P/3B Lalah Culpepper Named FCB Athlete of the Week for Mar. 16

WETUMPKA, Ala. - Pitcher & 3B Lalah Culpepper has been selected as the First Community Bank Athlete of the Week for Mar. 16. Her selection comes off of a week where softball went 5-0 and won the Elmore County Tournament, hosted by Tallassee High School. Culpepper's numbers across the five games were awe-inspiring, going 12/16 at the plate with 8 extra-base hits, 4 home runs, and 10 RBI's. Culpepper also stepped in the circle for three of the five games, recording a win in each appearance. The Indians began their week on Tuesday against Percy Julian, the first area matchup of the season. Culpepper went 3-for-3 at the plate, recording five total bases with a triple and two singles. She added an RBI and scored three runs herself in the Indians 18-0 win in three innings. Then came the Elmore County tournament, beginning on Friday, March 13. The first matchup saw the Indians take on the Elmore County Panthers, taking home a 15-2 win in just three innings. Culpepper pitched all three innings, earning her fifth win of the season. She allowed 4 hits and two runs, both earned while picking up a strikeout. At the plate, Culpepper was lights out. She went 3/3, with 2 home runs, driving in five runs and scoring three herself. The Indians faced off against the Holtville Bulldogs later in the day, a rematch from March 3. In the 10-0 win, Culpepper was again perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a homer and a double. She picked up 2 RBI's and 3 runs scored. On Saturday, the Indians faced off against Tallassee, winning 7-2. Culpepper pitched, tallying just one hit and allowing no runs, while striking out 8 in 4 innings. She went 1/4 at the plate. The Indians had a rematch against Elmore County in the championship game of the tournament, where Culpepper came in as a reliever, finishing the game pitching the last 3 and 2/3. She allowed just two runs and struck out 3. At the plate, the junior again led the team in total bases with 9. She recorded another home run, and picked up two doubles. She drove in four runs in the Indians 12-7 victory over the Panthers. Culpepper and the Indians are back in action on Monday, March 16 as they host the Prattville Lions.