Hartselle's 9/10 teams fall in district

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Athens National took first place in the District 1 9/10-year-old Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament held at Sparkman Park with a win over Decatur National in the final July 12. Hartselle National and Decatur National each finished as district runner-up.
Decatur National 14, Hartselle National 2
The Hartselle National All-Stars were eliminated from the district tournament after their second straight loss to Decatur National July 12. After opening the tournament with three straight wins, Hartselle National lost two in a row to finish in a tie for runner-up.
Hartselle National fell behind 4-0 early and never trailed by fewer than four runs the rest of the way. Lane Anders scored a run in the bottom of the second and Benny Brown scored in the fourth inning. Jaxon Peebles and Curtis Russell each picked up an RBI.
Hartselle National had just six hits in the game, with Josh McCarley hitting a double and Brown, Russell, Dustin Stephenson, Lane Anders and Stephenson each hitting a single.
Athens National 14, Hartselle American 8
The Hartselle American All-Stars were eliminated with a 2-2 record after falling to Athens National July 11 at Sparkman Park. Athens National took a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning but Hartselle American battled back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Athens National scored at least one run in every inning, with the biggest blow coming as it scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 13-4 lead. Hartselle American scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
Connor Pheny finished with two singles, a double and two runs scored and Taylor Steele had a single, a double and a run. Deajay Klett, Tyler Cook and Mason Pettey each singled and scored a run. Collins Hanners hit two singles and Andrew Segars and Brandon Woodard each scored a run.
Decatur National 9, Hartselle National 4
Hartselle National suffered its first loss of the tournament in its defeat to Decatur National July 11. The loss gave Athens National, Decatur National and Hartselle National identical 3-1 records and forced the three teams to draw for a bye in the final round – Athens National won the bye and the other two teams played in a rematch the next day.
Hartselle National took an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning but Decatur National responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Hartselle National scored one run in the third and two in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead before Decatur National exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Lane Anders finished with a single, a double and a run and Tyler Bullard singled and scored a run. Benny Brown and D.J. Bunn each scored a run and Lon Starr, Curtis Russell and Dustin Stephenson each singled.