Wins pile up for Hartselle

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle‘s Lady Tigers got off to a fast start in the Nike Gulf Shores Softball Classic by defeating the first four opponents they faced in pool play Monday and Tuesday.
They blanked Tishomingo County, Miss. 12-0 and Opelika 11-1 in Monday’s games and followed up on Tuesday by defeating Hazel Green 2-0 and Scottsboro 4-2.
Those four wins improved their record to 13-8 overall and 2-0 in area games.
They were scheduled to meet Southside in a 2 p.m. game and expected to receive a high seeding for Wednesday’s tournament competition.
Hartselle 2, Hazel Green 0
Hartselle went up 1-0 in the first inning on a lead off home run by Olivia Golden. That was all they needed to win as they held their opponent scoreless.
In addition to Golden’s four-bagger, Katie Gentle doubled and Alex Paulsen singled.
Breanna Riley was the winning pitcher. She allowed only three hits while striking out seven..
Hartselle 4, Scottsboro 2
The Lady Tigers picked up a 2-0 victory over Scottsboro in their second pool game on Tuesday.
Katie Gentle paced a five-hit attack with a pair of singles. Golden tripled and Leah Robinson and Kelsey Starr each singled.
Meaghan Gray was the winning pitcher. She allowed two runs on one hit while striking out two.
Over the weekend, the Lady Tigers participated in the Hoover Orange and Black Classic, winning two games and losing two.
Hartselle 11, Opelika 1
Hartselle closed out its first day of competition in the Nike Gulf Shores Softball Classic by blitzing Opelika 11-1 in pool play on Monday.
The Lady Tigers were never threatened as they pounded out 12 hits while giving up only two. Golden led the way with a 2-run homer and a single. Jacquie Shadden had a double and a pair of singles, Starr singled twice, Ashley Bonner doubled and Chelsea Bennich, Lindsey Romager and Paulsen each singled.
Gray pitched all five innings and was credited with the win. She allowed one run on two hits while striking out five.
Hartselle 12, Tishomingo Co., Miss. 0
Hartselle’s Lady Tigers pounded Tishomingo County, Miss. 11-0 in the opening round pf pool play competition in the Nike Gulf Shores Softball Classic on Monday.
Gentle led an 11-hit attack by knocking in five runs on the strength of a triple and single. Golden had a triple and a pair of doubles, Bonner and Bennich each doubled and singled, Riley tripled and Robinson and Meagan Stephenson each singled.
Riley was the winning pitcher. She allowed no runs on one hit while striking out six in three innings of work.
Alabama Christian Academy 4, Hartselle 1
Hartselle was in control for five innings before giving up four runs in the top of the sixth inning and suffering a 4-1 loss to Alabama Christian Academy in the Orange and Black Softball Classic on Saturday.
Riley pitched all the way and was credited with the loss. She allowed four runs on five hits while recording six strikeouts and walking two.
Riley led Hartselle hitters with a pair of singles. Bennich, Kelsey Starr and Bonner each had a single.
Hartselle 4, Clay-Chalkville 2
Hartselle’s Lady Tigers bounced back from a loss the night before by edging Clay Chalkville 4-2 in the second round of action in the Orange and Black Hoover Softball Classic on Saturday.
Gray was credited with the win. She gave up two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one in four innings of work.
Seven Hartselle batters accounted for 11 hits. Golden led the way with a two-RBI double and a single. She was followed by Paulsen with a two-RBI homer, Bennich with a pair of singles, Shelby Hoff with a double and Starr, Bonner and Shadden each with a single.
Hoover 6, Hartselle 0
Hartselle came up empty handed in a nightcap game host Hoover won 6-0 in the Orange and Black Softball Classic Friday night.
The Lady Tigers managed only two hits, a single each by Robinson and Bennich, in the three-inning match-up.
Riley was the losing pitcher. She allowed six runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking four.
Hartselle 11, Homewood 1
Hartselle’s Lady Tigers combined strong hitting with solid pitching to defeat Homewood 11-1 in the opening round of the Orange and Black Softball Classic at Hoover on Friday.
Bonner paced a 10-hit Hartselle attack with a pair of doubles. Gentle and Golden each doubled and singled, Bennich doubled and Robinson, Hoff and Romager each singled.
Gray went the distance in the five-inning contest and was credited with the win. She allowed one run on two hits, struck out nine and didn’t give up a walk.