ALABASTER – The Thompson Warriors are staying put for the area tournament after securing another run-rule win in area play, this time over Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
Thompson defeated the Hillcrest Patriots 12-2 in five innings on Tuesday, April 14 at Thompson High School. The win clinched the regular-season area title and hosting rights for the Class 7A, Area 5 tournament.
The Warriors capitalized on a one-out walk with a Morgan Adolphus RBI groundout to open the scoring in the bottom of the first.
That lead grew to 2-0 in the second off an Autumn Ingle RBI triple, and Josie Chinoski followed it up with an RBI single. Krimson Calhoun then reached on a bunt to put two in scoring position.
While the next two batters got out, Whitney Holtzapfel resumed the rally with a two-run single. It was the first of four-straight hits, including an Aubrey Bauer RBI single and Lexi Kelley two-run double, which took the lead to 8-0.
Thompson loaded up the bases again in the third off singles from Calhoun and Kelsey Burden plus a walk. Holtzapfel plated a run with a grounder to short, making the lead 9-0.
After a scoreless fourth, Hillcrest got on the board with an RBI single and a run off a wild pitch in the top of the fifth.
The Warriors responded by loading up the bases with one out for Hamm, who used the cushion to ground to short and score a run on the fielder's choice play. Ingle got hit by a pitch to extend the inning for Bailey Holderfield to hit a two-run single and end the game in a 10-run win.
Calhoun led Thompson's offense by going 3-for-4 with two runs, Holtzapfel finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run and Kelley was 2-for-2 with two RBI. Ingle got the win with six strikeouts in four innings against one earned run, two total runs and five hits.
Thompson improved to 29-1-2 with the win. It will look for a perfect 6-0 area record when the series with the Patriots concludes on Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa.
