Local baseball roundup, March 16-21: Belgreen, Russellville combine for 6-0 week
Here’s a look at the baseball action from teams around Franklin County:
Tuesday, March 17
Russellville 5, Deshler 2
The Golden Tigers grabbed an impressive win over the No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A, Deshler, to start their week on the right foot. Russellville starting pitcher Jackson Smith opened the scoring in the bottom of the third on an RBI single to make it 1-0. Later in the game, catcher Tristan Ray knocked in the Golden Tigers’ fourth run with a single to center field. The home side was also aided by a passed ball and two Deshler errors that brought in three RHS runs. A two-run home run by Deshler in the top of the sixth inning ended what was a great day for Smith on the mound; he earned the win after tossing six and a third innings, allowing six hits and just the two earned runs off the homer. Ty Engelthaler relieved Smith in the top of the seventh and picked up the save, striking out two of the batters he faced.
Belgreen 19, Vina 1
Belgreen made quick work of county foe Vina to begin the week. It was actually Vina that scored the opening run of the game—a single to right field by Lane Easterling drove in Branson Vick to make it 1-0—but the Bulldogs were quick to respond, and did so with a deluge in the second and third innings. Belgreen tied things up 1-1 after a passed back and then added four more in the second inning via a two-run triple by Zed Wilson and a two-run double by Noah Scott to make it 5-1. BHS plated four in the third before making it a run-rule game after scoring 10 runs in the top of the fifth inning. Scott, Easton Mitchell, and Braden Hamilton each finished with three RBIs apiece. BHS center fielder Colton Ashton had a perfect 5-for-5 day at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored. Dueling on the mound was Belgreen’s Rush Berryman and Vina’s Patterson. Patterson, who was relieved by Easterling in the fifth inning, tossed four inning and allowed 12 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and recorded one strikeout in the losing effort. Berryman threw all five innings for BHS and earned the win, allowing one unearned run off two hits while striking out 11 batters.
Hamilton 18, Phil Campbell 0
Mars Hill 18, Tharptown 0
Haleyville 6, Red Bay 3
Thursday, March 19
Belgreen 12, Colbert County 11
Hamilton 13, Phil Campbell 5
Mars Hill 20, Tharptown 2
Covenant Christian 14, Vina 2
Friday, March 20
Springville 5, Red Bay 4
Russellville 11, Ardmore 2
Coming off a win over a top-ranked Deshler squad, the Golden Tigers added to a solid week with a doubleheader sweep of Ardmore. The first of the two games saw RHS win by nine runs. Led by a stellar four-inning no-hit pitching performance by starting pitcher Brayden Entrekin, Russellville was up 11-0 before Ardmore was able to break the shutout in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Golden Tigers scored two runs in the first to open the scoring then followed up with solo runs in the third and fourth before really breaking things open with a seven-run fifth inning. Offensively, RHS was led by catcher Tristan Ray, who had himself a 3-for-4 day with a with a game-high three RBIs. Shortstop Caleb Hawkins and center fielder Brayden Hatton came around to score twice and the Golden Tigers drew eight walks as a team.
Russellville 6, Ardmore 2
Saturday, March 21
Belgreen 20, Colbert Heights 13
Belgreen had its best offensive day of the season to end the week, plating 20 runs in a seven-run road win over Colbert Heights. Propelled by a massive 12-run first inning, the Bulldogs added solo runs in the second and fifth innings and crooked numbers in the third and seventh. Noah Scott opened the scoring with a two-run double in the top of the first, scoring Zed Wilson and Rush Berryman. Showing good plate discipline, BHS would go on to add 10 more runs in the inning, RBI walks accounting for three of those runs. Scott led Belgreen at the dish going 2-for-5 with four RBIs. First baseman Easton Mitchell and pitcher Ty Hamilton added two RBIs each, as well. On the mound, the starter Hamilton earned the win, tossing four and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs (only one was earned) off five hits and striking out five batters. Berryman and Chance Pennington made relief appearances. With the win, BHS ended its week with a 9-5 overall record for the campaign.
Shelby County 8, Red Bay 6
Phil Campbell 4, Lamar County 2
Phil Campbell grabbed its ninth win of the season on Saturday, ending the week with a two-run win over the visiting Lamar County Bulldogs. Hits at a premium in this game—there were seven total hits between both teams—the Bobcats took better advantage with runners in scoring position. Phil Campbell’s first run came in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Isaac Duboise that scored Chandler Benford from third, giving PCHS an initial 1-0 lead. Lamar County later took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning, but Phil Campbell responded with a three-run bottom half of the inning to retake the advantage. A passed ball scored Benford to make it 2-2 before an error and a passed ball during the final at-bat of the inning also brought in Duboise and Jack Owens. With a 4-2 lead, Benford, who tossed a complete game, held Lamar County off for the remainder to secure the win decision. Phil Campbell’s record now stands at 9-7 for the year.