Lady Tigers sweep tournament

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s Lady Tigers emerged as the winner in all four games they played in a round-robin softball event at the Grady and Margie Long Softball Complex on Saturday.
After rain cancelled Friday evening’s games, the 10 teams entered in the tournament were split into two groups of five teams and each team played every other team in its group on Saturday.
Hartselle’s hitters drove in 30 runs on 29 hits while its pitchers allowed 10 runs on 10 hits. The Lady Tigers defeated East Lawrence 6-4, Huntsville, 4-2, Wayne County, Ky., 17-0 and Guntersville, 3-0. The four wins improved the Lady Tigers’ record to 18-9 overall and 2-0 in area games.
Competing in the other group were Lawrence County, Locust Fork, Brewer, Boaz and Athens.
Hartselle 6, East Lawrence 4
The Lady Tigers snapped a 4-4 tie with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning and went on to defeat East Lawrence 6-4 in their first of four games on Saturday.
Chelsea Bennich paced Hartselle at the plate with a double and a pair of singles. Leah Robinson and Meghan Stephenson each doubled and Olivia Golden, Katie Gentle and Ashley Bonner each singled.
Meaghan Gray was the winning pitcher. She allowed four runs on four hits while striking out two and walking one.
Hartselle 4, Huntsville 2
Hartselle grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a walk, sacrifice bunt and a single and added three runs in the third to post a 4-2 win over Huntsville in the second game of Saturday’s round robin.
Robinson’s double scored two runs in a three-run third inning. Other Hartselle hitters were Shelby Hoff, Bonner, Alex Paulsen and Lindsey Romager each with a single.
Breanna Riley was the winning pitcher. She allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five, walking three and hitting a batter.
Hartselle 17, Wayne County, Ky. 0
The Lady Tigers pounded out 16 hits against two pitchers in a 17-0 win over Wayne County, Ky. in their third round robin contest. They scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second, and six each in the third and fourth.
Leading Hartselle at the plate was Stephenson with a pair of doubles and a single. Bennich and Golden each doubled and singled, Bonner and Baylee Holt each doubled and Gray, Jacquie Shadden, Hoff, Kelsey Starr Ali Staudt and Allie Hill each singled.
Gray was credited with the win. She pitched the first two innings and allowed no runs on no hits, struck out three and didn’t give up a walk. Kayla Faulk pitched the last two innings in relief, allowing no runs on no hits while striking out two.
Hartselle 3, Guntersville 0
Hartselle out-hit Guntersville four to one and came up with a 3-0 win in the fourth and final game of the round robin.
Bonner paced Hartselle’s hitting attack with a pair of singles. Golden had a double and Star singled.
Riley picked up the win She allowed no runs on one hit while striking out nine and didn’t give up a walk.
The Lady Tigers will play at area foe Russellville Thursday.