Hartselle ready for playoffs

By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
The Hartselle softball team has picked up the pace as the season hits the final stretch run.And that should have plenty of Class 5A programs a little worried right now.
The Lady Tigers are coming off successful tournament runs over the last two weeks and have pushed their season record to 18-10 overall.
The mark is a far cry from the Lady Tigers’ 1-5 start.
Since that time early in the season, Hartselle has won 17 of its last 22 games to go eight games over the .500 mark.
The Lady Tigers’ recent success hasn’t been a big surprise. With the loss of a talented group of seniors from last year’s team, Hartselle head coach Daniel Bates has worked through a tough period of inexperience and limited practice time outdoors.
Four of the six seniors off last year’s state tournament team signed college scholarships and the other two had offers but decided to end their playing careers.
Basically, Bates has had to retool the Lady Tigers’ lineup this season.
The talent level hasn’t dropped around the Hartselle softball program. It’s just taken a little time to get headed in the right direction.
After the slow start, Hartselle won five of its next six games to get to 6-6 overall.
Hartselle’s biggest sign of improvement has been its recent performance in the Nike Gulf Shores Classic where the Lady Tigers won five games.
The momentum continued with four straight wins over the weekend in Hartselle’s own tournament at the Grady and Margie Long Softball Complex.
During the recent hot stretch, fifth-ranked Hartselle has fared well against several of the top teams in the state. The Lady Tigers have beaten No. 9 Chelsea and No. 10 Scottsboro.
A third game against a ranked opponent - seventh ranked Cullman - was rained out and has not been made up.
Falkville is the only other area team in the current softball rankings, coming in at No. 10 in the Class 3A poll.
After a disappointing 10-0 loss to Addison after spring break, the Lady Blue Devils have won two straight and could be marching toward a strong run in the playoffs right along with Hartselle.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com