By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
ATHENS - The Hartselle 13 All-Stars scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and coasted to an 11-6 victory over Decatur American Friday at the Athens SportsPlex in the Dixie Boys 13 district championship game.
Hartselle advanced to the North division state tournament beginning Friday in Boaz with the victory.
Hartselle opens in the North Division state championship with a 5 p.m. game against Underwood. The winner will face Heflin in the second round at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Jackson Smith struck out seven in five innings of work to earn the victory. He allowed four runs, but only one of the runs was earned.
Jake Whitt finished up in the final two innings and did not allow a hit. He surrendered two runs, both unearned.
The win was Hartselle’s second over Decatur in the district tournament. Hartselle finished with a 5-0 mark.
Smith and Whitt led the team’s offense with a double and a single each. Smith scored three runs in the win.
Thomas Penton had a double, while Allen Smithson, Tanner Brown, Jamo Maxwell, Aaron Baker and Griffen Steelman all added singles for Hartselle.
Hartselle also beat Underwood twice and Muscle Shoals in the district tournament.
But the Hartselle players and coaches knew it would take a solid effort to beat Decatur for a second time in a week.