Lady Tigers roll to county title
Red Bay’s softball team celebrates after defeating Phil Campbell 10-0 to claim the 2011 Franklin County Softball Tournament. Team members include Lauren Pacetti, Whitney Sharp, Lexy Lindsey, Emily Cox, Hannah Sharp, Audrey Goss, Kellie Ballard, Mariah Horton, Kelsie Ruple, Alaina Hester, Katie Harris, Katelyn Stanfield and Naudia Kelly. Scot Beard/FCT
THARPTOWN – Red Bay used a pair of shutout victories against rival Phil Campbell Saturday afternoon to claim the 2011 Franklin County Softball Tournament title.
In the semifinals the Lady Tigers scored on a passed ball in the first inning and another passed ball in the fourth inning to claim a 2-0 win, clinching a spot in the finals and sending the Lady Bobcats to the Losers’ Bracket.
Phil Campbell had opportunities to score, but stranded seven runners during the game. Vickie McAllister had a pair of singles for the Lady Bobcats while Sarah Hilliard had one hit.
Lauren Pacetti had two hits for Red Bay.
Whitney Sharp pitched five innings to earn the win for Red Bay. She gave up three hits, walked three and struck out six.
Lindsey Jackson pitched four innings for Phil Campbell, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out six.
Phil Campbell fought its way out of the Losers’ Bracket to force a rematch, but the second game was much different as Red Bay cruised to a 10-0 win to claim the tournament title.
Red Bay scored nine runs in the top of the first inning as 14 batters came to the plate. Pacetti and Sharp each had two hits and scored two runs in the inning.
Emily Cox, Hannah Sharp and Lexy Lindsey also had a hit during the inning.
Phil Campbell loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but were unable to push a run across the plate.
Although Red Bay’s offense was red hot in the first inning, it cooled for much of the remaining six innings. The Lady Tigers had only two more runners reach base — Lindsey picked up a single in the fourth and later scored while Alaina Hester drew a walk in the fifth.
Phil Campbell had hits by McAllister, who singled, and a double from both Sarah Hester and Autumn Thomas.
Emily Cox earned the win for Red Bay, pitching five innings, allowing five hits and striking out four.
Jackson took the loss for Phil Campbell, allowing eight hits and striking out four.
Tharptown 8, Vina 1
Tharptown scored three runs in the second inning to propel the Lady Wildcats past Vina in the Losers’ Bracket of the Franklin County Softball Tournament.
Erika Sparks hit a single and triple for the Lady Wildcats while Chloe Lane doubled and Haley Hatton, Makayla Little and Braeden Sellers all singled.
Hasha Watson and Chelsea Darracott singled for Vina. Claudia Townsend scored the Lady Red Devils’ lone run in the fifth when she drew a walk and later scored on a sacrifice by Victoria Cochran.
Phil Campbell 9, Tharptown 2
Five of Phil Campbell’s first six batters scored as the Lady Bobcats rolled past Tharptown in the finals of the Losers’ Bracket to earn a spot in the championship round of the Franklin County Softball Tournament.
Phil Campbell tacked on four more runs in the second inning.
Sparks tripled for Tharptown in the third inning and scored on a single by Lane. Lane later scored on a single by Little.
Kendra Baker and Haley Hatton also singled for Tharptown while Sellers doubled.
Korina Jimenez led the Lady Bobcats with a double while Whitley Yocom and Jackson both singled.
Jackson earned the win for Phil Campbell, pitching three innings. She allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four.
