Hartselle’s Carrington Standridge makes a throw to first. | Caleb Suggs

Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

The Lady Tigers’ made a statement all right and that statement was that they are back. Last season was definitely a frustrating one for the Tigers. Hartselle lost both the county and area championships and were swept in the regional play, which is not typical of a Hartselle softball team. The Tigers opened their 2017 season at home against Bob Jones, and proceeded to put on a performance that looked more like the Tigers of old.

Hartselle took control of the game early in the first inning. Emily Cowart drove in Mackenzie Jackson with a single and then Taylor Spangler scored on the same play after Bob Jones threw the ball in the dugout. Hartselle took a 2-0 lead at the end of the first.

Bob Jones cut the lead to 2-1 in the third and still had two runners on, but Gracie Poe worked out of the jam to end the inning. Jackson pushed Hartselle’s lead to 3-1 in the top of the third when she drove in Kylie Winton with a single. The Tigers put the icing on the cake in the fifth when Poe drove in Jackson to make the lead 4-1. Hartselle held on to that lead and won the game 4-1. Mackenzie Jackson led the Tigers both in runs scored and hits with two each. Gracie Poe got the win on the mound as she gave up five hits with only one run and pitched four strikeouts.

Hartselle head coach Christy Ferguson was excited with how her team performed in the game. “I’m very pleased. I thought we hit the ball well and I’m glad we got that first win under our belts.” Ferguson said. “Gracie pitched a good game and I think a lot of good things are going to happen this year.”