Tough ending for Lady Tigers
By Staff
Lose to defending champs in decisive third game
Charles Prince
The Hartselle Lady Tigers lost a tough three-game series to the defending 5A state champions in the first round of the sub-state playoffs.
The Lady Tigers lost the opener in 13 innings after taking the lead in the top of the 11th inning. They bounced back to win game two and lost the third game and decisive game to the Buckhorn Lady Bucks.
Buckhorn 2,
Hartselle 1
(13 innings)
Sophomore Mary Curtis threw all 13 innings for the Lady Tigers. She allowed eight hits and walked only one.
Hartselle took a 1-0 lead in the 11th, when Shanice Johnson reached on a fielder's choice. Kristy Pevahouse pinch ran for Johnson and moved to third on an error and scored on a second Buckhorn error.
Buckhorn tied the score in the bottom of the frame when a Lady Tiger error allowed a runner to reach. The runner would move to third on a ground out and then scored on a infield-hit.
In the 13th, the Lady Bucks scored the winning run when they put three singles together with one out.
Hartselle had the based loaded in the second inning with two outs, but couldn't push a run across. In the top the 13th, Jessica Barbrey reached base on a misplayed bunt and wound up at third base, but would be stranded.
Barbrey, Johnson, Kayla Orr, Whitley Collins and Breanna Segars had one hit each for Hartselle.
Hartselle 7,
Buckhorn 4
The Lady Tigers jumped out to the early lead in the top of the first inning when Sarah Whitlow walked and moved to third sacrifice by Barbrey. She came home on an error. Kayla Orr had the RBI.
In the second inning, Segars reached on a fielder's choice, followed by Haley Miller drawing a walk. Catie Keel walked to load the bases, followed by Sarah Whitlow walking to drive in the second Hartselle run. Barbrey was then hit by a pitch to make the score 3-1. Johnson then doubled to clear the bases and give the Lady Tigers a four-run lead.
Segars scored in the third after she singled and moved to third on Miller's base hit. She came home on Keel's fielder's choice.
Johnson belted her second double of the game in the fourth inning to set up the Lady Tigers final run.
Teresa Staudt came on to pinch run for Johnson and would score when Lindsay Robinson reached on an error.
Segars started the game and allowed two runs before being lifted in the sixth inning for Elizabeth Stejskal.
Stejskal would give way to Curtis, who ended the final Buckhorn threat to even the series at a game a piece.
Buckhorn 6,
Hartselle 3
Curtis threw a complete game and allowed only three hits and one walk. Five Hartselle errors hurt her cause. For Curtis, she would finish the day with 22 innings pitched, 10 hits allowed and four walks surrendered.
At the plate, Barbery had two walks and scored one run and had a RBI, while Johnson had one hit.
Orr had a RBI triple and scored once. Miller doubled and scored, while Keel had a single and Collins a RBI.
