By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

With a 1-3 area record coming into Tuesday’s game, the Chilton County High School softball team was able to pick up a much-needed 14-8 area win against a team they had lost to earlier in the season, the Talladega Tigers.

Pitcher Kristen Binion and the Tiger defense got out to a good start in the top of the first inning, retiring Talladega in order.

The Tiger offense wasted no time getting started in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, a Holly Watts single led to the first of many runs on the night for the Tigers.

A Tiffany Crowson double to center field scored Watts, and a Tiffany Smitherman double scored Crowson, giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.

The Chilton County defense shut Talladega down for a second straight inning, three up and three down.

Two base runners with only one out for the Tigers would net no runs in the bottom half of the inning.

The Tiger defense maintained the shutout through the top half of the third inning, allowing only one extra batter.

Watts again started off the Tigers in the bottom of the third, this time with a double to left center field.

Crowson followed with a single, and both crossed the plate on a Phillips single to right field. A single by Mary Hughes drove in Phillips, giving Chilton County a 5-0 lead.

Three straight hits and a couple of errors cost the Tigers in the top of the forth inning as Talladega cut into the Tiger lead, drawing to within one run of the lead.

A single by Watts to start the bottom of the fourth would lead to another run for the Tigers on a Phillips double to right field.

After four innings, Chilton leds, 6-4.

Both teams exchanged scoreless at bats through the fifth inning, but the sixth inning would be a different matter. With two straight outs to start the top half of the fifth inning, Talladega would rally to score four runs, putting the Tigers down by two runs.

The Tiger bats caught stride in the home half of the fifth.

A hard line drive over the left field wall by Watts would start the inning for the Tigers with a home run.

An infield single, walk and error loaded the bases for a Phillips bunt that would score another run. A Brooke Sheffield walk left the bases loaded for a Hughes base clearing triple, giving the Tigers an eight-run inning and a 14-8 lead.

For the third time on the evening, the Tiger defense would retire the visitors in order in the top of the seventh, securing a much needed regional victory.

Binion got the start for Chilton County on the mound and pitched five innings with one strikeout, one walk, and 11 hits while giving up seven runs.

Watts went 5-for-5 at the plate with three singles, a double, home run and an RBI. Crowson was 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and an RBI.

Hughes was 2-for-3 with a single, triple and four RBI.