Tharptown sweeps Vina in area play

By Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Tharptown Wildcats swept the Vina Red Devils during spring break to improve their area record to 4-0. The Wildcats have area series remaining with Belgreen and Hackleburg.

Tharptown defeated Vina 14-1 in the series opener. The Wildcats scored two in the first inning, four in the second inning, three in the fifth inning and five in the sixth inning. Vina got their only run in the fourth inning.

Kelby Hallmark and Max Nolen each went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Tharptown. Riley Nolen, Tristen Smith, Shawn Hines, Allen Gaston, Brady Petree and Fidel Bonilla all had one hit each.

Allen Bohannon was the winning pitcher going 4 2/3 innings, striking out nine, and giving up three hits and one run. Hallmark pitched 2 1/3 innings and struck out six.

Tharptown coach Griffin Harris said he was pleased with his team’s progression this season.

“Baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint,” said the first-year head coach. “We started off the season with a lot of energy and excitement. Then the grind of the season and playing some really stiff competition led to a mid-season slump.”

“I feel like we are coming out of it. We are still not playing with the level of energy I would like to see, but we are showing some signs of breaking through. This is the time of the year we have to start stepping up our level of play.”

Tharptown won game two of the series 8-2. Hallmark went 2 for 5. Shawn Hines went 1 for 3 with three RBIs. Max Nolen had a two-RBI single. John Staggs and Tristen Smith each had RBI singles.

Riley Nolen got the win in game two pitching five innings and striking out five. Hallmark pitched two innings and struck out four.