Hartselle’s 13-15 Belles won easily over the first four teams they faced in the Dixie Softball State Tournament at Midland City last weekend and were in position to capture the state title in their division with one more win. They were scheduled to play Troy Tuesday.
Hartselle 12, Geneva 2
Hartselle collected eight hits in a 12-2 10-run rule win over Geneva in the opening round Saturday.
Haley Jared led her team with a triple, double and single. Kaylee McKissack doubled and Jada Hayes, Madeline Sittason, Riley Corum and Shayla Alexander each singled.
Amberly Anderson pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three. Jada Hayes pitched two innings in relief, She gave up one run on one hit while striking out five.
Hartselle 15, Valley 1
Hartselle come up big in their second game on Saturday by defeating Valley 15-1 in five innings.
Eight Hartselle players combined for 12 hits. Leah Stephenson had a triple and double, Sara Ellen Battles and Leah Roberts each doubled and singled, Hayes had a pair of singles and McKissack, Sittason, Corum and Alexander each singled.
Jared allowed no runs on no hits, struck out seven in two innings of work. Stephenson pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two. Hayes pitched the final two innings, allowing no hits while striking out two.
Hartselle 8, E. Montgomery 3
Hartselle used a 12-hit attack and solid pitching to post an 8-3 win over East Montgomery on Sunday.
McKenzie Waddell mad e her first hit in the tournament a big one as she smashed an out-of-part home run. Battles contributed four singles, Stephenson and Alexander each had a pair of singles and Hayes, McKissack and Anderson each singed.
Jared pitched three innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one and walking two. Stephenson pitched one inning in relief, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one and walking three. Hayes closed out the game by pitching the final inning and striking out all three batters she faced.
Hartselle 15, Geneva 1
Hartselle collected 11 hits and gave up only one hit in defeating Geneva 15-1 to reach the finals. Waddell had a triple and single, Battles and Stephenson each had two singles, McKissack and Anderson each doubled and Alexander, Corum and Boggs each singled
Anderson pitched three innings and Hayes pitched two in relief. They allowed only one hit and had eight strikeouts combined.
Decatur Debs
Decatur claims state title
A 16-18 Debs all-star team from Decatur captured championship honors in its division of the Dixie Softball State Tournament at Midland City Sunday night. It posted back-to-back wins against host Sunnydale, 9-0, Montgomery Gray, 5-3, and Montgomery Gray, 3-1.
Two Hartselle girls, Meaghan Gray and Anna Beth Hall are members of the team.
The Hartselle Belles will go on to compete in the Dixie World Series in Pineville if they win state and the Decatur Debs will seek a world series title in Vancleave, Miss.