Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

One of the biggest rivalries in Alabama high school baseball was renewed Saturday when the Hartselle Tigers traveled to take on the Cullman Bearcats. Cullman moved out of Hartselle ‘s area this year but that didn’t stop the two bitter rivals from meeting. With area play starting the following Tuesday, Hartselle came in with the game plan that they would use multiple pitchers in an attempt to avoid them not being able to pitch Tuesday because of AHSAA’s new pitch count ruled. That plan worked for six of the seven innings. Unfortunately for Hartselle, the one inning was all Cullman needed.

The Cullman Bearcats got seven hits in the first inning as they took a 7-0 lead. Owen Lovell drove in the first run with a double. Later, four straight singles by Caleb Lipsey, Trent Price, Noah Fondren and Grayson Taylor gave them the 7-0 lead.

Hartselle attempted to fight back into the game. Connor Burks and Austin Parker got base in the fourth but neither were able to score. Hartselle loaded the bases

in the fifth inning with just one out when Chuck Ord scored on a sacrifice ground out from Riley Wood. However, that was the only run they got as Cullman ended the inning and eventually won the game 8-1.

Eric Stephenson took the loss for the Tigers. Hartselle pitched six different pitchers in the six innings they planned. Along with Stephenson, Blake Lowe, James Edde, Houston Wright, Garrett Wade and Brady Netherton. Lowe, Edde, Wright and Netherton all pitched hitless and scoreless innings.