Hartselle baseball takes down three Class 7A Top 10 teams to open season
The Hartselle Tigers baseball team opened the 2022 season by defeating three Top 10 teams in Class 7A. The Tigers participated in PBR Alabama’s kick-off event, hosted by Hoover and Vestavia Hills.
6A No. 1 Hartselle 7, 7A No. 2 Hoover 3
The Tigers rallied from a 3-1 second-inning deficit by scoring six unanswered runs in the final five innings to pick up Hartselle’s first victory of the season.
Auburn signee Elliot Bray allowed one earned run and struck out four in six innings of work to pick up the win. Another Auburn signee, William Turner, pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up the save.
Coleman Mizell drove in three runs to lead the Tiger offense.
Bray had three hits, and JoJo Williams added two hits and two runs scored. Eli Tidwell scored three runs and had a stolen base.
6A No. 1 Hartselle 7, 7A No. 9 Vestavia Hills 2
Hartselle jumped out to a two-run lead following the top of the first and never looked back in a 7-2 win over the host Rebels.
The Tigers extended their lead to 4-0 before Vestavia Hills got on the board with two in the bottom of the fourth. Hartselle added three runs to close out the game.
Mizell hit a two-run homer and finished with two RBIs, while Brodie Morrow had a double and two RBIs. Peyton Steele and Williamson each had two hits and two runs scored, while Cade Miles had a hit and two runs scored.
The third Auburn signee, Caleb Pittman, allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out five in 4.1 innings of work to pick up the win. Tidwell pitched the final 2.2 innings to earn the save after holding the Rebels hitless and striking out four.
6A No. 1 Hartselle 9, 7A No. 4 Oak Mountain 7
The Tigers jumped out to a 6-1 lead after five innings but saw the Oak Mountain Eagles score six in the top of the sixth to take a 7-6 lead. Hartselle responded with three in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead and get the win.
Mizell finished with two hits, including a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored to pace the Hartselle attack. Cam Palahach had two hits and two RBIs.
Williamson led the team with three hits while scoring two RBIs. Tidwell had two hits, including a game-tying home run in the sixth.
Turner got the start, allowing seven hits and five earned runs while striking out five in 5.2 innings of work. Brant Stringer allowed two earned runs in relief of Turner without recording an out. Greyson Howard pitched a scoreless inning and a third to earn the victory.
