Hartselle baseball wins two in Georgia
The Hartselle Tigers baseball team traveled to Georgia this past weekend for three games against two of the top teams in the state.
Houston County (GA) 7, Hartselle 6
The Tigers opened against defending Georgia 6A state champions Houston County. The Tigers, who trailed 2-0, scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-2 lead. Hartselle gave up four runs in the bottom of the sixth as Houston County tied the game at 6-6. The game went to extra innings, with Houston County scoring the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Cam Palahach had two hits, including a double and an RBI, to lead Hartselle. Elliott Bray and Coleman Mizell each had two hits and a run scored. Cade Miles had a hit, a run scored and an RBI.
Bray started the game and pitched five innings. He gave up six hits and two runs, one earned, with 11 strikeouts. He left the game leading 6-2. William Turner took the loss after pitching 2.1 innings and giving up two hits and five runs, one earned. He struck out four and walked five.
Hartselle 5, Locust Grove (GA) 4
Hartselle played a doubleheader with Locust Grove, Georgia, Saturday.
The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the second inning in game one. After giving up three runs in the top of the fifth, they scored three in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-3 lead. After giving up a run in the top of the sixth, they held on for the win.
Caleb Pittman pitched five innings after starting the game. He gave up two hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out nine. He left the game leading 5-3. Eli Tidwell pitched the final two innings and picked up a save after giving up a hit and a run while striking out three.
Brodie Morrow had a double and three RBIs to lead Hartselle. Miles had two hits with two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Peyton Steele and Bray each had two hits. Mizell finished with a hit, a run scored and a stolen base.
Hartselle 5, Locust Grove (GA) 4
The Tigers picked up their second comeback victory of the day in game two against Locust Grove. The Wildcats took a 2-0 in the bottom of the third.
Hartselle tied the game with two in the top of the fourth. Each team scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings to make the score 4-4, heading to the seventh.
The Tigers scored a run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly to take the lead. They held the Wildcats scoreless in the bottom of the inning for the win.
Mizell had three hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases to lead Hartselle (5-1). In the seventh, he scored the game-winning run on Greyson Howard’s sac fly. Howard had a hit and two RBIs. Morrow had two hits and a run scored. Miles had a hit and an RBI.
Steel got the start and lasted three innings. He gave up three hits and two runs. Howard replaced him with the game tied at 2-2. Howard pitched three innings, giving up four hits and two runs. He earned the victory for the Tigers. Tidwell earned his second save with a scoreless seventh inning.