RHS softball wraps regular season
By Brannon King for the FCT
Russellville’s softball team recently picked up two wins in three games to finish up the regular season. The Lady Golden Tigers ran their winning streak to nine games with victories over Deshler and Colbert Heights before dropping game two of a double header to the Wildcats.
Head coach Kathryn Montgomery said she likes what she has seen lately from her squad heading into the postseason. “I think the girls have gelled,” Montgomery said. “They’ve really come together as a team, and everybody is playing their role, which is so important in a team sport.
“Not only are they playing their roles, but they are playing together,” Montgomery explained. “When somebody doesn’t do what they need to do, somebody else comes along and picks them up. It’s a lot less of a ‘me’ atmosphere and more of an ‘us’ atmosphere, and that’s so important.”
RHS traveled to Tuscumbia April 25 and defeated Deshler 9-6. The Lady Golden Tigers took advantage of some shaky Deshler defense and picked up seven hits in the game as well. A six-run fourth inning gave RHS the advantage needed for victory after they had picked up three runs in the first inning to start the game.
Kalli Beth Daniel led the way with the bat for Russellville. The senior got three hits in five at-bats, including a double. AJ Taylor, Kayla Cochran, Karlie Moore and Madison Lamon also hit safely.
The Golden Tigers were active on the bases by collecting eight steals. Alivia Clemmons and Taylor had two each, while Moore, Lamon, Cochran and Sydney Burcham all had one steal apiece.
Emma Whitfield and Megan Warhurst pitched the game for Russellville. Whitfield threw one inning of pitches, while Warhurst came on and worked six innings.
Game one against Colbert Heights April 27 at RHS went Russellville’s way by a 9-0 score. The Golden Tigers picked up four runs in the first inning, which was capped by a two-run home run hit over the fence by Karlie Moore. She went 2-3 in the game with three RBIs while teammates Daniel and Burcham each went 3-4 with a double. Murray and Cochran also had doubles and two hits each in the contest. Taylor picked up two more Russellville hits and the trio of Kourtney Joyner, Clemmons and Lamon had one each.
“The girls came out and they were wide-awake. They were alive,” Montgomery said. “Our pitcher did a very good job. Megan Warhurst came in and pitched a great game. Our defense was on top of what they needed to do, and our bats were alive.”
Warhurst pitched the entire game in the circle for the win. She threw seven innings and gave up only two hits and struck out four while not walking a batter.
Game two of the day went the way of Colbert Heights by a score of 9-1. The Wildcats outhit RHS 9-5, and the Golden Tigers committed a large number of errors defensively.
Russellville (25-19-1) got two hits from Clemmons and one each from Burcham, Cochran and Joyner. Emma Whitfield and Krista Sikes did the pitching for RHS in the seven-inning game.
The Golden Tigers will travel to Lawrence County May 4 to begin the Class 5A, Area 16 tournament. The No. 2-seeded Russellville team will take on the No. 3-seed East Limestone in round one of bracket action. RHS defeated East in both of their meetings during the regular season.
