![Greyson Howard pitches in a game earlier this season. Photo by Jim Meadows.](https://i0.wp.com/mcpreps.site/baseball/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/03/Greyson-Howard-pitches-in-a-game-earlier-this-season.-Enquirer-photo-by-Jim-Meadows.-scaled.jpg?resize=1110%2C740)
In a battle of defending state champions, the Hartselle Tigers came away with a 5-1 win over Pike County, the defending 3A Georgia state champions, at the Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover this past Thursday.
The Tigers built a 4-0 lead with a run in the second inning and three in the fourth. The Pirates added a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-1. Hartselle added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
Lawson Williams had a double, an RBI and a run scored to lead Hartselle (7-2). JoJo Williamson had a triple and a run scored. Greyson Howard, Landon Blackwood and Walker Hoyle each scored a run. Eli Tidwell, Coleman Mizell and Cal Palahach each had a hit.