By Staff
Hartselle shoots down Golden Eagles, 6-4
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
ATHENS – The Hartselle Tigers picked up a needed Area win Monday, a 6-4 victory over rival Athens.
Tyler Eddy earned the win while Joey Watson picked up a save.
Eddy pitched 6.2 innings, allowed four runs on six hits and struck out eight.
Watson needed just three pitches for the save. He struck out the only batter he faced, which represented the game-tying score.
Zac Ward started a rally in the first inning with a double to the fence, scoring Chris Wiley. Wiley reached first base with a lead-off walk.
One out later and the bases loaded, Hodge Patterson was hit by a pitch, sending Ja'Cote Ward home, who was running for Zack Smith.
Tyler Reeves also was hit by a pitch later in the inning with the bases full, sending home Ward.
Athens closed the gap with two runs in the third, making the score 3-2 in favor of the Tigers.
That score remained until the sixth, when the Hartselle bats started to heat up.
Wiley laid down a bunt to the third base side and reached easily. Ann errant throw allowed Eric Grisham to score all the way from first base.
Wiley went to third and scored on a balk one batter later to give Hartselle a 5-3 advantage.
David Cameron got into the act with an RBI single, scoring Ja'Cote Ward. Again, Ward was pinch running for Smith, who singled just one batter prior.
The Tigers did leave the bases full for the second time of the game, giving Athens life for the final inning.
After Hartselle went down in order in the top of the seventh, Athens' Kirk Bauer pounced on an Eddy pitch and sent it over the center field wall, making the score.
Zach Ooten followed with a double and advanced to third before scoring on a wild pitch.
Head coach William Booth had seen enough and sent the lefty/righty Watson into the game for the final three pitches.
No Hartselle batter had more than one hit, but as a team drew 10 walks.
Wiley went 1 for 3 with a walk, Smith was 1 for 5, Ward went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk, while Cameron ended the day going 1 for 2 and two walks. Hodge Patterson officially went 1 for 1 with a double and three walks.
Steele suffered the loss for Athens, giving up all six runs on five hits. He struck out 10 batters.