Bobcats clinch tie for first

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
Phil Campbell scored nine runs in the top of the ninth inning on Monday to earn an 11-2 victory over Red Bay and clinch at least a share of first place in Class 2A, Area 16.
The Bobcats (18-7, 6-1 area) needed another win over Red Bay on Tuesday to clinch the area championship outright.
Kurt Kennedy and Kevin Lacey locked up in a pitcher's duel on Monday, each holding the opposition to two runs through eight innings.
Matthew Thomas snapped the tie with an RBI single in the ninth, and Thomas scored on a hit by Griffin Harris.
Randy Cochran's RBI double made it 5-2, and the Bobcats added six more runs to take control.
Lacey earned the win, allowing nine hits and striking out seven in eight innings. Steven Lacey pitched the ninth.
Bradley Long went 3-for-4 to lead the Tigers (4-14, 2-5). Kennedy added two hits, and Byron Hellums had a double. Chad Nichols had a triple.
Thomas was 3-for-6 with a double and a triple to lead the Bobcats. Kevin Lacey added two hits. Harris, Cochran, Eric Glasgow, Jonathan Dill and Aaron Voyles each had one hit.
In other recent local action:
Phil Campbell 4 Shoals Christian 2
Jonathan Dill struck out nine batters in a complete game four-hitter, and Todd Carter hit a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning on Friday as Phil Campbell completed a doubleheader sweep of Shoals Christian.
Griffin Harris added an RBI single for the Bobcats.
Phil Campbell 5 Shoals Christian 4
The Bobcats rallied to win Friday's opener on an RBI double by Griffin Harris in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Shoals Christian held an early 3-0 lead, but the Bobcats rallied in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
Harris earned the win in relief.
Matt Thomas had a pair of doubles for Phil Campbell, and Steven Lacey added a two-run single.
Boys Tennis
Russellville 9 Red Bay 0
T.J. Drake led the way for the Golden Tigers on Friday with an 8-2 victory over Evan Mann at No. 1 singles.
Jacob Hill, Ty Wells, John Tyler Hardin, Anthony Turner and Josh Upchurch also won singles matches.
Drake and Hill, Wells and Hardin, and Turner and Upchurch teamed to win all three doubles matches.
Russellville 5 Brooks 4
Ty Wells defeated Aaron Rockefeller 8-3 at No. 3 singles, and John Tyler Hardin added an 8-4 win over T.J. Yates at No. 4 to lead the Golden Tigers past Brooks on Friday.
Anthony Turner and Josh Upchurch also won singles matches for Russellville.
Wells and Hardin earned an 8-4 victory over Rockefeller and Tony Yerby at No. 2 doubles.
Girls Tennis
Russellville 8 Red Bay 1
Ashton Johnson led the way for Russellville on Friday with an 8-0 victory over Julie Jarnigan at No. 1 singles.
Lindsey Rickard, Jennifer Fennel, Elizabeth Moore and Shayna Glasgow also won singles matches for Russellville.
Lydia Hammock defeated Lindsay Cole 9-7 for Red Bay at No. 3 singles.