Grand opening

By Staff
Tharptown opens new field with 10-3 area win
Kim West
THARPTOWN – The Tharptown varsity softball team carried some extra motivation into Thursday's Class 1A, Area 15 opener against Decatur Heritage.
"Decatur Heritage was the team that beat us in the sectional tournament last season, and that kept us from making to the playoffs," Tharptown coach Susie Sellers said. "We played Vina here at home Monday but this was our first area game at our new field, and the girls really wanted to win this one."
Tharptown (7-3, 1-0) used overpowering pitching and two big innings to beat the Lady Eagles 10-3.
"We didn't that well today and we struggled defensively," Seller said. "We had a three-inning stretch with way too many strikeouts, and we can't do that against good teams and expect to win. But Jess (Myrick) had a good game and we played well enough to get the job done."
Myrick, who threw her third no-hitter against Vina on Monday, mowed down 13 batters while allowing only four hits for her seventh victory. The junior didn't walk a batter and has only given up six free passes in 49 innings pitched this season.
Tharptown struck first with three runs in the first inning and led 3-0 until the fourth inning when Decatur Heritage scored twice.
The Lady Wildcats responded with a five-run fifth inning. Decatur Heritage pushed across another run in the top of the sixth but Tharptown's Chelsea McCluskey and Laken Barnett each scored in the bottom of the inning to put the Lady Wildcats ahead 10-3.
Lauren Scott hit a three-run double and Hollie Hines smacked a triple and single and drove in two runs to lead Tharptown. McCluskey hit two singles, Myrick had a double and a sacrifice fly and Heather Hatton added a single.
Tharptown will host area games against Athens Bible Tuesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m. and Shoals Christian Thursday, April 3 at 4:30 p.m.