Hartselle run ends in AAA state tourney
TROY – Taylorville American handed Hartselle an 11-4 loss Friday in the championship of the state Dixie AAA tournament.
The loss ended Hartselle’s streak of four straight wins that helped the team overcome an early loss to Troy in the first round.
Hartselle scored 46 runs in six games, but managed just four runs against the powerful Taylorville team in the championship.
After the opening loss, Hartselle responded with wins over White Plains, Spanish Fort, Monroe County and Auburn Blue to reach the championship game.
Hartselle scored 19 runs in the win over White Plains and 14 against Monroe County, but the Tigers also got solid defense and pitching in a tight 1-0 victory over Spanish Fort.
Hartselle team members are Derek Bunn, Connor Burks, Tyler Dolbeer, Taylor Easterling, Britt Gillette, Conner McKee, Mac Meyer, Kellen Nyikos, Stone Powell, Jackson Terry, Nick Williams and Houston Wright.
Taylorville trailed Hartselle by three runs until it tied the game with three runs in the fourth inning. A seven-run fifth inning helped send Taylorville to the championship.
Carson Crowe – who won the Home Run Derby title and finished with three homers in the tournament – and Dalton Beck homered for Taylorville American in the championship.