By Staff
Kim West
BELGREEN – The Tharptown varsity softball team made school history Saturday as the Lady Wildcats claimed their first varsity championship in the Franklin County tournament finals Saturday.
Tharptown, which doesn't have any seniors on its roster, advanced to the finals by beating Belgreen 5-2 and Phil Campbell 5-4 Saturday morning.
"Last year we were put out in two games but we knew we had a chance to win the tournament this year," said Tharptown coach Susie Sellers, who coached juniors Jess Myrick, Hollie Hines, Laken Barnett and Lauren Scott to a junior county title in 2004.
"I was so proud of them today – we knew we were going in as underdogs but they were excited about playing and focused on winning. Once we had the first win under our belt, it brought up our level of intensity."
Tharptown (15-6) had to beat defending champion Phil Campbell (12-15) twice to win the double-elimination tournament, and the Lady Wildcats took an early 6-1 lead in the deciding game. They held on for the 7-4 win despite a 3-for-3 effort at the plate from Alexis Maggerise, who helped the Lady Bobcats rally for three runs in the final four innings.
Jess Myrick, who went 3-0 in the tournament, earned her 14th win, while Kim Clark took the loss.
Heather Hatton, Braeden Sellers and Casey Mitchell each had two singles for Tharptown, while Tosha George drove in two runs on two singles.
Chasity Morgan and Amber Hutcheson each had a single and double for Phil Campbell, which defeated Vina and Red Bay to reach the finals.