Runaway victory
By Staff
Russellville wins 26-1; Tuscaloosa edges PC 3-2
Kim West
SHEFFIELD – The Russellville 9-10 All-Stars appeared ready to defend its title with a 26-1 four-inning victory over Tuscaloosa-Barnes during the opening night of the District 6 Little League tournament at Sheffield Youth Park Friday.
Russellville, which has won seven of the last eight district titles, busted a first-inning scoreless tie with 10 runs in the second, 10 in the third and six in the fourth and took advantage of porous defense by Tuscaloosa to score a majority of its runs on passed balls.
No. 9 hitter Trey Williams sparked Russellville with a two-run single in the top of the second to score Austin Kitterman and Taylor Vincent, who both singled.
Leadoff hitter Joshua Seal hit a two-run double to deep centerfield to bring around Samuel Evans and Williams, and Judd Ward and Reed Smith each scored on passed balls to make the score 7-0.
Vincent hit an RBI infield single to score courtesy runner John Pierce and Kitterman and Vincent each came around to score on passed balls.
Kitterman and Cody Greenhill combined for the win for Russellville with three strikeouts, two hits, one walk and one run, while Judd Ward and Taylor Vincent worked a scoreless fourth inning for the save.
Seal, Kitterman, and Vincent each finished with two hits to lead Russellville.
Kendrell Walker took the loss with three earned runs allowed, three walks and five hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Donnell Lewis went 2-for-2 with a double and a run, while Taevious McKinstry had an RBI double.
Russellville will play the winner from Saturday's Sheffield-Tuscaloosa-Central game at 5:30 p.m. tonight.
Tuscaloosa-Central 3
Phil Campbell 2
The Tuscaloosa-Central 9-10 All-Stars scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to defeat Phil Campbell 3-2 in six innings during the opener of the District 6 Little League tournament at Sheffield Youth Park Friday night.
Phil Campbell broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning when Gage Roberson walked and Payton Nichols and Bailey Motes each singled to load the bases for Bailey Thompson, who delivered a two-run single to right field.
Thompson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a first-pitch leadoff triple to the centerfield wall in the fourth inning to lead Phil Campbell.
Thompson took the loss on the mound by allowing two runs, three walks and no hits with four strikeouts in four innings, while Austin Odom pitched the fifth inning, allowing one run on two hits and a walk.
Defensively, Phil Campbell catcher Jacob Hamilton caught a high, first-pitch foul ball directly behind the plate for the second out in the first inning with runners at first and second base. Phil Campbell first baseman Gage Roberson recorded the third out in the fourth inning by throwing out Wilson Glaze at second after an error allowed Glaze to reach first and a throwing error allowed him the attempt to advance.
Ross Hardin and Cody Killian each had RBI singles for Tuscaloosa-Central.
Hardin earned the victory, allowing only one earned run on three hits with two walks and striking out five in five innings, while Glaze earned the save.
Phil Campbell played Tuscaloosa-Barnes Saturday night with the loser finished in the double-elimination tournament and the winner advancing to play the Sheffield-Tuscaloosa-Central winner tonight at 5:30 p.m.
