By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
CULLMAN – The Springville Lady Tigers made the trip up I-65 Tuesday night to take on the West Point Warriors in an effort to extend their 7-game winning streak and continue their dream season that, to this point, yielded just one loss. With hot bats and excellent pitching from Bella Bullington, the Tigers would extend that streak to 8 wins and continue their winning ways with a 10-1 victory over West Point.
Springville would get on the board first when Layla Bradshaw got on base because of a Warrior error and Shelby Hathcock drove her in on a grounder to center field. The Warriors would match that one run with one of their own in the bottom of the inning to knot the score a 1 after an inning of play.
The second inning would be a bit different as Springville would put 2 runs on the board while holding the Warriors scoreless. The Tigers would score first when Ashlyn Cooley and Kaylee Sue Martin both got singles to get on base and Bradshaw came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to bring Cooley home. Emmy Leopard would follow with a line drive to right field, driving in Martin.
The third inning would be a replay of the second with Springville outscoring West Point 2-0. After Bullington and Leah Bowden were both walked, Cooley laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance them to second and third respectively. Martin would hit a line drive to right field to drive in pinch runner (for Bullington) Cheyenne Conner and Bowden to make it 5-1 Tigers.
Springville would get another run in the fourth when Kiley Christopher drove in Hathcock on a single to center field.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Springville Tigers poured it on in the sixth to finish the game, putting up 4 more runs to complete the blowout. Hathcock would start things off with a double followed by a bunt from Bullington to get 2 runners on base. Aida Locklear would come in to pinch run for Hathcock and Conner would once again pinch run for Bullington. Christopher would hit a grounder to second base and, while she would be thrown out, Locklear would get across the plate to make it 7-1. Bowden would follow with a line drive to center field, driving in Conner. The last two runs would be brought home when Martin drove Bowden in and Hailey Davidson drove in Cooley.
Bella Bullington pitched 6 of 7 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 8 before Georgia Chancellor came in for the final inning, allowing no hits, no runs and striking out 2 of her own.
“We hit the ball well throughout the line up which resulted in 13 hits and 10 runs,” said JP Taruc, Springville’s Head Coach. “Bella pitched well giving up only 2 hits and striking out 8. We also played well defensively for her. I’ve got three pitchers (Bella, Shelby and Georgia) that have been working hard on their craft, which shows in how they perform in games. Plus, Kiley Christopher has been great behind the plate. She’s definitely one of the hardest working players on our team. I think we still have a lot to improve on defensively and offensively but the season is young and we have to get better every day.”
The Tigers improve to 15-1 and take an 8-game winning streak to Spain Park on Wednesday night.