The Russellville Lady Golden Tigers opened the varsity softball season under the leadership of first-year head coach Rick Lawson with a trip to Tuscaloosa’s Bowers Park to face competition during the two-day Hillcrest Tournament.

Russellville 6, Pell City 3

The Lady Golden Tigers opened the season schedule with a win over the Pell City Panthers Feb. 23.

RHS scored four runs in the second inning and two more in the last frame of the five-inning game. Paislee James and Brooklyn Butler led Russellville with two hits each. Also hitting safely was Khristyan Huerta, Addison Holcomb and Emma Campbell. Butler, James and Huerta all had doubles. Huerta and James had two RBI each, while Butler and Campbell had one apiece.

Jacey Moore did the pitching for RHS, allowing one earned run on six hits. Moore struck-out three and issued no walks.

Hillcrest 8, Russellville 3

The Russellville squad fell to the home team, Hillcrest, to wrap-up play on the first day of the tournament for the Lady Golden Tigers.

RHS outhit Hillcrest 5-3 during the four-inning contest, but the Lady Golden Tigers committed three errors on defense.

Brooklyn Butler and Jemma Moore had two hits each to lead RHS, with one of Butler’s hits coming as a double. Paislee James also had a single with Moore, and Bryleigh Butler picked up the Russellville RBI. Brooklyn Butler and Addison Holcomb did the pitching for RHS.

Russellville 6, Sipsey Valley 0

Day two of the Hillcrest Tournament started with a shutout win for Russellville. The Lady Golden Tigers outhit the Bears 7-1 during the four-inning game.

Jacey Moore was the pitcher for RHS, and she helped her own cause with two hits and an RBI with the bat. In the circle, Moore struck out nine and walked none. James, Campbell, Bryleigh Butler, Jemma Moore and Ticelee Gholston also had Russellville hits. Jemma Moore had two RBI, while James and Butler drove-in one each.

Thompson 10, Russellville 0

The 7A Thompson team was too much for RHS in the final game for the Lady Golden Tigers at the Hillcrest Tournament.

Russellville hits came from Huerta and Brooklyn Butler. James and Moore did the pitching for RHS.