By Staff
Hartselle's 11-12 year-olds Nationals All-star team advanced to sub-district competition at East Limestone with a sweep of the Area E tournament in Flint.
After downing the Madison Central team 5-4 in their opening game, Hartselle pulled out a close one over the Decatur Blue squad when Andrew Howard homered in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Hartselle Nationals continued their winning ways when they took on the Madison Southern team and won a rematch with Decatur Blue for the championship.
The 11-12 Hartslle Americans all-star team coached by Larry Doyle also advanced to the East Limetone sub-district tournament.
Hartselle Nationals 13, Madison Southern 3:
The Nationals took command of their third game early with five runs in the top of the first inning.
They added two in the second and plated four more runs in the third inning.
Madison had two runners cross home plate in the fourth inning while Hartselle bats were silent.
The Nationals wrapped the game with two final runs in the top of the fifth, while the Madison squad added one more run.
Andrew Howard claimed the pitching win. He struck out six with one walk and one hit. Alex Mote provided relief, but gave up the Madison runs.
Daniel Owen got the big hit for Hartselle with a double. Ethan Widner, Garrett Turrentine, Judd McCravey and Zack Bodley all singled for the Nationals.
Hartselle Nationals 5, Decatur Blue 3:
Hartselle's 11-12 Nationals had to come from behind to claim the Area E championship.
The Decatur Blues opened the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning and added another plate in the fourth before Hartselle could get their bats working.
The Nationals forced extra innings at virtually the last moment when they rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Neither team reached home in the seventh inning, but Hartselle claimed their final margin with a pair in the top of the eight. The championship was clinched with shutout defense in the bottom half of the inning by the Nationals.
Garrett Turrentine worked the first five innings for Hartselle, but Spencer Orr got the win in three innings of relief.
Turrentine struck out four and walked one while giving up the three Decatur runs.
Orr fanned six while holding Decatur scoreless in the deciding innings. He walked one.