By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
There was no love lost for Southside High on Tuesday (Mar. 24).
Senior pitcher Brock Love racked up 15 strikeouts in six innings as the host Panthers (12-7, 3-0) dealt Class 6A, Area 13 rival Scottsboro a 5-1 defeat.
Love, who signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Alabama late last year, allowed just one hit and two walks.
SHS head coach Blake Bone was pleased with his starter’s effort.
“Brock pitched well. His curve ball, change-up and fastball were on, and it gave us a chance to win. He is in double digit strikeouts every time he pitches, so we have a lot of confidence when he’s on the mound.”
The first three innings was a pitcher’s duel between Love and Scottsboro starter Jake Slaten, but Southside scored five runs in the bottom of the third, which would be all the support Love required.
Austin Winningham drew a one-out walk, followed by a Love single that drove in the game’s first run.
After Hunter Clough and Saige Benson walked to load the bases, Landon Cunningham drove a fastball deep over the leftfield fence for a grand slam and a 5-0 lead.
“Cunningham is hitting the ball well this season,” said Bone. “He has six home runs, two of which are grand slams.”
Logan Miracle came on in the top of the seventh inning to close out the game for Southside, fanning two. Drew Kirby walked and advanced to third on a throwing error. He then scored on a groundout.
At the plate for the Panthers, Grayson Daugherty went 2-for-3. Love, Clough, Benson and Cunningham each had a hit.
In six innings, Staten struck out four while allowing six hits, five runs and four walks.