Red Bay eliminates PC, falls to Hatton in finals

Red Bay’s Holly Hammock (6) slides safely into third base as Phil Campbell’s Caitlin Stancil jumps to catch the throw from the outfield. | Scot Beard/FCT

HATTON — The Red Bay softball team was able to continue its success against Phil Campbell this week in the Class 2A, Area 14 Tournament, but the Lady Tigers’ struggles against second-ranked Hatton remained.

Red Bay defeated the Lady Bobcats in the losers’ bracket finals to earn a trip to the regional softball tournament in Huntsville next week, but could not beat Hatton in the championship game and claim its second straight area title.

Hatton 5, Red Bay 0

The Lady Hornets stranded six batters through the first four innings of the game before breaking open a scoreless tie with five runs in the fifth to claim the area title.

Red Bay struggled at the plate and did not get its first hit until the third inning when Lauren Pacetti singled to right field.

Whitney Sharp reached on an error in the fourth for the Lady Tigers and moved to second as Hannah Sharp reached on a fielder’s choice. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice by Mariah Horton, but were stranded when Micala Dulaney grounded out to end the inning.

Emily Cox singled in the sixth, but was stranded.

Red Bay got a rally going with two outs in the bottom of seventh as Taylor Hester drew a walk and moved to second when Monique Dulaney singled. Pacetti then reached on an error to load the bases.

Holly Hammock then struck out to end the game.

Whitney Sharp and Cox split pitching duties for Red Bay.

Whitney Sharp had the only two hits for Red Bay.

Red Bay 10, Phil Campbell 2

The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the first inning to seize control of the game and never looked back as they eliminated county rival Phil Campbell from the area tournament.

Red Bay added security runs in the second and third then took a commanding lead with another three-run inning in the fourth.

Sarah Hilliard and Korina Jimenez scored for the Lady Bobcats in the fifth.

Phil Campbell then loaded the bases, but Red Bay was able to get the final two outs before another runner could score.

Red Bay scored its final runs in the fifth inning.

Whitney Sharp led the Lady Tigers with a pair of doubles and a single while Hannah Sharp added three singles and a double.

Caitlin Childers and Cox added a pair of singles each while Hammock, Horton, Micala Dulaney and Hester all singled.

Caitlin Stancil doubled for Phil Campbell while Amber Chaney, Hilliard and Jimenez all singled.

Phil Campbell 13, Mars Hill 3

Mars Hill struck early, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but Phil Campbell was not bothered.

The Lady Bobcats sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning and scored seven runs to take control.

Jessie Halcomb reached base five times and scored three runs to lead Phil Campbell.

Jackson hit a three-run homer and later added a double while Chaney hit three singles.

Hatton 3, Red Bay 1

The Lady Hornets scored a pair of runs in the first inning and Red Bay was unable to recover.

Pacetti led off the bottom of the first by drawing a walk and moving to second on a single by Whitney Sharp. Pacetti then moved to third and scored on a pair of pass balls.

Hatton added another run in the second.

Whitney Sharp had the only two hits for Red Bay, which had eight runners reach base.

Phil Campbell 8, Cherokee 7

The Lady Bobcats scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally past Cherokee and avoid elimination.

Stancil doubled twice, singled and scored a pair of runs to lead Phil Campbell.

Whitley Yocom hit three singles while Taylor Scott and Chaney hit two singles each. Sarah Hilliard and Jimenez each hit a single and a double.

Jackson doubled while Halcomb and Sarah Hester hit one single each.