By Staff
OZARK – Mary Curtis and the Hartselle Belles dominated Central Baldwin 4-1 Saturday to win the Dixie Youth All-Stars Alabama State Championship game.
Curtis pitched six innings in the title game, allowing one run on five hits. Elizabeth Stejskal entered in the seventh inning and earned the save.
The Belles' pitching staff, primarily consisting of Curtis, Stejskal and Amanda Drane in the state tournament, held a combined .079 ERA throughout the tourney.
The Belles also got the job done at the plate, outscoring their opponents 49-18 and losing only one game en route to the championship.
"I knew we had the ability to win state," manager Willie Jones said. "After each game, they showed me and the other coaches that (winning a state championship) was exactly what they wanted to do.
"I know this may sound cocky or overconfident, but I knew this team could and would win the state tournament."
With the state championship win, the Belles will travel to Eufaula and compete in the World Series beginning Saturday against teams from around the country.
Hartselle 4,
Central Baldwin 1
Championship game
The Hartselle Belles avenged an earlier loss to Central Baldwin with a 4-1 championship game win.
Mary Curtis earned the win while Elizabeth Stejskal entered in the seventh for the save.
At the plate, Shon Jones had a part in all four runs scored. Jones had three hits, three RBIs and scored a run.
Paige Chatman notched three hits and scored a run, while Tess Hill had two hits.
Tiffahne Orr and Catie Keel each had one hit and scored a run.
Central Baldwin 1,
Hartselle 0
The Hartselle Belles suffered their first loss of the tournament at the hands of Central Baldwin, 1-0.
The Belles managed only three hits in the contest. Shan Jones, Elizabeth Stejskal and Amanda Drane had one hit each.
Drane, who entered to pitch in the fourth inning, suffered the loss, giving up the game's only run in the seventh and final inning.
Hartselle 13, Monrovia 10
Monrovia's seventh-inning rally ultimately fell short as the Hartselle Belles won 13-10.
Monrovia trailed 13-6 heading into the final inning, but managed only four runs.
Mary Curtis earned the victory with relief help from Shan Jones and Amanda Drane.
At the plate, Shon Jones, who led the team during the tournament with a .545 batting average, doubled twice and singled. She scored two runs and knocked in two.
Paige Chatman, who stole four bases, and Amanda Drane each had three hits, while Elizabeth Stejskal had two hits.
Shan Jones, Lindsay Robinson, Katie Smith, Haley Miller, Catie Keel and Tiffahne Orr each had hits.
Hartselle 15, Demopolis 0
Perhaps Demopolis should have stayed on the bus.
The Hartselle Belles destroyed Demopolis 15-0 during an early-round contest of the state tournament.
The game lasted just five innings, with Amanda Drane earning the win in three innings pitched. She allowed one hit and struck out three.
Shan and Shon Jones made up four of Hartselle's six hits.
See BELLES, B-2