By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The 5A Area 13 softball title belongs to Hartselle’s Lady Tigers (21-7, 5-0) after a grueling, extra-innings road battle against Cullman’s Lady Bearcats April 10.
The Lady Tigers emerged as a 3-2 winner after breaking a 2-2 tie with a single run in the top of the ninth inning and shutting down the home-standing Lady Bearcats in the bottom half of the same inning.
Hartselle broke open a scoreless game in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run rally. Chandler Orr doubled and scored on a Cullman error when a hard-hit ground ball by Kimmie Minor got away from the shortstop. Audrey McClanahan then drew a walk, advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single by Christy Pevahouse.
The Lady Bearcats produced a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Cassie Gable tripled and scored on a passed ball with two outs. They tied the game at 2-all and sent it into extra innings in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out solo home run by Allison Meriwether.
McClanahan chalked up the winning run after she was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a single by Pevahouse and scored on a passed ball with two outs.
McClanahan also ended the game when she caught a high infield fly for Cullman’s third out in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Breanna Riley pitched all nine innings and was credited with the win. She gave up two runs on five hits, had 19 strikeouts and didn’t allow a walk.
Elizabeth Buchanan went the distance for Cullman. She recorded 11 strikeouts, allowed four walks, and gave up three runs on six hits.
Hartselle’s hitters were Pevahouse with a pair of singles, Orr with a double and McClanahan, Anna Beth Hall and Sara Lang each with a single.