Local softball roundup, March 23-28: Belgreen, Russellville grab wins over county opponents
Here’s a look at the softball action from teams around Franklin County:
Monday, March 23
Vina 15, Decatur Heritage 0
Vina routed Decatur Heritage in four innings to pick up its eighth win of the campaign. The Lady Red Devils came across to score in all four of those innings but finished especially strong with nine runs in the top of the fourth. A Kenzie Elrod RBI groundout opened the scoring in the top of the first; another RBI groundout, this one by MiKayla Shotts, was followed by a steal of home by Miley Panell to give VHS two more runs in the second; then Vina plated three runs in the third thanks to an RBI single by Panell, who later stole home again, and a DHCS error that made it 6-0. In the nine-run fourth inning, Olivia Crum, Kari Harper, Shotts, and Elrod all had RBI singles. Elrod, Crum, and Shotts all finished with multiple hits and two RBIs each while Harper and Panell led the team with three runs apiece. Shotts, who allowed just one hit through three innings, and Lindie Easterling combined in the circle for eight strikeouts and the shutout.
Belgreen 11, Phil Campbell 1
Belgreen began its week by run-ruling Phil Campbell in six innings. After falling behind 1-0 after three innings of play, the Lady Bulldogs responded with 11 unanswered runs in the final three innings. BHS took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on an RBI single by MaKinley Vandiver and a PCHS error. In the next inning, the Lady Bulldogs opened things up even more by plating six more runs; an RBI single by Vandiver, an RBI triple by Kendra Williams, an RBI double by Randi Terry, and an error by PCHS accounted for those six runs. Finally, Belgreen picked up the needed 10-run advantage to end the contest early with a two-run bottom of the sixth. An RBI double by Caleigh Lawson scored the first of the two runs before Carson Hovater put a ball in play to score Lawson from third and walk it off. Belgreen’s Zoey Blaxton, who pitched all six innings and allowed just one unearned run off three hits, was credited with the win. Phil Campbell’s Addi James and Tinlee Parker combined to allow 10 earned runs off 13 hits.
Tuesday, March 24
Belgreen 5, Red Bay 3
Despite being outhit by Red Bay 8-7, Belgreen was able to secure a two-run area win over the Lady Tigers late in the contest. The Lady Bulldogs opened the scoring in the game with three runs in the bottom of the first, driven in by three RBI doubles by Mackinley Hogan, Jemma Moore, and Kendra Williams. Red Bay tied the game up 3-3 a couple innings later, in the third, when Kyla Blackburn’s RBI single was followed by a two-run single to center field by Emma Blackburn. Belgreen’s go-ahead run was scored by Kiera Smith in the fifth after an RBI double by Caleigh Lawson. BHS’ fifth and final run came via a RBHS error in the following inning. In the circle, Charley Lindley was stuck with the loss after a five-inning outing. Lindley was replaced by Hadley Griffin for the sixth. Belgreen reliever Brooklyn McGaughy earned the win after replacing the starter Moore for the final four innings.
Lindsey Lane 8, Tharptown 7
Thursday, March 26
Russellville 10, Tharptown 4
The Lady Golden Tigers scored runs in all but one inning on their way to win in game one of the midweek doubleheader against Tharptown. Led by a two-hit, three RBI game from shortstop Bri McCulloch, RHS scored two runs in the first and second innings before adding solo runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. The Lady Golden Tigers capped their scoring with three runs in the seventh inning thanks to a Tharptown error that scored Ticelee Gholston, followed by a two-run homer by McCulloch, her second of the game. Tharptown’s four runs came via a wild pitch in the first inning, an RHS error that scored two in the fourth, and an RBI double by Cadence Kennedy in the seventh. Kennedy, who pitched all seven innings for the Lady Wildcats, received the loss in the circle. For Russellville, Taitum Bishop threw six and two-thirds innings after relieving starter Kaylee Suggs in the first inning. Bishop allowed three runs (one earned) off five hits and struck out four.
Russellville 13, Tharptown 3
Friday, March 27
Athens 10, Russellville 3
Russellville 10, Brooks 1
A solid pitching performance from Kaylee Suggs coupled with multi-hit performances by Bri McCulloch, Khristyan Huerta and Chloe James helped the Lady Golden Tigers to a blowout win over Brooks at the Spring Break Bash in Pelham. The Lady Lions went up 1-0 start the game, but RHS responded with three runs in the bottom of the first and two more run in the second before cracking the game wide open with a five-run fourth inning. McCulloch, Huerta, James and Suggs all recorded RBI singles in the fourth to make it 10-1. On the mound, Suggs allowed just one unearned run off three hits and struck out five batters.
Saturday, March 28
Russellville 7, Holtville 6
Corner 5, Russellville 4