Lady Tigers reach the postseason

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
ATHENS – After losing the opening game of the 5A, Area 16 tournament by a 10-1 count to Muscle Shoals, the Hartselle Lady Tigers could have packed their bags mentally and just went through the motions in their elimination game against Russellville. Instead, they fought back with two consecutive wins and reached the championship game assuring themselves of a berth in the sub-state playoffs.
Muscle Shoals 10, Hartselle 1
Shanice Johnson had a solo homer in the fourth inning for Hartselle's only run. Catie Keel, Jessica Barbrey and Whitley Collins had one hit each.
Hartselle 6, Russellville 1
Elizabeth Stejskal threw a one-hitter and struck out eight as Hartselle bounced back to remain in contention.
Hartselle scored one run in the first inning when Sarah Whitlow, Johnson and Orr had three straight singles. In the sixth they pushed across five more runs. Stejskal reached on an error, followed by Keel's single. Breanna Segars reached on a fielder's choice, followed by Whitlow reaching after being hit by a pitch. Johnson then singled both runners home. Orr then added her second RBI with a single, followed by a Lindsay Robinson RBI on a groundout.
Segars finished with one hit and one run scored, while Whitlow had one hit and scored twice. Johnson had three hits, two RBIs and scored once, while Orr had three hits and a RBI. Collins had a hit and walked once, while Keel had three hits and scored once.
Hartselle 10, Muscle Shoals 0
Sophomore Mary Curtis fired a three-hit shutout to led the Lady Tigers into the championship game.
Orr had a huge game at the plate, smashing a pair of two-run homers. Orr's first round tripper came in the first inning and the second came in the fifth inning. She also had a RBI single in the third for five RBIs on three-for-three hitting. She also scored three runs.
Whitlow had two hits, including a triple and scored three times, while Johnson had two doubles and scored three runs.
Robinson had one hit and scored one run, while Barbrey had a single. Haley Miller had a double.
Athens 5, Hartselle 1
Whitley Collins started and threw two innings followed by Stejskal who finished the game.
Orr had a single and scored the only Hartselle run, while Barbrey had the lone RBI. Robinson had a single as the Lady Tigers finished second in the tournament. Due to an early deadline the result of Tuesday night's sub-state playoff series with Buckhorn was not available.