For the second straight year, a slow start has been turned around with a Birmingham Metro Tournament baseball championship for the Thompson Warriors, as they beat Vestavia and Hoover Saturday to win back-to-back titles.

Marshall Johnson (2-1) picked up his second win of the tournament Saturday, 5-3 over Hoover, in the championship game. He allowed two earned runs off seven hits and one walk and struck out 10 Hoover batters.

The Warriors advanced to the championship game after rallying from a 3-1 deficit to Vestavia in Saturday morning’s semifinal to beat the Rebels, 5-3. Jacob Swindle took the win after pitching four scoreless innings of relief work, striking out five and allowing two hits.

Jordan Chism helped lead the Warriors on the day with a pair of singles and a run scored in the championship and an RBI in the semifinal. Trent Lucas had two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in the championship. Bradley Patton drove in two runs and Matt Haskins added two hits and an RBI in the semifinal. Zach Smith had three hits in the semifinal. Brandon Perry also showed off his bat in the final, collected two runs and an RBI off two doubles.

Thompson (7-4) has won its last seven games, beginning with a nightcap win in a doubleheader at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa Feb. 19 before entering the tournament.

Thompson opens Class 6A, Area 10 play Tuesday, March 3 when it hosts Pelham at 6:30 p.m. Spain Park will open Area 10 play Tuesday at Oak Mountain at 6:30 p.m.