Red Bay defeats Mars Hill 9-0 in area finals

By Staff
Kim West
RED BAY – The Red Bay softball team capped its dominant run through the Class 2A, Area 16 tournament with a 9-0 win over Mars Hill Tuesday.
The Lady Tigers, who defeated Cherokee 15-0 and Phil Campbell 9-1 to reach the finals, will host a sub-state series against the Area 14 runner-up next Tuesday.
In the championship game, Red Bay (20-11) built an early 3-0 lead as Kirstin Sharp doubled home Holly Hammock and Whitney Sharp hit a two-run triple to bring in Ashley Hardin and Kirstin Sharp.
In the second inning, Lauren Williams, who had three hits, singled, stole second and scored on a wild throw to lead Mars Hill 4-0.
Ashley Frame had an RBI single in the top of the fifth to score Kirstin Sharp, who finished with three hits, to make it 5-0.
In the sixth inning, Williams singled home Emily Cox, Hammock smacked an RBI triple to score Williams and Taylor Hester and Whitney Sharp hit an RBI groundout for the final 9-0 score.
Whitney Sharp was the winning pitcher with no hits allowed, while Ashley Atencio took the loss for Mars Hill (14-15).
In the semifinal game against Phil Campbell, Red Bay took an early five-run lead before the Lady Bobcats scored their only run in the top of the fourth as Shaela Pace doubled and scored to make it 5-1.
Red Bay added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Cox hit a two-run single, Williams had an RBI groundout and Hammock singled to bring around Hester.
Whitney Sharp earned the victory on the mound, while Kim Clark took the loss for Phil Campbell.