Tharptown seeks victory this year

Last year the Tharptown varsity softball team earned its first trip to the North Regional Softball Tournament and seemed overwhelmed by the experience.

The Lady Wildcats’ offense struggled and the defense made uncharacteristic errors to limit the team’s time at the tournament to a pair of games. Tharptown fell to Covenant Christian 11-4 before falling to Athens Bible School 16-11.

Coach Susie Sellers said the team was “scared to death” during the first game, but relaxed for the second game.

With that experience under their belts, Tharptown is hoping to pick up its first regional win in school history. The Lady Wildcats have a favorable draw, with only two ranked teams in the tournament.

Eighth-ranked Collinsville is in the top half of the bracket and could be the team Tharptown faces in the second game. Spring Garden is ranked sixth and is in the bottom half of the bracket.

Tharptown will open the tournament at 8 a.m. Friday at the Metro Kiwanis Sports Plex in Huntsville against Waterloo — a team that is no stranger to deep playoff runs.

Win or lose the Lady Wildcats could have a though game in the second round. Tharptown could play Collinsville, or could face Athens Bible School, another team that has made several trips to the regional and state tournaments.

Tharptown proved it can win in tough situations during the county tournament. The Lady Wildcats were sent to the Losers’ Bracket by Hackleburg and had to beat county rival Belgreen to set up a rematch with the Lady Panthers. Tharptown then rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning in back-to-back games to beat Hackleburg twice to claim the area crown.

This year the Lady Wildcats could pick up their first win at the regional tournament.