By Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Tharptown Wildcats picked up three wins in the first week of the season, the first coming on opening day against an area opponent, Sulligent.

The Wildcats defeated the Blue Devils 4-3 to get an early advantage in area play.

Kaitlyn Vandiver got the win. Vandiver, along with Haley Malone, Ameliah Dawson, Darla Smith and Shaylee Wieting all had hits in the game for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats went two-and-two over the weekend in the Lynn Invitational Tournament. Tharptown picked up wins against Brilliant and Oakman. They lost to Cordova and Walker.

Some of the tournament highlights included a two-run home run by Vandiver against Walker. Vandiver also had an RBI double in the game. Rachel Love added a hit. Kaylee Bain scored two runs.

Malone, who recently signed with Southwest, went 2-for-2 with a triple, double and three RBIs in a 7-4 win over Oakman. Wieting had a two-run triple. Bain had a hit, two runs and an RBI. Also getting hits were Love, Cara Ergle, and Klaudia Harris.

Tharptown hammered Brilliant 19-0. Smith and Ergle both had two-run doubles. Wieting had a three-run triple. Malone went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Love was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Bain walked three times, had two stolen bases and scored three times. Harris also added a hit.

Both Kaitlyn Vandiver and Olivia Ergle earned wins at the pitching position for the Wildcats.

Tharptown finishes the opening week of their season with a 3-2 record.