Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

The Hartselle Tigers wrapped up their regular season Saturday with a huge win over the second ranked Cullman Bearcats. In front of a huge crowd of fans and alumni who were there to celebrate Hartselle head coach William Booth’s 1,000 win accomplishment, the Tigers avenged an earlier season defeat to their bitter rivals. Hartselle now heads into the AHSAA playoffs riding a huge wave of momentum.

Auburn commit Garrett Wade took to the mound for Hartselle and immediately fell into trouble as Cullman put two runners on second and third with no outs. However, Wade was bale to deliver three straight outs from three sec commits in Owen Lovell, Jacob Heatherly and Carter Bowen to end the inning with no runs scored. Wade face another difficult situation in the third when Cullman put two runners on, but Wade again struck out Heatherly to end the inning.

Hartselle got their offense going in the bottom of the third when Matt James singled and Grayson Bray walked to put two runners with no outs. Houston Wright laid down a sacrifice bunt, which allowed Riley Wood to drive in James with an RBI ground out to put the Tigers up 1-0.

Cullman tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to a leadoff double from Bowen and an RBI single from Trent Price. However, a leadoff homer by Austin Parker in the bottom of the fourth put the Tigers back on top 2-1. Hartselle added two more runs thanks to an RBI single from Connor Burks and a passed ball that scored Chuck Ord. The Tigers held Cullman to just one run and went on to win the game 4-1.

Garrett Wade got the win on the mound for the Tigers. Wade gave up seven hits but just one hit with twelve strikeouts, including three on Mr. Baseball candidate Owen Lovell, in a complete game performance. “Anytime you can beat Cullman it’s a heck of a game.” Wade said. “I had my slider working really well today. I think this is huge going into the playoffs. If we can beat Cullman we feel like we can beat anybody.”

Owen Lovell took the loss for Cullman. He gave up five hits and three runs, including a home run, with no strikeouts in four innings pitched.

Hartselle will travel to Gardendale on Friday for a doubleheader in the first round of the Class 6A AHSAA playoffs. The games will be at 4:30 and 7 p.m. The third game, if needed, will take place Saturday at 2 p.m.