CULLMAN – In a blowout and a nail-biter, the Cullman Lady Bearcats played their way into the finals of the 2017 6A Area 14 tournament to be held at Cullman High School on today.
Game One- Cullman 10, Brewer 0
It was evident from the onset that Cullman was in the driver's seat of their match-up with the Lady Patriots of Brewer. From the stellar pitching of Sydney Holder, who started her first area tournament game of her career, to the teamwide hit parade that was the Lady ‘Cats offense.
After Holder sat Brewer down in order, the Lady ‘Cats offense went to work. Hannah Morton was the first Cullman batter to pick up an RBI when she singled home Sierra Easterwood and Bailey Swann to put the Lady ‘Cats on top 2-0. Morton herself came home on a wild pitch and Meredith McPherson had a single to right field to score Tiffany Schwaiger, who had reached on a single. At the end of one, Cullman held a 4-0 lead.
Cullman got on the board again in the bottom of the second with a moonshot from Swann to left-center field for a deep home run, putting Cullman on top 5-0.
In the bottom of the third the Lady ‘Cats added two more runs with the big blow coming off the bat of Morton who crushed a Brewer pitch over the fence. Cullman added two more runs in the fourth on an RBI single from McKensi Burkes and a sacrifice fly from Olivia Schwaiger.
The Lady Bearcats added the final run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early via the run rule.
Final score: Cullman 10, Brewer 0.
Game Two- Cullman 9, Fort Payne 5
In stark contrast to game number one, Cullman's second game was a back-and-forth affair until late in the contest vs. Fort Payne.
Fort Payne scored on the first run of the game when Ashlyn Holland came to the plate and promptly homered over the center-field wall to put the Lady Wildcats ahead 1-0 before Cullman even came to bat.
The Lady ‘Cats answered in the bottom of the first when Burks reached on an error by the shortstop and allowed Swann to score.
Cullman took their first lead of the game when Easterwood absolutely crushed a Fort Payne pitch over the left-field fence, the ball hitting halfway up on the roof of the building just beyond the fence. Another run came when Tiffani Schwaiger reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Burks.
Next up, Fort Payne launched a home run of their own when Emma Terrell got into a pitch and hit a two-run shot over the center-field fence to tie the game at three in the top of the fourth.
An Easterwood single in the bottom of the fourth gave the lead back to the Lady ‘Cats, but it was short lived as Fort Payne took it back in the top of the fifth on a two-run double by Brooke Ingram.
Cullman answered in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Kennedy Wren and took advantage of a Fort Payne miscue when the third baseman and the shortstop collided on a routine popup allowing McPherson to race home. At the end of five, Cullman held a tentative 6-5 lead.
The Lady ‘Cats added some much-needed insurance in the bottom of the sixth when Morton blasted a three-run home run to put Cullman on top 9-5, which was the final score.
Cullman will play for the area championship today at 5 p.m. against the winner of the 3 p.m. Albertville vs. Fort Payne game.
The games will be at Cullman High School.
Image: Cullman High School
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