Hawks move closer to state playoffs

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
The Danville Hawks moved closer to a berth in the state baseball playoffs with a two-game sweep of Ardmore on back-to-back days. After the two wins the Hawks are now 4-2 in 3A-Area 15. The Hawks then whipped Falkville before they dropped a doubleheader at Brewer.
Danville 7, Ardmore 6
The Hawks trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. After two outs, Bryan Johnson doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Thomas Garner. Dustin Terry walked to give Danville two runners aboard. Sophomore Stratton Garner then smashed a drive that the Ardmore center fielder dove for and missed as Garner scored to tie the game and Terry came home with the winning run.
Matt Lindsey started for Danville and threw two innings giving up two hits and five runs, two of those runs were unearned. Thomas Hopkins followed Lindsey on the mound and picked up the win throwing five innings of four-hit ball. Hopkins struck out three and allowed one unearned run.
At the plate, Hopkins had three hits including a double and a triple. Dustin Terry collected two hits and drove in three runs.
Danville 13, Ardmore 5
Bryan Johnson went the distance to pick up the win. Johnson allowed four hits while walking three and striking out seven.
Matt Lindsey had a big game at the plate for the Hawks with a three-run homer and a two-run double. Joey Miller had three hits and three RBIs.
With the win Danville improved to 16-8 overall and 4-2 in area play.
Danville 11, Falkville 7
Matt Young picked up the win with five innings on the mound allowing four hits, walking three and striking out two. Thomas Hopkins threw the final two innings and struck out three.
Young collected two hits at the plate along with two RBIs while Bryan Johnson had two hits and three RBIs. Sam Roy knocked in two Danville runs while Thomas Hopkins scored three times.
Brewer 10, Danville 2
Bryan Johnson took the loss and slipped to 8-5 as he gave up nine hits and 10 runs.
Dustin Terry and Thomas Hopkins had two hits each for Danville while Terry and Dexter Wimberley scored the Hawk's runs.
Brewer 8, Danville 3
Thomas Hopkins took the loss and fell to 3-3 this season. Hopkins allowed six hits and six runs while striking out two.
Bryan Johnson had two hits while Matt Young, Will Edmondson and Johnson scored the Hawk runs.
The Hawks are now 17-10 overall.
Lady Hawks whip Elkmont and West Morgan
The Danville Lady Hawks won two area softball games to improve to 22-7.
Danville whipped Elkmont 5-1 and then topped West Morgan 5-4 in eight innings.
Danville 5, Elkmont 1
Katie James threw a three-hitter and struck out six as she lowered her earned run average to 0.58.
Tanya Howard and Cassie Sparkman both went 2-for-4. Howard had a double and scored twice while Sparkman had two RBIs.
Charleston Wilson and Bethany Evans each had one hit and scored once. Kristy Roberts, Emily Templeton, Kristen Sparkman and James each had one hit.
Danville 5, West Morgan 4
Katie James won her ninth game of the season with seven strong innings on the mound.
James struck out seven and walked three while allowing no earned runs as she improved to 9-5.
At the plate, Kristy Roberts had three singles and a solo-homer. Tanya Howard, Charleston Wilson, Haley Hensley and James had two singles each. Kristen Sparkman,
Bethany Evans and Emily Templeton each had a single for the Lady Hawks. Roberts, Wilson and Howard stole bases for Danville.
The Lady Hawks moved up one notch in the latest ASWA rankings last week. Danville is now ranked eighth after two weeks at No. 9.