Russellville softball extends unbeaten streak to 10 games
The Russellville High School varsity softball team continued its unbeaten streak last week with four more wins and a tie, bringing the Golden Tigers’ record to 11-4-1 on the season. Russellville has produced favorable results in nine of its last 10 games and hasn’t lost since March 1.
“They have turned a corner this season,” Russellville head coach Rick Lawson said of his team. “Every time they step on the field they expect to win. They’re not playing cocky, they’re playing with confidence and it’s showing on the field.”
Russellville started the week off with a dominant 7-1 win over East Limestone on March 4, led by an impressive 15-strikeout performance from ace Jacey Moore. Moore surrendered just one run off four hits and a walk through seven innings on her way to the victory.
“Anytime Jacey is in the circle she gives us a chance because she’s going to throw strikes,” Lawson said after the game. “It helps us when she’s there, she spins it really well and she’ll get a couple strikeouts on her own.”
Led offensively by two hits and an RBI from both Ticelee Gholston and Jemma Moore, the Golden Tigers doubled up the Indians on hits and put up crooked numbers in the second and fifth innings as they cruised to victory.
The Golden Tigers won again on the following day, March 5, sneaking past Central 5-4. Russellville jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after two innings and added what would prove to be a vital insurance run in the fifth.
“We’ve had some great, timely hitting,” Lawson said after the East Limestone game. “When we get runners in scoring position, we usually find a way to scratch them across.”
It proved true again against Central. The Wildcats outhit the visitors, 8-6, and made it interesting with a three-run sixth, but the Golden Tigers were ultimately able to secure their fourth straight win. Emma Campbell and Bryleigh Butler had an RBI apiece while Gholston had two hits in her three at-bats.
The Golden Tigers capped the week with a four-game marathon on March 9, notching another three wins plus a tie with Deshler. Russellville outscored its four opponents 10-1 on the day with three shutouts against Lexington, Wilson, and Hackleburg.
“We had some tremendous pitching and the girls were really spinning it well out there,” Lawson said. “We backed up the pitching with some good defense. In four games we only gave up one earned run. Just a tremendous job.”
Russellville started the day bright and early with a 4-0 blanking of Lexington. Paislee James led the team with two hits and a run in the leadoff spot and also earned the win in the circle, allowing just three hits while striking out three batters in five scoreless innings. The Golden Tigers grabbed two runs in the bottom of the first and then added two more in the fourth with RBIs from Gholston, Jacey Moore, Khristyan Huerta, and Emma Campbell.
Wilson ran into the Russellville buzzsaw next, but it was a tighter affair as the Golden Tigers eked out the 1-0 win. Russellville had nine hits in the game, but the sole run came in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of an RBI single by Addison Holcomb.
“One area I think we can get better in is our consistency hitting. It’s never just one person. Sometimes it’s at the top of the lineup or the bottom or in the middle, but we’re not able to string multiple hits together,” Lawson said. “Everything is great when we’re stringing hits together, but sometimes we’re not able to do that.”
Jacey Moore took care of business once again in the circle, striking out eight batters in six innings and giving up just three hits.
Russellville’s third game of the day came against Hackleburg, which the Golden Tigers dispatched 4-0. Jacey Moore made her second appearance of the day in the circle and for the second time shut down opposing batters. She rang up 10 strikeouts and allowed only two hits and two walks through five innings.
“I’m really proud of (the pitchers). They were spinning the ball well and putting it in the zone,” Lawson said. “They did a tremendous job.”
Brooklyn Butler was the star at the plate for the Golden Tigers. She was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game and led the team with three RBI, hitting two doubles and a two-run home run in the top of the first inning.
The day finally drew to a close with a 1-1 tie against Deshler. After falling behind early, the Golden Tigers tied it up in the fifth and the game ended after the sixth inning. Gholston was responsible for Russellville’s run, her sacrifice fly driving in Jemma Moore from third base. Brooklyn Butler, after showing off her bat in the previous game, put together a solid outing in the circle against Deshler. She pitched all six innings and after giving up a run in the first, threw five scoreless innings to keep Russellville in it.
All told, it was a good day for the Golden Tigers whose unbeaten streak was extended to eight games. It was also a long day. Lawson said his team started its day around 7:30 A.M. and didn’t leave the ballfield until 9:00 P.M. He was pleased with how the Golden Tigers approached each game as the day wore on.
“It was truly impressive how they brought their energy every time they went on to the field,” Lawson said. “Even though they’d been there all day, they always found the energy to play and they played well.”
That attitude and ability to to continue playing hard throughout a long day is indicative, Lawson said, of the Golden Tigers’ mentality in general.
“They stay chasing no matter what. They never give up in games,” Lawson said. “We like to say that we’re never too far ahead and never too far behind. They have the confidence that they can win every game we play and we’re never out of games.”
Lawson added that the recent results should serve as an added boost to morale as the Golden Tigers go into the all-important area games. Russellville faces Hamilton and Florence before hosting Lawrence County on March 14.
“I’m really proud of the girls for how they’ve played so far this year,” Lawson said. “We have Lawrence County at home on (March 14) and that’s obviously a big game. Hopefully we’ll have a big crowd there for us.”