By Jimmy Lay/al.com
After splitting a doubleheader on Friday (Apr. 18), Gadsden City came up short to Huntsville, 9-7, on Saturday (Apr. 19) in the first round of the Class 6A state baseball playoffs.
The Titans (17-20) led 6-2 after four innings but could not hold on, as the Generals scored seven straight runs to take the lead for good.
GCHS scored on the bottom of the seventh to draw within two runs.
It was program’s first postseason appearance since the 2007 season.
“I’m so proud of our team because they didn’t quit,” said GCHS head coach Todd Lamberth. “I tip my cap to those guys. Huntsville High is a great team, they are well coached and they have good players who won the area for a reason.”
On Friday, the Titans forced the deciding Game 3 with a 1-0 victory.
Neal Collins pitched a complete-game shutout for Gadsden City, allowing two hits while striking out five.
”I was able to keep them off balance, coming in jamming them and then hard away; keeping them off balance the best I could,” said Collins said. “I knew I had to buckle down and come through for the team.”
Collins also drove in the game’s only run with a single in the third inning, scoring Blaine Russell.
Huntsville won the opening game by a score of 3-0.
“I’m just real proud of my guys, you know to come back and be in the playoffs for the first time in seven years is big,” said Lamberth. “These guys deserve all the credit, playing with so much heart and determination.”