The Belgreen High School and Tharptown High School varsity baseball teams will face off in a pivotal Class 2A Area 14 series this week.
Belgreen (9-10) and Tharptown (5-10) will be battling for second place in the three-team area that also includes Mars Hill Bible School. Both Belgreen and Tharptown were swept by Mars Hill in previous area series leading up to the Franklin County showdown on April 8 and April 10.
After starting the season 5-0, Belgreen has dropped 10 of its last 14 contests. The Bulldogs are coming off a 15-4 loss to Meek on Saturday and two defeats, 12-1 and 11-0, to Mars Hill last week.
The Bulldogs’ last victory came on March 28, a 10-0 run-rule shutout of Shoals Christian. BHS pitcher Ty Hamilton earned the win on the mound, tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six Flame batters.
Offensively, Belgreen put up crooked numbers in the first, second, third, and fifth innings of the game. Center fielder Colton Ashton led the way for the Bulldogs with three hits, three runs scored and two RBI. Hamilton and third baseman Rush Berryman added two RBI each, as well.
Tharptown enters the matchup with Belgreen on a three-game winning streak.
The Wildcats took down Vina 17-4 on March 27, defeated Waterloo 19-7 on March 28, and beat Colbert Heights 12-5 on April 4.
In its last game at Colbert Heights, Tharptown used a six-run fourth inning to double up on the hosts 8-4. THS then put Colbert Heights away with a four-run seventh inning.
At the dish, Tharptown was led by Joah Wilcoxson, who finished 5-for-5 with four runs scored. First baseman Christgin Willoughby, pitcher Logan Bevis, and third baseman Maddox Cochran had two RBI each.
Bevis, who got the start on the bump for the Wildcats, was credited with the win. He was one of five THS arms to throw that day. Collectively, the Tharptown staff recorded seven strikeouts and allowed five runs, four earned, off three hits.
First pitch of game one between the Bulldogs and Wildcats on Tuesday is scheduled for 4:30 P.M. at Tharptown High School.
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