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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Wildcats finished the front half of their area slate on a high note after they came back and held on to defeat the Central Volunteers of Clay County.

Shelby County defeated Central-Clay County 7-6 on Thursday, March 20 at Shelby County High School to improve to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in area play.

However, it was the Vols who got on the board first after a pair of lead-off singles led to the opening run of the game off a two-out error in the top of the first.

While the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize off a bases-loaded spot in the bottom of the first, Central did in the top of the second thanks to an RBI single that generated another run off an error.

The Vols struck again in the top of the third, using a one-out single to set up an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

Shelby County found some life in the bottom of the third when Danslen Connell hit a one-out solo home run to cut the deficit to 4-1.

That sparked a Wildcats rally as the next batter was hit by a pitch before a Madison Tolleson single put two on. The ensuing batter got out, but Nancy Hall slashed the gap to one thanks to a two-run double that made it a 4-3 ball game.

Central responded emphatically in the top of the fourth when the first three batters all reached base. Two batters later, two of those runners came home off an RBI double for the 6-3 lead.

Shelby County had the last word in the bottom half of the frame though.

A Kloe Gallups single and a Kaydence Connell double put runners on second and third with nobody out. Danslen Connell made it a two-run game thanks to her first-pitch RBI single.

Two runners remained though, and Aaliyah Chaisson took care of those on the very next pitch. She launched a three-run home run to center to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game.

Shelby County held onto that 7-6 lead the rest of the way as Chaisson kept the Vols at bay for the final three innings. She took the win in the circle, with four of the six runs that touched home plate being earned. She worked around 12 hits and four walks to seal the complete-game victory.

Danslen Connell finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Tolleson went 2-for-4 with a run while Chaisson finished with three RBI thanks to her solo home run and Hall had two RBI in a 1-for-3 day.

The Wildcats will resume area play on Thursday, April 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Shelby County High School when they face the Sylacauga Aggies in a rematch of an 8-7 loss on Tuesday, March 11.