Lady Wildcats win county tourney

The Tharptown Lady Wildcats claimed their second straight Franklin County championship on Saturday.

By Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Tharptown Lady Wildcats had to overcome six errors to stage a big comeback and claim their second straight Franklin County championship on Saturday.

The Wildcats found themselves down 4-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. Tharptown scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4.

The Wildcats took the lead with a two-run fifth inning making the score 6-4. Phil Campbell would add one more run in the top of the seventh.

Junior pitcher Shelby Palmer had two hits and scored two runs at the plate. From the mound, she struck out five and gave up six hits and five runs.

“We had to work for it,” Palmer said. “That makes it more special. We stayed focused, hit the ball and made plays like we know how to.”

The Wildcats also got multiple two hits each from Savannah Hamilton and Haley Malone.

Tharptown defeated Belgreen 16-0 in their first round win in the tournament to advance to the finals.

Kaitlyn Vandiver had two hits and three RBIs including her fourth home run of the season against the Bulldogs. Savannah Hamilton had three hits and two RBIs in the game. Morgan George had two hits.

Other scores from the Franklin County softball tournament:

• Belgreen 10, Vina 3

• Tharptown 9, Phil Campbell 2

• Phil Campbell 7, Vina 0

• Phil Campbell 7, Belgreen 5