Hatton earns Game 1 win against Phil Campbell

By Staff
Kim West
Perennial Class 2A playoff contender Phil Campbell ran into some tough luck and bad weather Friday as host Hatton won the first game 9-3 in a best-of-three series in the rain-shortened opening round of the state playoffs Friday.
Darren Hand pitched a complete-game victory, allowing only three hits and striking out seven for the Hatton (13-21), while Phil Campbell's Jonathan Dill took the loss.
"Hatton is a very good team, and their No. 1 through No. 9 hitters can all hit the ball," Phil Campbell coach Michael Beck said. "Hand was throwing 70 miles per hour but we were still able to hit the ball hard – we just kept hitting it right at them, and it was one of those nights the ball bounced the other way."
Caleb Thompson and Dill each had a hit apiece for Phil Campbell (20-10), while Adam Mitchell had an RBI single in the first inning.
The Bobcats were scheduled to play again at 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by a deciding third game, if necessary.