Hartselle tops Athens to win area championship

May 6—HARTSELLE — Hartselle outlasted Athens 14-7 Tuesday night to win the Class 6A, Area 15 championship.

After dropping the first game of the area finals to the Golden Eagles 8-6, the Tigers rallied to dominate the winner-take-all game.

Hartselle wasted no time taking control in the game, scoring four runs in the first inning and adding another six in the second.

Hatsumi Peterson led the way with three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs, while Aubree Peak had three hits and two RBIs and Katie Norgard had two hits and three RBIs.

Kara Crews led Athens with three hits and an RBI. Paisley Howell finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Caitlyn Tedford and Linsley Gillman each added two hits and an RBI.

—

Athens 8, Hartselle 6: It was starting to feel a like déjà vu for Athens on Tuesday night.

Just a night after blowing a three-run lead to Hartselle in the last inning, Athens again was trying to hold off a comeback as the Golden Eagles saw their six-run lead dwindle to two in the final inning.

This time, however, Athens held on, beating Hartselle 8-6 to force a winner-take-all game for the Class 6A, Area 15 championship.

"Something crazy always happens in an Athens and Hartselle game, but our girls did a great job of battling through adversity," Athens head coach Chuck Smith said. "We've faced a tough schedule this year, and I have confidence in our girls, and they have confidence in themselves."

While Hartselle may have scored runs late, it was great pitching that got Athens the win. Pitcher Lexie Thornton held the potent Tigers lineup scoreless through five innings and to just two runs through six innings.

"Lexie did a great job of hitting her spots," Smith said. "We have certain things that we know we can get them out with as long as we're hitting out spots, and we did that tonight."

Abby Lopez led Athens with three hits, while Rayne Brewer added a two-run home run and Thornton had two hits and an RBI. Aubree Peak led Hartselle with two home runs and six RBIs.

Hartselle head coach Anna Hanners said she was pleased with her team's rally late but said the outcome might've been different had they hit better sooner.

"We stopped hitting fly balls," Hanners said. "We actually hit ground balls, line drives, got on base and started scoring runs.

"If we can keep that up in the next game, then I believe 100% we can win."

—

Athens 8, Muscle Shoals 7: Caitlyn Tedford hit a walk-off single to give Athens the win and send the Golden Eagles to the area finals.

Tedford finished with two RBIs, while Paisley Howell led Athens with four hits. Jazz Davis added two hits and two RBIs.

—

Class 5A, Area 14

Lawrence County 17, Russellville 0: McKinley McCaghren had a huge game to lead the Red Devils to the area championship.