Lady Tigers grab county title

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s Lady Tigers completed a clean sweep of competition in the Morgan County Softball Tournament by defeating West Morgan’s Lady Rebels 3-1 in the championship game at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur Saturday night.
The win enabled the lady Tigers to regain possession of the coveted “Golden Glove” trophy after losing it to the Lady Rebels a year ago. It also improved the team’s overall record to 30-13.
The Lady Tigers jumped out front 2-0 in the first inning and scored their third run in the fourth after the Lady Rebels had posted their only run to cut the margin to 2-1.
Five Lady Tigers contributed hits. Kimmie Minor was credited with three singles. Raley Sittason added a single and double, Audrey McClanahan doubled and Sara Lang and Michel Fields each singled.
Winning pitcher Breanna Riley limited the defending county champs to one run on three hits while striking out nine and allowing no walks.
In going through the tournament unbeaten, the Lady Tigers out-hit their seven opponents 74 to 21 and out-scored them 58 to six.
Hartselle 5, Priceville 1
The Lady Tigers reached the championship game by defeating Priceville 5-1 in a semifinal game on Saturday.
They went ahead 1-0 in the fourth inning and added four runs to their lead in the fourth. Priceville’s only run was scored in the sixth.
Lang paced Hartselle at the plate with a double and single. Ashley Bonner had a pair of singles and Fields, Anna Hall and Chandler Orr each singled.
Meagan Gray pitched all seven innings and got credit for the win. She allowed one run on five hits while striking out four and walking one.
Hartselle 8, Austin 1
Hartselle advanced to the quarterfinal round of the tournament by defeating Austin 8-1.
The Lady Tigers grabbed a 3-0 advantage in the first inning, scored three more runs in the second, and added single runs in the third and sixth innings. Austin’s only run came in the seventh.
Orr collected three singles to pace Hartselle’s 15-hit attack. Hall, Alex Paulsen and Lang each had a pair of singles, Bonner and Katie Gentle each doubled and McClanahan, Fields, Sittason and Minor each singled.
Riley was the winning pitcher. She allowed one run on four hits while striking out 10. walking two and hitting a batter.
Hartselle 15, Falkville 1
The Lady Tigers pounded out 12 hits and got solid pitching from Gray and Abby McHugh as they pounded Falkville’s Lady Blue Devils 15-1 in the first round of tournament play.
The Lady Tigers scored five runs in the second inning to take the lead and added 10 in the third. Falkville’s only run came in the second.
Shelby Hoff paced the Lady Tigers in hitting with three singles. Paulsen and Hall each had a double and single, Bonner homered, Minor contributed a pair of singles, McClanahan doubled and Orr singled.
Gray was the winning pitcher. She pitched two innings and allowed one hit while striking out three. McHugh pitched three innings in relief. She allowed two hits while striking out five.
Hartselle 12, Priceville 0
Gray pitched a no-hitter and seven of her teammates collected hits as Hartselle’s Lady Tigers upended Priceville’s Lady Bulldogs in a third-round pool play game Friday night.
The Lady Tigers broke the game open with a four-run rally in the second inning. They added three runs in the third and five in the fourth.
Gray allowed no runs on no hits while striking our five and walking none in the five-inning game.
Fields paced Hartselle’s hitting attack with a double and a pair of singles. Hoff and Bonner each had a pair of singles and Minor, McClanahan, Lang and Orr each singled.
Hartselle 10, Danville 0
Hartselle produced two runs in the first inning and never looked back and they pounded Danville’s Lady Hawks 10-0 in the second round of pool play.
Abby McHugh didn’t allow a hit in a five-inning complete game. She pitched a five-inning no-hitter. She struck out six and walked one.
Leading a 10-hit attack for Hartselle with a double and single each were Lang, Orr and Fields. Gentle doubled and Minor, McClanahan and Hall each added a single.
Hartselle 5, Austin 2
The Lady Tigers banged out 11 hits and got solid pitching from Gray as they defeated Austin 5-2 in the opening round of pool play in the Morgan County Tournament last Thursday night.
The Lady Tigers broke the game open in the fifth inning by scoring four runs and taking a 4-1 lead. They also added a run in the 6th. Austin scored single runs in the second and third innings.
Hartselle’s hitting attack was spearheaded by Orr who collected three singles. Minor had a double and single, Lang added a pair of singles. Sittason had a double and McClanahan, Fields and Hoff each singled.
Gray pitched all seven innings allowing two runs on six hits while striking out nine.