By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

March 8

Spain Park boys handle Briarwood

Spain Park never trailed on Tuesday night as the Jaguars scored one run in the first inning and two in the third en route to a 6-2 win over Briarwood on the road. Will Battersby threw four scoreless innings for Spain Park before being relieved by Spencer Graham, who finished out the game for the Jaguars. Briarwood put Sam Strickland, Michael Hiers and Bradford Pattillo on the mound in the loss. Quinton Hoffman went 2-for-3 from the plate and finished with three RBIs for Spain Park as the Jaguars moved to 10-7 while Briarwood lost for just the third time all year and moved to 9-3.

 

Calera boys beats McAdory easily

The Calera Eagles continued their strong 2016 showing with a 7-2 win at home over McAdory on Tuesday night to move to 13-2. Matthew Marfice threw five innings for Calera, giving up four hits and one run while striking out six before Kevin Dowdell came in to throw the final two innings. Calera scored one run in the first and second innings before hanging five on the visiting team in the fifth to put ample distance between the two on the scoreboard. Calera only managed three hits in the game, scoring a number of runs on steals and passed balls as the Eagles won their fourth in a row and ninth of their last 10.

 

Chelsea boys squeak by Pleasant Grove

After falling behind 4-2 after the third inning, Chelsea rallied, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to beat Pleasant Grove by a final of 5-4. Brendon Case was hit by the second pitch of the bottom of the seventh inning, and advanced to second when Chas Cary hit a sac fly. Pleasant Grove intentionally walked Jake Harkins next, which brought William Root to the plate. Root singled to left field on a 1-2 count, and Case rounded third to score, giving Chelsea the thrilling win. Jake Posey and Riley Watkins both took the mound for Chelsea on the night as the Hornets moved to 6-10.

 

Oak Mountain boys beat Holtville twice

Scott Fleming and Spencer Hughes pitched the first game of a Tuesday night doubleheader for Oak Mountain against Holtville as the Eagles picked up the 8-2 win. Will Driskell threw the first four innings of the second game for Oak Mountain before Hughes made another appearance, throwing two innings before being relieved by Caleb Floyd as Oak Mountain won the second game 7-4. The Eagles advanced to 10-4 with the two wins.

 

Thompson boys beat Smiths Station twice in championship rematch

A season ago, Thompson lost the 7A state baseball finals in two games to Smiths Station. On Tuesday night, the Warriors beat the defending champions twice by finals of 5-1 and 5-2. JC Parker threw a complete game in the first outing, throwing seven innings while giving up just five hits and one run, while JC Goolsby and Lance Johnson combined to throw the second game, striking out nine between them and giving up two runs. Riley Reach had five combined hits in the two games to lead Thompson as the Warriors advanced to 8-8.

 

Helena boys edge Pelham twice

Helena moved to 9-7 on the season with two Tuesday wins over crosstown rival Pelham by finals of 3-1 and 8-2. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning of the first game before Helena plated three runs in the fourth, which was enough to get the win. Troy Cordrey and Robbie Lively combined to get the first win for Helena. In the second game of the doubleheader, Helena scored four runs in the first and four runs in the fourth as the Huskies rolled 8-2. Jameson Ling and Bryant Garrett took the mound and combined to get the win for Helena in the second game.

 

Kingwood edges Tuscaloosa Academy in 11 innings

After seven innings, Kingwood and Tuscaloosa Academy were tied at 2-2 on Tuesday night, and it took four additional innings to declare a winner, as Kingwood finally edged Tuscaloosa Academy 4-3 in the 11^th inning. Shiloh West started the game for the Lions and threw 4.2 innings before Wyatt Baker came in and threw five innings. JP Calvert, who came in to throw the final 1.1, then relieved Baker. Garrett Landry led Kingwood from the plate with three hits on five at-bats as Kingwood advanced to 8-4.

 

Chelsea girls beat Spain Park 12-3

Mary Katherine Tedder homered to center field in the top of the first to give Spain Park an early 2-0 lead, and Kiyandi Tipler homered to left field in the top of the fifth for the Lady Jaguars’ third run of the game. In between those two bombs, Chelsea scored seven runs, and added five more in the bottom of the sixth to beat Spain Park handily, 12-3 as Chelsea moved to 9-2 on the year. Allie Miller, Alex Smithson, Kathryne Shoop and Bailey Coyne each had three hits on the day for the Lady Hornets. Spain Park fell to 11-6 with the loss.

 

Calera softball picks up 6-0 win

Ashlynn Hamm threw seven scoreless innings for Calera in the Lady Eagles’ 6-0 win over Jemison on Tuesday night. Calera scored one run in the first inning and one run in the fourth before adding four more in the sixth to win 6-0. Hamm also led the way from the plate for Calera with two hits on three at-bats as Calera moved to 5-2-1.

 

Thompson girls fall to Hoover

Macie Crumpton and Bailey Whitfield combined to pitch seven innings for the Lady Warriors on Tuesday night as Thompson fell to Hoover by a final of 7-2. Lauren Haskins, Macie Crumpton, Mikayla Touhey, Bailey Whitfield and Kelsey Hutchinson each had one hit for Thompson as the Lady Warriors fell to 10-6 on the year.

 

 

March 9

Spain Park girls throttle Mountain Brook

Kate Campbell threw a no-hitter on Wednesday night in the first area game of the year for Spain Park as the Lady Jaguars beat Mountain Brook 10-0. Campbell threw 47 pitches over five innings of work, struck out four and walked just one batter. Kiyandi Tipler went 2-for-3 from the plate in the game while Mary Katherine Tedder went 1-for-1 with a double and had two RBIs and was also walked twice to lead Spain Park to its 12^th win of the season.

 

Oak Mountain girls fall to Vestavia 6-5

The Lady Eagles fell to Vestavia on Wednesday night by a tight final of 6-5. The Lady Rebels took a 6-2 lead heading into the seventh inning before Oak Mountain plated three runs in the seventh, but fell one run short of pulling even. The Lady Eagles had 12 hits compared to just seven for Vestavia, but fell one run short on the scoreboard. Clara Fuller pitched a complete game for Oak Mountain, and O’Neil Roberson went 3-for-4 to lead the Lady Eagles at the plate as well. Oak Mountain fell to 6-4 with the loss.