Photo courtesy of Grant Campbell
Westbrook Christian 9, Hokes Bluff 3; Hokes Bluff 14, Westbrook Christian 12
In an Area 11 doubleheader that impacted which team would make the state playoffs, Class 3A No. 7 Hokes Bluff and Class 3A No. 10 Westbrook Christian split on Thursday, April 4 in Rainbow City. The Warriors (11-8) won the opener by a score of 9-3, while the Eagles (14-9) took the nightcap at 14-12.
In Game 1, Westbrook puled away from a 4-3 score with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. when Brody Blevins, Cameron Carden and Brodie Johnson singled to load the bases. Jacob Maples was hit by a pitch to force in a run, Dylan Rainey (pictured above) came through with a two-RBI double and Brady Carden singled home pinch runner Cameron Robertson. Winning pitcher Braden Kay retired three of four Eagle batters in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
In seven innings, Kay scattered seven hits, two earned runs and one walk while striking out seven. Brady Carden went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored; Will Chadwick went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored; Rainey went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI; Blevins went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored; Cameron Carden went 2-for-3 with a run scored; and Noah Wright went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
For Hokes Bluff, Glavine Lamberth went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Brayson Hayes went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
In Game 2, Hayes’ RBI single in the top of the seventh held up as the winning run. Lamberth later scored on a wild pitch for insurance. Rainey’s two-out sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning drew the Eagles within a run, but Bray Bearden struck out the next batter to secure the victory.
At the plate for Hokes Bluff, Lamberth went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and four runs scored; Hayes went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored; Bryce Whitaker had a hit, an RBI and two runs scored; Colten Shields had a three-RBI double; and Brodie Brogdon had a two-RBI base hit.
For Westbrook, Cameron Carden went 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored; Morgan Prater went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Blevins had a hit and three runs scored; and Maples had a hit and two RBI.
Coosa Christian 6, Spring Garden 5
Bryan Johnson’s RBI base hit in the top of the fifth inning held up as the winning run in Coosa Christian’s 6-5 victory over Class 1A Area 13 rival Spring Garden on Thursday, April 4. The Conquerors (10-16) won the area title following Cedar Bluff’s sweep over Gaylesville earlier this week.
The Panthers trimmed the lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth before Coosa relief pitcher Renn Gladden retired three of four Spring Garden batters in the seventh to seal the win.
In 5.1 innings, winning pitcher Brody Nelson allowed seven hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out six. At the plate for the Conquerors, John David Justus went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI; Johnson went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored; and Keith Johnson went 2-for-2.
Etowah 6, Cherokee County 5
Slade St. Clair’s RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning provided Etowah with a 6-5 victory over Class 4A Area 14 rival Cherokee County on Thursday, April 4 in Attalla.
In four innings, winning pitcher Tracy Gaddis allowed two hits, no runs and two walks with one strikeout.
At the plate for the fourth-ranked Blue Devils (15-11), Cash Hayes went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored; St. Clair went 2-for-3 with an RBI; Jaxen Morgan went 2-for-2 with an RBI; and Gaddis had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Glencoe 8, Ohatchee 5; Glencoe 10, Ohatchee 0
Glencoe gave its postseason chances a shot in the arm with an 8-5, 10-0 sweep over Class 3A Area 11 rival Ohatchee on Thursday, April 4.
In the opener, The Yellow Jackets (14-14) trailed heading into the top of the seventh, at which point they put across six runs on the way to victory. Jordan Haney’s bases-loaded single highlighted the inning.
At the plate for Glencoe, Trent Rowell went 2-for-3 with two runs scored; Aiden Johnson went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Jaxon Hollis had a hit, two RBI and a run scored; and Dylan Perry had a hit and two RBI. In 4.2 innings, winning pitcher Austin Mann allowed two hits, no runs and one walk while striking out five.
Mann and Johnson combined on a no-hitter in the nightcap. In three innings, Mann issued one walk and struck out five. In two innings, Johnson walked one and fanned four. Jaden Patton went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored.
Southside 10, Pinson Valley 8
Southside built a six-run lead then weathered a late rally attempt on the way to a 10-8 victory over Pinson Valley on Thursday, April 4.
With the Panthers (18-12) leading 10-4 in the top of the seventh inning, the Indians scored four runs to draw within 10-8 with two outs. But pitcher Cayden McMichael induced a pop fly that was caught by first baseman Kutter Johnson to end the game.
Johnson went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI; Tre Jackson went 2-for-3 with an RBI; McMichael went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored; Angelo Alberghina and Carson McGraw each had a double, an RBI and two runs scored; Corbin Driskell had a hit, two RBI and a run scored; and Shelby Houston had a hit, an RBI and two runs scored.
Gaston 7, Donoho 1
Winning pitcher Easton Albert allowed six hits, one run and four walks over six innings to help Gaston post a 7-1 victory over Donoho on Thursday, April 4. At the plate for the Bulldogs (8-10), Colton Nelson went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Luke Hollingsworth went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Ashville 10, Hanceville 5
Ashville clinched a berth in the state playoffs for the first time since 2003 with a 10-5 victory over Class 4A Area 11 rival Hanceville on Thursday, April 4.
In a complete-game effort, winning pitcher Easton Layfield scattered seven hits, one earned run and one walk while fanning six. After Hanceville took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth, he allowed only three baserunners over the final three innings. At the plate for the Bulldogs (13-11), Drew Layfield went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored; Dylan Palmer went 3-for-4 with three runs scored; Jaden Harris went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored; and Parker Cross had an RBI double and a run scored.
Westbrook Christian 7, Hokes Bluff 6
Trailing 5-1 after four innings, Class 3A No. 10 Westbrook Christian outscored seventh-ranked Hokes Bluff 6 to 1 the rest of the way en route to a 7-6 victory in Area 11 action on Wednesday, April 3. Brady Carden’s RBI single in the top of the sixth held up as the winning run. For the Warriors (10-7), Brody Blevins went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Brodie Johnsob had a hit, an RBI and a run scored. In five innings, winning pitcher Dylan Rainey allowed seven hits, four earned runs and two walks while striking out four. For the Eagles (13-8). Brayson Hayes went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored; Bray Bearden went 2-for-3; Glavine Lamberth went 2-for-4 with a run scored; Anderson Morgan had a hit and two runs scored; and Logan Weimann had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Etowah 8, Cherokee County 6
A big day at the plate by Jameson Scissum helped Etowah to an 8-6 victory over Class 4A Area 14 rival Cherokee County on Wednesday, April 3 in Centre. Scissum went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Also for the third-ranked Blue Devils (14-11), Bodie Bennett went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored, while Baylor Morrison had a hit, an RBI and two runs scored.
Ashville 13, Hanceville 8
Dylan Palmer and Drew Layfield had success at the plate and on the mound, respectively, in Ashville’s 13-8 victory over Class 4A, Area 11 rival Hanceville on April 3. Palmer went 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. In 6.2 innings, Layfield scattered eight hits, eight runs and three walks while striking out 11. Also for the Bulldogs (12-11), Easton Layfield went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored; Trevor Wicks went 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Parker Cross had a two-run double; and Justin Henderson had a hit and three runs scored.
Glencoe 5, Ohatchee 1
Sparked by a 16-strikeout performance from Brady Kitchens, Glencoe defeated Class 3A Area 11 rival Ohatchee, 5-1, on Tuesday, April 2. In seven innings, Kitchens allowed three hits, one run and three walks. He struck out the side in the top of the seventh and helped his cause with an RBI base hit. Also for the Yellow Jackets (12-14), Trent Rowell went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Jayden Patton and had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Coosa Christian 7, Spring Garden 2
Helped by a four-run fourth inning, Coosa Christian defeated Class 1A Area 13 rival Spring Garden, 7-2, on Saturday, March 30. For the Conquerors (9-16), Brody Nelson went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored; Keith Johnson went 3-for-3 with an RBI; Renn Gladden went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored; and John David Justus went 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Justus went five innings to earn the win, allowing four hits, two runs and five walks while fanning seven.
Gadsden City at Oxford Tournament
Gadsden City went 2-1 at the Oxford Spring Break Tournament on March 29 and 30, defeating Faith Christian Academy, 9-2 and Chilton County, 11-10 and falling to Lauderdale County.
Against FCA for the Titans, Sam Mulkey went the distance to earn the win. In seven innings, he allowed six hits and two runs while striking out eight. He did not issue a walk.
At the plate for GCHS, David Partridge went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored; Gabriel Brito went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBI and a run scored; Andy Swafford went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored; Jackson Garner went 2-for-3 with an RBI; and Bryson Holland and Chapman Clay each had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Against Chilton County, Brito went 2-for-3 with a double and four runs scored; Mulkey went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored; Garner went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored; Partridge had a two-run double; and Adrian Vargas had a hit, an RBI and two runs scored.
Coosa Christian 20, Jackson 4
Coosa Christian finished with 11 hits and 17 RBI in a 20-4 victory over Jackson on Saturday, March 30. For the Conquerors, Renn Gladden went 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored; Keith Johnson went 2-for-3 with six RBI; Dylan Edwards went 2-for-3 with an RBI and four runs scored; Brody Nelson went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored; Blaine West had a hit, an RBI and three runs scored; and John David Justus had a hit and two runs scored. In five innings, Gladden scattered five hits, four runs and two walks with four strikeouts to earn the win.
Etowah 16, Mayfield (Kent.) 3; Etowah 10, Niceville (Fla.), 0
Etowah defeated Mayfield (Kent.), 16-3 and Niceville (Fla.), 10-0 on March 28.
Slade St. Clair was a force at the plate and on the mound against Mayfield for the Class 5A No. 4 Blue Devils (13-11). He went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored and scattered three hits, two earned runs and two walks while fanning one to earn the win. Also at the plate for Etowah, Jameson Scissum and Baylor Morrison went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored; Conner Dingler had a three-run single and two runs scored; Bennett Reaves went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored; Cash Hayes went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored; and Ethan Mendoza had a two-run double and two runs scored.
Scissum tossed a four-hitter against Niceville, striking out 15 while not issuing a walk. He helped his cause with a hit and two RBI. Hayes went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. St. Clair had a hit, an RBI and three runs scored, while Dingler had a hit and two RBI.