THS splits opening day with Panthers

Jayden Mitchell struck out 14 batters and led the Tharptown Wildcats past the Hackleburg Panthers 10-6 on opening day.

Tharptown scored five unanswered runs in the first three innings. Hackleburg scored two in the bottom of the third, giving the Wildcats a 5-2 lead after three innings. Tharptown exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning and held on for the win.

Hackleburg outhit Tharptown 5-4 but committed seven errors, while the Wildcats played error-free ball.

Greyson Studdard had two RBIs in the game.

Hackleburg 11, Tharptown 6

Tharptown outhit the Hackleburg Panthers 9-5, but 11 errors would prove to be the Wildcats’ undoing, as they lost 11-6.

Tharptown led Hackleburg 3-1 after the first inning and 3-2 at the end of two. Hackleburg tied the game at 6-6 in the fifth inning and scored five unanswered the rest of the way to the win.

Hunter Motes led Tharptown with three hits. Studdard and Jayden Mitchell had two hits each. Mitchell, Colton Simmons and Travis State had one RBI each.

Studdard pitched three and one-third innings and struck out three. Hunter White pitched two and two-thirds innings and struck out three.

Hamilton 10, Red Bay 6

Seven errors spoiled the Red Bay Tigers’ opening game, as they lost to the Hamilton Aggies 10-6.

The Tigers outhit Hamilton 10-3 but could not overcome their troubles in the field.

Hamilton led 4-2 at the end of the first inning. Red Bay scored four in the second inning to take a 6-4 lead. Hamilton added six late unanswered runs to get win.

Kolby Bragwell pitched six innings and struck out eight batters. He also had two hits.

Cade McKinney had two hits, scored two runs and got two RBIs in the game.