Hartselle dominates at Hazel Green
Breanna Riley pitches against Austin. | Clif Knight
Hartselle’s Lady Tigers dominated the Hazel Green Invitational Softball Tournament last weekend by defeating all four opponents they faced and extended their unbeaten record to 5-0.
On Friday, they defeated New Hope and Ardmore 7-1 and 4-0. Respectively, and went on to win over Grissom, 16-1, and Bob Jones, 4-0, on Saturday.
“I’m pleasantly surprised at where we’re at after our first five games,” said head coach Daniel Bates,” but I told the girls after our last game Saturday that I‘m glad they’re having some success early but reminded them that we’re nowhere near where we need to be. We’ve got to keep working and striving to get better.”
“So far we’re not committing many errors (three in five games) and we’re putting the ball in play,” he added. We’ve used all three of our pitchers and they’ve allowed only two runs in five games.”
Hartselle 7, New Hope 1
The Lady Tigers outscored New Hope 7-1 in their first tournament game. Emily Nix led Hartselle at the plate with a two-run double and a single. Ashley Bonner followed with a double and single, Olivia Golden singled, scored two runs and stole three bases and Leah Robinson, Allie Hill and Kayla Faulk each singled. Abby McHugh pitched three innings and was credited with the win. She allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six.
Hartselle 4, Ardmore 0
Hartselle jumped out front with a three-run first inning and went on to hand Ardmore a 4-0 loss. Lindsey Romager paced a five-hit attack with a double, single and three RBIs. Also getting hits were Faulk, Katie Gentle and Bonner. Faulk pitched four innings giving up two hits in the win.
Hartselle 16, Grissom 1
Hartselle banged out 21 hits in a 16-1 thumping of Grissom. Katie Gentle paced the attack with four singles, three runs and an RBI. Chelsea Bennich followed with three hits, two runs and five RBIs. Nix went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs. Bonner had a double and two singles with two runs and three RBIs, Robinson, Romager, and Faulk each had a pair of singles and Meghan Stephenson and McHugh each singled. McHugh got the win, pitching two innings and allowed no hits and two walks. Faulk pitched three innings, allowing a run on two hits with three walks.
Hartselle 4, Bob Jones 0
The Lady Tigers broke the game open with a two-fun fourth inning and scored their final two runs in the fifth. Romager had a pair of doubles and three RBIs and Bonner, Breanna Riley and Nix each singled. Riley got the win pitching six innings and allowing just three hits while striking out 11 batters and walking two.
