Pair of Hartselle teams roll to Dixie titles
Hartselle 7-8 National all-star Tad Sivley is forced out at third base in the third inning of Thursday’s district championship game. Hartselle went on to win the tournament to earn a berth in the state tournament.
Two Hartselle Dixie Boy’s Baseball all-star teams captured championship trophies in double-elimination district tournaments on July 1 and advanced to state tournament competition.
Hartselle National 7-8 and Hartselle American 11-12 all-stars emerged winners in district tournaments in Hartselle last week.
The 7-8 team will see action in the state tournament in Enterprise beginning July 9. The 11-12 team will compete for a state title in Eufaula beginning July 17.
The 7-8 all-stars needed two wins to survive the finals in their eight-team tournament. In a first game, they edged Athens American 9-8 in a hard-fought battle that wasn’t decided until the sixth and final inning. They trailed 3-5 after two innings, went up 7-5 in the third and 9-5 in the fourth. Athens bounced back with a three-ruin rally in the top of the sixth before Hartselle’s defense came to the rescue and preserved a one-run win.
They wrapped up their championship run by defeating Athens National 15-3.
Leading hitter for Hartselle in both games combined was Will Miler with six hits.
Jackson Raley followed with four hits, Drew Cartee, Brody Peebles and Addison Parker each had three hits, Andrew Rittman, Eric Wright and Hudson Harden each had two hits and C.J. O’Neil and Tad Sivley each had one hit.
The 7-8 Hartselle National all-stars defeated Athens National 6-4, Hartselle American 14-11, and lost to Athens American, 3-6.
Hartselle’s 11-12 all-stars were tied with two other teams, Decatur National and Athens American, in the final round of a six-team double elimination tourney. They drew a bye and advanced to play the winner of the Decatur vs. Athens game.
Hartselle’s all-stars got a big jump on Decatur by scoring six runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. They added a couple of runs in the fifth and held on for an 8-4 win.
Nic James pitched four and one-half innings and was credited with the win. He relieved Ty Goodwin in the second inning after Athens scored three of its four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Hartselle’s hitters were Collins Hanners had two hits and scored twice, Josh McCarley had a pair of hits and scored once, Nic James blasted a three-run homer and scored two runs. Ty Goodwin had a hit and scored a run, D.J. Bunn doubled and scored a run and Heath Grimes walked and scored a run.
In games leading up to the final, Hartselle American 11-12 all-stars posted 11-6, 8-3, and 10-0 wins before losing to Decatur National, 8-16.
