Hartselle, AL - The Hartselle Tigers hosted the Bob Jones Patriots on Monday, February 22 in an early season doubleheader that pitted two quality teams against each other. The Tigers won the first game by a score of 6-2 and the two teams squared off again shortly after the conclusion of Game 1 on a cool evening in Hartselle. The Tigers sent one of their top end arms to the mound in junior southpaw William Turner (2022, No. 17) while Bob Jones countered with junior RHP Cole Molina. Both starting pitchers were effective in their stints. 

Early on the pitchers dominated as neither team was able to push across a run in the first two frames but the third inning proved to be very different. Bob Jones jumped out on top as senior OF Logan Hittle (2021, No. 173) got things started with a one out double. Senior 3B Slate Alford (2021, No. 7) immediately followed up Hittle with a 2-run home run that he drive over the right field fence. In the bottom of the 3rd inning Eli Snelson (2021, No. 152) reached on an error to lead things off and he was driven in two batters by Elliott Bray (2022, No. 7) who collected his second double in as many plate appearances. Bray's time on base didn't last long as senior SS Blaze Gillespie (2021, No. 148) hammered a no doubt home run over the fence in left field to give the Tigers their first lead in the second game. That lead was short lived as the Patriots were able to tie things back up in the 4th as Gavin Moran lead off the inning with a no doubt home run well over the fence in left centerfield. JW Hopkins (2022, No. 39) singled and two walks later the bases were loaded with no outs. The Tigers then went to the bullpen and brought in junior Caleb Pittman (2022, No. 38). He hit the first hitter he faced and also walked the second batter he faced which lead to a 5-3 lead for the Patriots with the bases still loaded and no outs. In a big spot in the game, Pittman proceeded to strike out the next three hitters he faced to keep the lead at 5-3 and keep the Tigers within striking distance. A hit by pitch and two walks started a big inning in the home half of the 4th inning as Bray then reached on an error which allowed two runs to score to tie things back up.  Three more walks in the inning forced in another run to give Hartselle a 6-5 lead. The lead grew to 7-5 in the bottom of the 5th inning as senior Drew Cartee (2021, No. 30) grounded out to first base which allowed Peyton Steele to come in and score. The Tigers added an insurance run in the 6th inning as sophomore outfielder Coleman Mizell (2023, No. 5) came in to pinch hit and smashed a run scoring double to deep centerfield for the final 8-5 margin. 

Hartselle also won the first game by a score of 6-2. Hartselle improves to 2-0 while Bob Jones falls to 3-3. 

Top Performers - Hartselle

LHP Drew Cartee - 3 IP (W), 1 hit allowed, 8 K, 1 BB

OF Elliott Bray - 2-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI

SS Blaze Gillespie - 1-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI

OF Coleman Mizell - 1-1, 1 2B, 1 RBI

 

Top Performers - Bob Jones

RHP Cole Molina - 2 IP, 2 hits allowed, 0 runs, 5 K, 1 BB

OF Logan Hittle - 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 BB

3B Slate Alford - 1-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 run scored

DH Gavin Moran - 1-2, 1 HR, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2 BB

1B JW Hopkins - 2-4, 1 2B, 1 run scored

 

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