By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
ATHENS - Hartselle’s Kaleb Jones wasn’t expecting a curve from the Muscle Shoals pitcher in the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied.
He wasn’t about to complain though.
Jones drilled a pitch over the fence in centerfield Friday at the Athens SportsPlex to send Hartselle to a 4-2 victory over Muscle Shoals in the Dixie Boys 14 district championship.
Jones’ 2-run shot gave Hartselle its fifth straight win in the district tournament and wrapped up a trip to the state tournament that opens Friday in Scottsboro.
Aaron Wooley picked up the win for Hartselle. He allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings of work to keep Muscle Shoals at bay. Dalton Jenkins came on in relief to earn the save after getting the final two outs with Muscle Shoals threatening in the top of the seventh inning.
Hartselle scored two runs in the bottom of the third when Jenkins and Jones both scored following an error by the Muscle Shoals centerfielder on Jones’ basehit.
Muscle Shoals tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs off Wooley.
Muscle Shoals came out of the loser’s bracket to reach the finals, but would have needed two wins over Hartselle to advance to the state tournament.
But the two teams had trouble getting much offense going in the pitcher’s battle.