County softball teams advance to regionals

By Bart Moss / For the FCT

Three county schools – Belgreen, Phil Campbell and Tharptown – have advanced to the regional softball tournament in Huntsville.

The double elimination tournament begins Thursday. All three schools will be closed Thursday for students and faculty to have a chance to attend the games.

Belgreen and Tharptown advanced by finishing in the top two in the 1A, Area 13 tournament. Belgreen won the tournament by defeating the Tharptown in the finals. Vina’s season came to an end with a loss to Tharptown.

Phil Campbell advanced by finishing runner up in the 2A, Area 14 tournament. Lamar County won the tournament. Red Bay’s season came to an end with a loss to Phil Campbell.

Thursday’s schedule opening games at regionals at the Huntsville Sportsplex will include Belgreen vs. Decatur Heritage at 9 a.m., Tharptown vs. Athens Bible at 10:30 a.m., and Phil Campbell vs. Hatton at Noon. All teams will play at least two games on Thursday. Losers of game one will go to the elimination bracket.

Here are some area tournament game highlights:

Belgreen 11, Tharptown 3

Belgreen took control of the 1A, Area 13 championship from the start and went on to claim the title 11-3 over the Tharptown Wildcats, earning a top seed in the North Regionals in Huntsville.

Belgreen scored four runs in the top of the first inning on a triple by Cortney Williams and a double by Emma Dempsey.

Emma Dempsey went 4-for-4 with four RBIs. She also was credited with the win for the Bulldogs. She surrendered one run on four hits over three innings, striking out two. Borden threw four innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Williams went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and scored two runs. Katie Dempsey scored three runs on two hits.

Ameliah Dawson and Taylor Cameron led the Wildcats with two hits each. Shaylee Wieting scored two runs.

Tharptown 10, Vina 0

Olivia Ergle threw a shutout to lead the Tharptown Wildcats past Vina 10-0 to advance to the finals of the 1A, Area 13 tournament and guarantee a spot in the North Regionals in Huntsville.

Cara Ergle got the Wildcats started with a run-scoring single in the first inning. The Wildcats posted four runs in the fifth inning thanks to singles by Cara Ergle and Cameron and a double by Wieting.

Cara Ergle got the shutout win, allowing just one hit in six innings of work and striking out seven.

Tharptown 15, Vina 0

The Tharptown girls scored 14 of their 15 runs in the second inning en route to a 15-0 win over the Vina Red Devils.

Wieting had two hits, including a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Ameliah Dawson had two hits including a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Brooke Daily had two hits, including a triple and two RBIs, and she scored a run.

Catie Dawson scored three runs. Cameron also had two hits, two runs and two RBIs.

Olivia Ergle got the shut out, allowing only three hits and striking out four.

Phil Campbell 12, Sulligent 2

Four hits from Cypress Quinn helped lead the Phil Campbell Bobcats past the Sulligent Blue Devils 12-2.

The Bobcats got things started in the first inning when Quinn doubled a run in. Quinn also singled in the third and singled twice in a seven-run fifth inning.

Chloe Roberson, Kallie Allen, Darby Elliott and Quinn all had RBIs in the fifth inning for the Bobcats.

Phil Campbell pulled away for good with two runs in the third inning. Abby Davis hit a run-scoring triple.

Emma Ergle pitched the Bobcats to the win. She went five innings allowing six hits and two runs.

Lamar County 9, Phil Campbell 2

Darby Elliott and Olivia Knight both had two hits in 9-2 loss to the Lamar County Bulldogs.

Elliot also scored a run, along with Leeah Jackson.

Phil Campbell had eight hits but also recorded eight fielding errors in the game, contributing to the loss.

Phil Campbell 4, Red Bay 1

Emma Ergle shut down the Red Bay Tigers 4-1, allowing only five hits and one run and striking out seven. Ergle didn’t issue a walk in the game.

Phil Campbell racked up six hits. Knight and Davis had two hits each for the Bobcats. Knight also notched two RBIs, and Davis scored two runs.

Lila Blackburn had two hits for Red Bay, including a double.

Lamar County 7, Phil Campbell 4

Fielding errors doomed the Phil Campbell Bobcats for the second time in the area tournament. This time it was five errors in the championship game that led to 7-4 loss to the Lamar County Bulldogs.

Lamar County got the win, despite only two hits.

Quinn and Allen each had a hit and RBI and scored a run. Allen’s hit was a triple.

Vina 7, Hackleburg 4

The Vina Red Devils picked up their ninth win of the season with a 7-4 win over Hackleburg.

Abbie Mitchell and Sarah Johnson tripled in the game. Johnson also doubled.

Kaitlyn King got the win for the Red Devils.