By Staff
Charles Prince, Hartselle Enquirer
DECATUR – The Hartselle Tigers exploded for 27 runs in the doubleheader sweep of the Decatur Red Raiders and then topped Bob Jones and Austin for four wins in a span of just more than 24 hours.
The four wins have the Tigers off to a 5-2 start for the young season.
Hartselle 11, Decatur 1
After a scoreless first inning, the Tigers put three runs on the board in the top of the second. Justin Hargett singled and moved to second on a ground out.
He moved to third on Michael Scott's infield single and scored on a passed ball. Then Kris Berry singled to give the Tigers two runners on with one out.
Chris Wiley then doubled down the left field line scoring both runners.
Hartselle added two more runs in the third inning when Jordan Parker reached on an error and Hunter Brasher walked. The runners moved to second and third respectively on a wild pitch.
Both runners came home on Hargett's single up the middle.
The lead would grow to 11-0 when the Tigers scored six runs in the top of the fourth.
Chris Russell threw four strong innings and allowed only one hit to pick up the win. Russell had two strikeouts, walked none and had only one ball hit out of the infield, while the infield defense helped his cause by turning two double plays.
Cody Stisher pitched the fifth inning and allowed one run on one hit. He walked one and struck out one batter.
Hartselle 16, Decatur 10
The nightcap would prove to be a slugfest as 26 runs crossed the plate. Zach Smith picked up the win for the Tigers with five innings of six-hit ball, allowing only one earned run and striking out three.
Jordan Parker had a big game at the plate, going four-for-five with four RBIs, three runs scored and a double, while Ja'Cote Ward was three-for-five with three runs, one RBI and two doubles.
Justin Youngblood was two-for-five with two RBIs and a run, while Keith McCaghren was two-for-four with two RBIs and a run scored.
Daxton Maze was two-for-five with three RBIs and scored once.
Andrew Reeves picked up the save with one-and-one-third innings of work. He allowed no earned runs and struck out three.
Hartselle 6, Bob Jones 5
The first inning proved to be the most eventful as the visiting Patriots scored two runs in the frame, only to see the Tigers answer with five runs.
Youngblood reached on a walk and came home on Parker's double.
Seth Watson and Brasher then walked to load the bases.
Hargett would clear the bases with a grand slam for a 5-2 Tiger lead.
Michael Scott would double in the fifth inning and come home on an error with what proved to be the winning run.
Reeves won his second game in two decisions with five innings of six-hit ball, while allowing two walks and striking out two batters.
McCaghren picked up the save with two innings of work.
He walked one and struck out one while preserving the lead.
Hartselle 6, Austin 5
Hartselle won behind a strong outing on the mound by Watson.
Watson allowed only one hit in six innings of work, while striking out six and giving up two runs. McCaghren picked up his second save of the day.
Wiley was two-for-four with two runs scored and a stolen base. Parker was three-for-three including a three-run homer in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-0. Ja'Cote Ward was two-for-four with a double and two RBIs, while Joe McClanahan went two-for-three with a RBI.
McCaghren had a double and Youngblood collected one hit.