle would get runners on first and third with two outs to try to take the lead. However, Florence would throw out the runner at home. Florence once again put two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to win the game. However, Brady Netherton would come in to relieve Ben Kimbrough after 8 and ½ innings and strike out the batter to get the last out of the inning.

The two squads would head into the tenth inning with the game still tied 2-2. Hartselle would take a 3-2 lead when Bradford singled to drive in Jack Hundley.

Hartselle ended the game when they caught a Falcon stealing. Kimbrough got the win for the Tigers with 5 strikeouts while allowing just 2 runs.

The second game would be the exact opposite of the first as it featured tons of offense.

Florence exploded in the top of the first as they scored 5 runs to take the early lead. Hartselle would trim the lead to 5-1 when Will Foote scored thanks to a catchers interference but Florence would extend it back to 6-1 with a run in the top of the second. It looked grim for the Tigers but they turned it around in the bottom of the second.

Bradford would reach base on an error that allowed Austin Parker and Riley Wood to score. Malcolm would then hit a single to drive in Foote and cut the score to 6-4. Bradford and Trace Carpenter would round out the innings with score to give Hartselle a 7-6 lead.

Florence would take back the lead in the fifth inning with three runs to make the score 9-6.

Hartselle would go into the bottom of the seventh still trailing 9-6. They were in a deep hole and needed three runs just to keep the game going.

The first run came when Carpenter scored on a sacrifice ground out from Foote. Matt James would add another score on an error to tie the game 9-9. Collin Blackwood hit a walk off double to drive in James Edde and give the Tigers the win 10-9.

Hartselle swept the series and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. They will play Cullman in a rematch Friday at 5 p.m at Cullman.