Softball 1A, Area 13 race tightens
By Bart Moss / For the FCT
After a flurry of area games last week, the 1A, Area 13 softball race has cleared up a bit. Tharptown and Belgreen sit atop the area, with a decisive game to be played Wednesday to determine which team will host the area tournament later this month.
Tharptown 16, Vina 1
Tharptown scored nine runs in the first inning to take an early and decisive lead that turned into a 16-1 win over the Vina Red Devils.
The first run rally was led by walks by Aly Vandiver, Taylor Cameron and Ameliah Dawson; a triple by Brook Daily; and a single by Cara Ergle.
Madison Vandiver went 3-for-4, including a double, with three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Wildcats. Shaylee Wieting scored four runs for Tharptown. Cameron and Catie Dawson scored two runs each. Daily hit a triple in the game.
Olivia Ergle got the win, allowing five hits and one run and striking out seven.
Tharptown 17, Phillips 2
Wieting drove in four runs on three hits to lead Tharptown past the Phillips Bears in a 17-2 blowout area win. Wieting drove in runs on a single in the third inning and a triple in the fourth. She also scored two runs.
The Wildcats scored six runs in the top of the first inning and six runs in the third to put the game away.
Brooke Daily went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and scored three runs.
Cara Ergle had four RBIs. Catie Dawson knocked in three runs. Madison Vandiver had two RBIs.
Olivia Ergle got the win allowing only five hits and two runs and striking out nine.
Tharptown 1, Belgreen 0
Olivia Ergle threw a two-hit shutout last week when the Tharptown Wildcats won a tight 1-0 game over the Belgreen Bulldogs. She struck out eight batters.
Scoreless through six innings, Tharptown’s lone run came when Macy Petree scored on a sacrifice fly by Wieting in the top of the seventh inning.
Olivia Ergle’s win overshadowed an otherwise equally impressive performance by Belgreen pitcher Emma Dempsey, who allowed just the one run and struck out eight.
Vina 6, Tharptown 5
Despite being outhit 19-8, the Vina Red Devils were able to take advantage of some fielding miscues by the Tharptown Wildcats to eke out a 6-5 win in extra innings last week.
With the game tied 5-5, Vina’s Sarah Johnson laid down a bunt, scoring G Montgomery to give Vina the win over Tharptown.
Johnson and Abby Hester both had two hits and scored runs in the game. Hester added an RBI.
Kaitlyn King got the win for the Red Devils.
Taylor Cameron took the loss for Tharptown, despite striking out ten batters.
