By Staff
Charles Prince, Hartselle Enquirer
Cullman – The Hartselle Tigers used three home runs and three doubles to hammer their way past the Cullman Bearcats, 10-5. The match up was the first for the two teams since the state semi-finals last May. Earlier in the day, the Tigers had topped the Bob Jones Patriots 11-10.
Hartselle 10, Cullman 5
After a scoreless first inning, the Tigers put four runs on the board in the second inning.
Justin Parker led off the inning with a single, followed by Chris Wiley with another single. Joe McClanahan then reached on an error, while Parker came around to score the game's first run. Then Keith McCaghren smashed a drive over the fence in left-center to give Hartselle a four-run lead.
Cullman would score two runs in the second off Tiger starter Andrew Reeves, thanks to a double, a single and an error. The Bearcats would push across three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. Reeves would exit the game after the inning finishing with four innings of five-hit ball, while striking out three.
Hartselle would respond in the top of the fifth with three runs to take the lead for good.
Justin Hargett tied up the game when he led off the inning with a blast over the right field fence. Two outs later, Wiley walked and stole second base. He could come home on a double off the right field fence by McClanahan. TJ Long was inserted as a pinch runner for McClanahan and came home on a double by McCaghren to give the Tigers a 7-5 lead.
In the sixth, Hartselle added three insurance runs. Alex Thompson led off the inning with a single and would come home, when Hargett drove the next pitch over the right field fence.
Seth Watson followed with a single, and scored one out later when Wiley doubled to left-center.
Zach Smith relieved Reeves and threw three innings of no-hit ball while fanning two batters and picked up the win.
Two big defensive plays by Hartselle aided the effort. Wiley's running catch in right field in the third inning with a Cullman runner on second prevented a run, while McCaghren's catch of a hot shot to first base in the seventh allowed him to double off a Bearcat runner.
Hartselle improved to 8-6 on the season, while Cullman slipped to 7-7.
Hartselle 11, Bob Jones 10
Earlier in the afternoon, Hartselle took an 11-2 lead into the fourth inning, but Bob Jones would score eight runs, six coming on Tiger errors, to make the game close.
Russell threw four innings of five-hit ball and struck out three, while allowing two runs.
At the plate, Youngblood had two walks, two steals and scored twice. Hargett had a single, a double and a walk, a stolen base and scored three times. Watson had three walks and scored twice, while Parker had two walks and scored two runs. Wiley had a two-run double. The hit appeared it might be a home run ball, but the gusting wind keep the ball inside the park. Kris Berry added one base hit.
Hartselle 14, Lincoln County 1
On Monday night, the Tigers swept a doubleheader.
In the opener, McCaghren threw five innings to earn his first win of the season, allowing three hits and striking out three.
At the plate, Wiley smashed a three-run homer and finished with two hits and five RBIs, while Hargett had two hits, scored twice and had a RBI. Parker had two hits, scored three times and had a RBI, while Maze had two hits and drove in three runs. Brasher and Berry added one hit each.
Hartselle 7, Lincoln County 3
In the nightcap, Chase Lusk threw three innings, allowed two hits and struck out three, but didn't get a decision. Steven Chop followed and got the win, with three innings of one-hit ball. Jacob Wray threw a no-hit seventh inning, to preserve the win.
The Tiger offense was led by Wiley with two hits, including a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while Parker had two hits and scored twice and Alex Thompson had two hits, including a double, scored once and had a RBI.
McCaghren had a hit and two RBIs, while Hargett and McClanahan had one hit each.
The Tigers improved to 10-6 with the sweep.