Lady Golden Tigers improve record with week of wins
By Brannon King for the FCT
The Russellville Lady Golden Tigers were declared champions of the 2017 Aggie Classic in Hamilton, with the tournament win completing seven winning games in a row for RHS.
Russellville 2, Winfield 1
Play got started for Russellville in the 2017 Aggie Classic hosted by Hamilton on April 21 with a win in a pool game against the Pirates. RHS scored in the first and last inning to get the victory. Kalli Beth Daniel and AJ Taylor each went 2-3, while Sydney Burcham, Autumn Logan, Kayla Cochran and Madison Lamon all had one hit apiece. Megan Warhurst pitched all five innings and allowed four hits.
Russellville 6, Haleyville 5
The Golden Tigers and Lions managed to score 11 combined runs in only four innings of play in the Aggie Classic. It was the second game of the day for RHS, and seven players got hits in the win.
Taylor went 2-3 for RHS, and she scored a run and drove in one. Daniel, Burcham, Logan, Cochran, Madison Murray and Lamon also hit safely for Russellville. The hits by Murray, Cochran and Daniel were doubles. Krista Sikes and Emma Whitfield combined to pitch the game for RHS with each throwing two innings.
Russellville 6, Hamilton 3
The first of two days of action in the Aggie Classic concluded for RHS with a win over the host-team to finish up pool play.
Eight hits were tallied by the Golden Tigers, and Daniel had three in as many at-bats. Burcham and Alivia Clemmons both cleared the fence with home runs, and Taylor along with Daniel smacked doubles. Logan and Cochran also had hits for RHS.
Whitfield pitched the game and allowed four hits. She struck out five Hamilton batters and walked just one.
Russellville 3, Hamilton 1
Tournament bracket play got started April 22 in the Aggie Classic, and RHS claimed its second-straight win over the Hamilton squad.
Sikes pitched all five innings and allowed seven hits. She struck out four and walked two Aggies for the win. Logan had a hit and two RBIs for Russellville. Burcham picked up a double and Daniel, Taylor and Clemmons also had hits.
Russellville 3, Winfield 2
Karlie Moore had two doubles, one RBI and a run scored in the tournament-winning game against Winfield. Clemmons also picked up two hits, and one was a double. Lamon had a triple for RHS, and the duo of Murray and Burcham also hit safely.
Russellville (23-18-1) got pitching from Whitfield and Warhurst in the final game of the tournament.
Russellville 8, Brooks 1
April 20 was RCS Golden Tiger Pride Night, and a big crowd gathered at the RHS softball field to see Russellville claim another area win over the Brooks Lions.
Whitfield pitched all seven innings and allowed only four hits while striking out one and walking none. Burcham hit a home run for Russellville and went 2-3 with two RBIs. Daniel went 2-4 with a triple, and Makala O’Neal had a double. Logan added two hits, while Clemmons, Taylor, Cochran, Murray and Whitfield all had one each.
“We’ve really stepped it up lately,” Russellville head coach Kathryn Montgomery said. “We’ve played to our ability instead of the competition’s ability lately. I’m very proud of the girls for taking care of the ball. They’ve done that lately, and it has made a big difference.”
The Lady Golden Tigers also turned out in style for senior night, with a big Class 5A, Area 16 win over the Indians of East Limestone April 18.
The Golden Tigers have now won seven straight games.
