By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle High School's softball team reeled off a win in Class 5A Area 16 competition last week before losing to Muscle Shoals and going into the Spring break 7-7 overall and a 1-1 in the area. Four of their losses have been to 5A and 6A teams ranked among the top ten teams in the state.
The Lady Tigers got a sterling pitching performance from Breanna Segars on March 13 as they shut out Russellville 5-0 at home. She allowed just one hit while striking out seven batters and walking none.
Hartselle's eight-hit attack included a two-run homer by Shanice Johnson and a two-run single by Kayla Orr. Segars contributed a pair of singles, Lindsey Robinson doubled and Catie Keel and Whitley Collins each singled.
The Lady Tigers lost their first area contest to the Muscle Shoals Lady Trojans by the score of 5-3 in a game played at home March 15.
Mary Curtis was the losing pitcher. She went the distance and gave up 10 hits while striking out eight and allowing no walks.
The Lady Trojans grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on the strength of four singles. They added a couple of runs in the sixth on back-to-back singles and a double.
A solo home run by Kayla Orr in the second inning put the Lady Tigers on the scoreboard. They added two runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back, two-out singles after the bases were loaded. A strikeout ended the rally with three runners left stranded.
In addition to Orr, Hartselle hitters were Segars with a double and single and Kristy Pevahouse and Lindsey Robinson with a single each.
"We've been hitting the ball pretty well, playing solid defense and getting good pitching but we've struggled some getting the hit we need when we have runners in scoring position," Lady Tigers head coach Shane Alexander said. "We need to be more consistent with our hitting and that's something we're working on.
"We're playing strong competition. That's what we wanted to do. I think we're going to be fine in the end."
The Hartselle-Athens area game scheduled March 13 was postponed because of inclement weather and will be rescheduled.