Four Hartselle teams win state titles

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Two all-star softball teams from Hartselle won the right to represent Alabama in the Dixie Softball World Series in Pineville, La. Aug. 1-5 by winning state championship titles in Montgomery Monday.
The 11-12 Ponytails staked claim to their state championship by shutting out Montgomery 4-0 Monday night. In an earlier game the same day they defeated Troy 6-0 to reach the finals. The 7-8 Darlings claimed their state title by defeating Gove Hill 12-1.
The Ponytails will face North Carolina in the opening round of the world series on Saturday, Aug. 2. The Darlings will take on Virginia in their opening round game the same day.
The Ponytails had to fight their way through the loser’s bracket to get a shot at their title. They lost to Montgomery 2-1 in a first round game on Friday. The next day they started their comeback by edging Linden 2-1 and Sand Mountain 7-2 in back-to-back contests.
They faced an unbeaten Troy team on Sunday and came out a 10-2 winner, setting up a three-way tie with Montgomery and Troy.
Montgomery drew a final round bye and Hartselle and Troy had to face each for the right to play in the championship game. Hartselle won that game 6-0.
The Darlings swept through their competition without a blemish, running their postseason win streak to 11 games.
They defeated McCalla 16-5 in their opening game, blasted Montgomery East 16-7 on Saturday, cruised by Grove Hill 17-4 on Saturday and reached the championship by knocking out McCalla with a 24-3 win.
He said the team would conduct a car wash as a fundraiser for the world series trip on Sat., July 26, at 8 a.m. at Pizza Hut.
Hartselle teams win state titles
Dixie 13
Hartselle beat Hueytown 17-16 Tuesday afternoon to win the Dixie Boys 13 State North division championship.
Hartselle will advance to face the South division champion Friday in a best two-of-three finals in Selma.
Hueytown forced a final deciding game with a 12-2 victory over Hartselle in the morning game.
But Hartselle outscored Hueytown in a slugfest to win the North championship.
Dixie 14
Hartselle won the Dixie Boys 14 North division championship Tuesday and will also play in a best two-of-three finals with the South division champion this weekend in Selma.