FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Shelby Academy Raiders baseball team fell just short of winning its second-straight AISA, Class 1A state championship last week.

The Raiders found themselves in a similar position to last year, needing to defeat Lowndes Academy twice to win the title.

Shelby defeated Lowndes 3-0 in the first game, but lost 11-3 in the second.

Pitcher Kevin Lackey kept Lowndes at bay in the first game, pitching six innings of shut-out work to help give the Raiders the victory. Jamie McClain closed out the first game for Shelby.

Lowndes jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second game early, but the Raiders rallied to cut the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth inning.

That was a close as Shelby would get, however, as Lowndes put up six runs in the top of the sixth to seal the victory.

Seniors Jake Ingram, Josh Kervin and Jamie McClain were named to the Class 1A all-tournament team while Lackey gave up no hits in ten innings of work during the tournament.

Coosa Valley falls to Clarke Prep in final

The Coosa Valley Rebels fell to Clarke Prep in the AISA, Class 2A state championship game Friday night, losing the first game of a best-of-three series 2-0 and the second 10-3.

Coosa Valley came into the final undefeated in the playoffs, but the Rebels were unable to string together any hits.

Chase Ward, Curtis Martin and Whit Lovelady made the all-tournament team for the Rebels