Priceville finishes 2nd in county

Priceville High School’s Lady Bulldogs were recognized as runners-up in the Morgan County Softball Tournament, which was held at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur last weekend. They lost to Austin 4-1 in the championship game. Players pictured with their trophy, from left, are: (front row) Amber Johnson, L Haley Gray, McKenzie Parker, Kara Haynes, and Danielle Richard; (back row) Brittany Marks, Meaghan Bond, Shana Bond, Mandy Bunnell and Emily Williams. | Clif Knight

Priceville’s Lady Bulldogs claimed the runner-up trophy in the Morgan County Softball Tournament after falling to Austin’s Lady Black Bears 4-1 in the championship game at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur Saturday night.

The Lady Bulldogs reached the final after defeating Decatur 6-1 in a first round game and out-slugging Hartselle 12-2 in the semifinal round.

Austin scored three of its four runs in the first inning and prevailed the rest of the way behind the six-hit pitching of Lauren Lindsey.

The Lady Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fifth inning but were unable to score. Their only run came in the sixth on the strength of Danielle Richard’s double to deep center field.

Shayna Bond relieved her sister, Meaghan Bond, on the mound in the third inning and allowed only one run on four hits while striking out three and walking one.

Richard and McKenzie Parker each had two hits to pace the Lady Bulldogs at the plate.

In their win against Hartselle, the Lady Bulldogs scored four runs in the first inning, one in the second, three in the fourth and four in the fifth.

Richard led Priceville’s attack with four hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored four runs. Mandy Bunnell had an inside-the-park home run, and Meaghan Bond had a double and a pair of singles and scored a run.

Shayna Bond was the winning pitcher, allowing only four hits.

Hartselle’s hitters were Sarah Ellen Battles with a single and a run scored, Amber Hicks with a double and an RBI, and Emily Nix, Savannah Holes and Allie Hill with a single each.

The Lady Tigers competed in the tournament without nine seniors, one sophomore and four of its junior varsity players due to a conflict with the school’s junior-senior prom.

Morgan County All-Tournament team

Danville—Keri Callahan and Haley Garnett

Brewer—Anna Stephens and Shelby Dooley

West Morgan—Hannah Harris and Alexis Casteel

Falkville—Sarah Goodman and Jessie Thompson

Decatur—Scarlet Wright and Meg Whitten

Priceville—Mandy Buneell, Danielle Richard and Meaghan Bond

Austin—Lauren Lindsey, Libby Ann O’Linger Allie Garland and Ashton Cowan