Local baseball roundup, Feb. 23-28
Local baseball teams are getting into the swing of things after a first full week of play. Here’s a look at the action from around Franklin County:
Monday, Feb. 23
Tharptown 7, Vina 5
Led by center fielder Randy Holliman and his two hits and two RBIs, the Tharptown Wildcats snuck by at Vina to earn their first win of the season. The Wildcats led 4-1 after four and a half innings and then added three more runs in the top of the sixth to take a 7-2 lead. Vina surged in the bottom half, picking up three runs itself, but it wasn’t quite enough; both teams were scoreless in the seventh inning. Hayden Parker, who pitched three and a third innings for THS, picked up the win, allowing just one hit and striking out six batters. Vina starting pitcher Chris Sparks took the loss after allowing one unearned run on two hits; he struck out four batters in his outing.
Belgreen 13, Shoals Christian 2
The Belgreen Bulldogs scored in six of their seven innings played against Shoals Christian and finished strong with a five-run seventh inning to win by 11. BHS, led by three hits and two runs scored from leadoff man Colton Ashton, finished with 13 hits collectively. Right fielder Zed Wilson and left fielder Ethan Dawson had team-high two RBIs. On the mound, Ty Hamilton tossed three and a third innings for the Bulldogs and didn’t allow a hit; his one run allowed was unearned.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Tharptown 6, Colbert County 4
Behind 4-2 going into the final two innings at Colbert County, the Wildcats scored four unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings to come from behind and grab a second straight win. In the sixth, Tharptown’s Jackson Knighten scored on a bases-loaded walk by Jacob Fretwell, and then in the seventh the Wildcats plated three thanks to a passed ball, a balk, and an RBI single by Fretwell. Christopher Fretwell earned the win for the Wildcats after a five-inning outing that saw him strike out eight batters.
Belgreen 9, East Lawrence 7
Belgreen put up crooked numbers in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to propel itself past East Lawrence. The biggest inning was the sixth when the Bulldogs put four runs past ELHS thanks to an RBI walk and two RBI singles by Easton Mitchell and Zed Wilson. Wilson finished with a team-high four hits and five RBIs on the day. Braden Hamilton earned the win for BHS tossing five innings while allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out five.
Red Bay 10, Covenant Christian 0
Red Bay made quick work of Covenant Christian, run-ruling the Eagles in the fifth inning. The Tigers did most of their scoring in the front half with three runs plated in the first inning and six in the second. Jeremiah Thorne, who finished with a team-high two RBIs, earned the W on the mound after pitching three scoreless and striking out seven Eagles. Carson McGee threw two innings in relief to complete the combined shutout.
Phil Campbell 12, Winston County 2
Chandler Benford had a day at the plate for the Bobcats on Tuesday, accounting for five of his team’s 12 runs, including a game-high four RBIs. Phil Campbell, which outhit Winston County 13-4, put up crooked numbers in all but the first inning to eventually run-rule WCHS in six innings. Three straight RBI singles in the top of the sixth proved to be decisive in the shortening of the game. Isaac Duboise received the win after pitching three scoreless innings and striking out four batters.
Russellville 12, Hatton 2
The Golden Tigers run-ruled the Hornets in five innings thanks in large part to an explosive seven-run second inning that put RHS well ahead going into the last few innings. A few RBI singles by Brayden Hatton, Brayden Entrekin, and Ty Engelthaler, as well as an error and RBI hit-by-pitch were key to scoring those seven runs in the second. Catcher Tristan Ray also did his fair share with two hits, a team-high two RBIs, and a walk. Four different Golden Tigers made appearances on the mound, but it was Sam Hamilton who got the most work; he pitched two innings, allowing two hits while striking out four.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Mobile Christian 10, Russellville 7
After leading 4-2 after two innings, the Golden Tigers surrendered four runs in the fourth and three runs in the sixth.
Friday, Feb. 27
Phil Campbell 7, Haleyville 6
The Bobcats survived a back-and-forth game on the road at Haleyville after coming from 4-0 down. The hosts led 4-0 after three innings, but Phil Campbell’s bats came alive in the fifth and were able to plate five runs to take a 5-4 lead. PCHS was able to add to it by two runs in the top of the seventh and then hold onto the lead thanks to a combined pitching effort from Isaac Duboise and Chandler Benford. Miles Duboise was credited with the win. Benford, with three RBIs on two hits and a run scored, was Phil Campbell’s best bat in the contest.
Colbert Heights 25, Tharptown 0
Tuscaloosa County 12, Russellville 3
Saturday, Feb. 28
Belgreen 4, Smithville 2
Belgreen scored two in the first inning and then added solo runs in the third and fifth innings to brush past Smithville. Leadoff man Colton Ashton led BHS with three hits and a run scored while Ty Hamilton, Easton Mitchell, and Noah Scott all had an RBI each. Hamilton secured the W on the bump after tossing six innings and allowing just one earned run off five hits. Braden Hamilton collected the save after striking out three batters in the top of the seventh.
St. Paul’s 10, Russellville 8
An extra innings contest between Russellville and St. Paul’s at the PBR South AL Showdown in Orange Beach ultimately went the way of the Saints after St. Paul’s was able to score two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Down 8-5 in the bottom of the seventh, some wild pitching, plate discipline, and an RBI fly out from senior Malaki Groce helped Russellville knot the game back up 8-8 and send it to extras. Unfortunately, RHS was unable to repeat the feat in the bottom half of the next inning. Tripp Cleveland and Groce led the team with two RBIs each. Five different Golden Tigers took the mound in the game, but it was Brayden Hatton that saw the most action; he tossed three and a third, allowing three earned runs off four hits and struck out two batters.
Phil Campbell 13, Sulligent 1
A huge nine-run third inning aided the Bobcats in a blowout run-rule win over visitors from Sulligent. Wild pitching from the Blue Devils was a major contributor; Sulligent allowed two runs on balks and walked six batters in the bottom half of the inning. Five different Bobcats finished with two runs scored. On the mound, Eli Tyra earned the win after throwing three innings. He allowed just one earned run off four hits. Cody Sneed came in and finished the game in relief.
Orange Beach 6, Russellville 3
Red Bay 10, Belmont 3
Carson McGee pitched a complete game in Red Bay’s home win over Mississippi rival Belmont, striking out 12 batters. At the plate, Ayden Pruitt led the Tigers with two hits while leadoff batter Jeremiah Thorne scored a team-high three runs and drew three walks.
Hackleburg 9, Red Bay 8
Belgreen 12, Meek 2
An eight-run fourth inning followed by a walk-off RBI double from Ty Hamilton in the fifth helped the Bulldogs run-rule Meek to close out their week. In the big fourth inning, Rush Berryman started things off with an RBI single before Colton Ashton and Zed Wilson smashed back-to-back RBI doubles that scored three runs. Easton Mitchell closed out the scoring in the inning with an RBI single that scored Hamilton from third. Wilson led BHS with a game-high three RBIs on two hits. Ashton received the win on the mound, allowing just one hit in three innings pitched. Berryman finished the game in relief.
Phil Campbell 10, Covenant Christian 1