By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

ALABASTER – In the first round of the AAA AISA playoffs on April 20, the Kingwood baseball Lions defeated Coosa Valley Academy twice to advance to the second round of the tournament. Kingwood’s overall record for the year is now 22-10-2.

Game 1 – Kingwood 9 – Coosa Valley 5

In the first game of the doubleheader, Garrett Jones and Wyatt Baker combined to get the win from the mound. Jones threw three innings to start the day and gave up four hits and five runs, though none of them were earned before being replaced by Baker, who finished out the last four innings in scoreless fashion.

Coosa Valley held a 5-3 lead after the top of the third inning, however the Lions responded in the bottom half of the fourth with three more runs to take the lead for good. Two more runs in the fifth and an insurance run in the sixth left the Rebels of Coosa Valley in the dust.

Shiloh West, Baker and Buddy Kittrell each had two hits to lead the way for the Lions in the first game, while Corey Robinson, Jones, Rivers Chamblee and Garrett Landry each registered a hit as well.

Game 2 – Kingwood 16 – Coosa Valley 6

West took the mound and lasted six full innings before being relieved by Dillon Calhoun who finished off the last inning. West threw 105 pitches, gave up eight hits and five runs, two of which were earned. Calhoun threw 19 pitches in the last inning to finish off the Rebels and get the win.

Five runs in both the second and fourth innings for the Lions put the game out of reach. Coosa Valley responded with three runs bottom of the third, however could never get on the same offensive level as the Lions, and fell behind quickly.

Chamblee, Baker and Kittrell each had three hits in the game to lead the way for Kingwood. Calhoun was 2-for-5 from the plate and drove in three runs in the process.

The Lions will move on to face Monroe, based out of Monroeville, on Thursday, April 23 for a chance to move on to the Final Four.