By Staff
Jackson tosses no-hitter; PC claims county title
Kim West
BELGREEN – The Phil Campbell junior softball team wrapped up a dominant season with a 19-0 victory over Belgreen Saturday to claim the county tournament championship.
The Lady Bobcats (15-1) outscored its opponents 46-0 during its three-game run during the tournament as eighth-grader Lindsey Jackson struck out 20 of the 32 batters she faced without giving up a run.
Belgreen (5-12), which had to beat Red Bay, Tharptown and East Franklin Saturday to reach the championship game, struggled against Jackson, who faced only nine Belgreen batters and struck out seven, including three strikeouts in both the first and third innings. Erica Smith, who took the loss for Belgreen, led off the bottom of the second inning and threatened with a deep shot to center field but Phil Campbell's Kaysie Pounders was there to make the catch.
Phil Campbell went ahead 2-0 in the first inning as Whitley Yocum led off with an inside-the park home run and pinch runner Brooke Hallman scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Bobcats scored seven more runs in the second inning as Pounders, Karina Jimenez, Sarah Hilliard, Amber Chaney, Jessie Halcomb and Taylor Scott each had hits, including a two-run triple from Scott, who scored on a passed ball to put Phil Campbell ahead 9-0.
The Lady Bobcats scored 10 more runs in the third as Jimenez, Chaney, Halcomb and Sarah Hester each had triples and Hallman added a double. Yocum, Scott and Morgan Shelnutt each hit singles and Hilliard added two singles and two runs scored.
Belgreen 4
East Franklin 1
The Belgreen junior softball team advanced to the finals by beating East Franklin 4-1 Saturday.
Belgreen's Bridget Thompson, who went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, earned the victory on the mound, while Mattie Benford struck out four in the loss for the Lady Rebels.
Belgreen struck first as Thompson drew a walk, stole second and scored on a wild pitch to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
Belgreen added three more runs in the second inning as Sara McMahan led off with a stand-up triple and scored on a sacrifice from Erica Smith. Kayla Byrd and April Presley each scored after Thompson dropped a single behind first base to increase the lead to 4-0.
East Franklin cut the lead to 4-1 after Megan Risley smacked a triple and Benford followed with another triple to score Risley.
Thompson didn't allow another hit over the final two innings as she struck out two and allowed a walk to Ciara Harville.
Jaydn Caskey added a single for Belgreen.