Hartselle finishes 2nd at JV softball tourney

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle's junior varsity softball program recently participated in its own Junior Varsity Tournament, with the championship game ending in a familiar manner.
For the fourth straight year, Hartselle and Hoover met in the championship, with the Lady Bucs ending on top this season by the score of 3-2. Hartselle has won the tournament two of the past four years and Hoover has now won two of the past four years as well.
Hoover 3
Hartselle 2
In the championship game Saturday, Hartselle led 2-0 after the first inning but Hoover squeaked in front with one run in the fifth and two in the sixth to take the decisive victory.
Audrey McClanahan pitched six innings and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned. Michel Fields was 2-3 with a single and a triple and Sara Lang had a two-RBI single.
Hartselle 3
Hazel Green 1
Hartselle broke through with three runs in the sixth inning to take the semifinal victory over Hazel Green.
McClanahan was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Sara Lang also had an RBI single. On the mound, Ashley White pitched the entire game, allowing no earned runs and striking out six.
Hartselle 9
Buckhorn 0
The Lady Tigers had no trouble in the first round of the single-elimination portion of the tournament, shutting out the Lady Bucks. Hartselle had eight hits and allowed just one to its opponent.
Fields pitched three innings and Kimmie Minor closed out the final two. Shauna Clemons scored two runs and had an RBI, Kayla Byford hit an RBI double and McClanahan had an RBI single.
Pool play games:
Hartselle 5
Hazel Green 4
McClanahan pitched the entire game, allowing one earned run and striking out seven. White and Fields both had two RBIs and Emily Forth had an RBI and scored a run.
Hoover 4
Hartselle 3
In pool play action Friday, the Lady Bucks squeaked past Hartselle with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game was tied 2-2 after one inning before Hartselle scored in the top of the fifth to take the lead, only to see Hoover come from behind and win.
Fields pitched two innings and McClanahan finished with the final three. Fields also had an RBI and scored a run. White came through with an RBI double.
Hartselle 3
Austin 2
Hartselle scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Lady Black Bears in the first game of pool play Friday. Byford finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs and also scored a run. Clemons also scored a run.
White started the game, striking out six in five innings and allowing two earned runs. Fields pitched the final inning and picked up the win.