Hartselle’s High School’s Lady Tigers (35-13) swept through two Class 5A, Area 13 opponents on Friday and advanced to the North Regionall Softball Tournament in Huntsville Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Tigers are scheduled to play Columbia (Huntsville) in the tournament’s opening round Friday at 9:30 a.m. If they win, they will face the winner of Scottsboro vs. Athens at 12:30 p.m. the same day. The region’s winner and runner-up will compete in a final eight state championship tournament the following week.

“The girls did really well,” said head coach Robin Halbrooks. They took care of business and got where they wanted to be at this point in the season.

Five of the eight teams competing at the regional are ranked among the state’s top 10 teams. They are Lawrence County, Scottsboro, Athens, East Limestone as well as No. 5 Hartselle.

In area tournament action, the Lady Tigers had wins over Brewer, 10-0, Cullman 2-0, and Cullman again in the final, 5-2.

The Lady Tiger banged out 10 hits in their opening win over Brewer. Kayla Faulk had a double and a pair of singles, Olivia Golden homered, Baylee Holt, Jada Hayes and Allie Hill each had an RBI single and Haley Jarred had a single.

Hayes was the winning pitcher. She allowed no runs on four hits while striking out seven batters and walking one.

Hartselle got by Cullman 2-0 in the tournament’s second round on the strength of a two-RBI single by Faulk and a single by Ashley Boggs.

Faulk pitched seven innings and was credited with the win. She allowed two hits, struck out three batters and walked two.

Hartselle won the championship game against the Lady Bearcats, 5-2. The Lady Tigers collected 14 hits while allowed only six.

Hartselle’s hitters were Sarah Ellen Battles with two singles. a double and two RBIs, Faulk with a double and single and an RBI, Golden with a double and single, Holt with a pair of singles, and Taylor Wascavage with an RBI single.

Hayes was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs on six hits wile striking out three batters and walking three.