First pitch
Sen. Arthur Orr, left, holds the ball he pitched to open Hartselle High School’s softball season on an upgraded playing field Tuesday afternoon. With him are catcher Lindsey Romager and head coach Daniel Bates.
Lady Tigers open season on upgraded field
A much-improved playing field, complete with a padded concrete wall behind home plate, greeted the Hartselle Lady Tigers when they opened the 2011 softball season at the Grady and Margie Long Softball Complex Tuesday afternoon.
Joining them to celebrate their new surroundings were several people who played key roles in the upgrade project along with a houseful of fans. They included State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), Hartselle High Principal Jeff Hyche, Athletic Director Johnny Berry, Reggie Corum, co-owner of Corum’s Building Supply, Mayor Dwight Tankersley and Frank Miller, Hartselle’s Parks & Recreation director.
Emcee Chris Stephenson introduced each contributor and asked them to come to the pitcher’s mound to be recognized.
The ceremony included the posting of the American Flag by the nine senior members of the softball team, the singing of the national anthem and a first pitch by Senator Orr to start the game with the Austin Lady Black Bears.
The $70,000 field upgrade included a 30-inch high padded concrete block wall from dugout to dugout, new netting and foul ball catcher, a pitcher’s bullpen, shelving in the dugouts, repainted dugouts and infield improvements.
The project was financed by a $15,000 state grant, which was obtained by Senator Orr, along with various cash, materials and labor donations from the HHS Softball Booster Club and other interested businesses and individuals.
The Lady Tigers added to the opening game excitement by defeating the Lady Black Bears, 5-0.
Leah Robinson had a big hand in the win. She blasted a two-run homer in the first inning to get her team off to a fast start. Seven other players had a single each. They were Ashley Bonner, Chelsea Bennich, Katie Gentle, Breanna Riley, Lindsey Romager, Emily Nix and Meghan Stephenson.
Riley pitched six shutout innings and struck out nine batters to get the win.
