RHS loses 4 in Showdown

The Russellville High baseball team defeated the Hatton Hornets in the home opener, then lost four games in the PB South Alabama Showdown.

RHS hosted Hatton on Feb. 24 on its newly installed artificial surface playing field and the Golden Tigers needed only five innings to get the 12-2 victory.

The Hornets got their only runs of the game in the top of the first inning. Russellville scored three runs in the first inning, seven in the second and two more in the fourth. The Golden Tigers outhit the Hornets 9-5 and Hatton had seven errors on defense to only one by Russellville.

Tristan Ray had a home run, a double and two RBIs to help lead RHS to the win. Malaki Groce also had two hits, including a double and one RBI. Tripp Cleveland and Houston Askew added doubles for RHS.

Brayden Entrekin had two RBIs, and Brayden Hatton, Bryson Cooper, Cleveland and Ty Engelthaler got one each.

Russellville used four pitchers with Cleveland getting the start on the mound. He was followed in relief by Jackson Smith, Sam Hamilton and Gavin Willis.

Showdown

The PB South Alabama Showdown featured a group of teams with high expectations for the season. Russellville got started in the event with a 10-7 loss to the Mobile Christian Leopards on Feb. 26 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

The Golden Tigers got two hits each from Hatton and Caleb Hawkins. One of Hatton’s hits was a triple. Hawkins smacked a double, as did Cleveland and Luke Greenhill while Cooper added a single.

Russellville RBIs came from Hatton, Ray, Cleveland, Smith and Greenhill.

Engelthaler was Russellville’s starting pitcher. He was followed in relief by Johnce Knight and Gavin Willis.

The Tuscaloosa County Wildcats defeated RHS 12-3 on Feb. 27 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Russellville made seven errors on defense while the Wildcats had one.

Russellville got a double from Ray and singles off the bats of Hawkins, Engelthaler and Groce.

Askew, Groce, Hamilton and Connor McLain did the pitching for the Golden Tigers.