Jags top rival Hoover to stay alive in playoff race
Published 10:03 pm Monday, April 5, 2010
Spain Park High School junior Chris Ellis gave up only two earned runs and limited Hoover batters to four hits to lead his team to a 5-2 win in Class 6A, Area 10 over the rival Bucs and keep the Jaguars alive for a berth in the Class 6A playoffs.
Ellis struck out nine batters without issuing a walk in a complete game.
Jake Lee led Spain Park (27-10, 4-3 in Class 6A, Area 10) at the plate as he finished 2-for-3 with two singles and drove in three runs. Lee also scored a run.
Carter White, Mikey White, Austin Veteto, Colton Freeman, Zach Vardaman and Ellis recorded one hit each. Freeman and Aaron Haag drove in one run each.
Veteto, Freeman, Vardaman and Graham Craig scored one run each.
The Jaguars travel to Hoover for their final Class 6A, Area 10 game Thursday night. A sweep of the Bucs and an Oak Mountain loss to Pelham will earn Spain Park the Area 10 runner-up spot and playoff berth.
Pelham 3, Oak Mountain 2
Pelham junior Trevor Fitts set the school record for single-season strikeouts in the Panthers’ win over Oak Mountain.
Fitts struck out 14 batters, which gives him 104 strikeouts this season. Fitts edged Justin Carter, who struck out 103 batters in 1995, in the record books.
Fitts gave up only one earned run on three hits without allowing a free pass in a complete game.
Tripp Martin drove in the game-winning run in the sixth inning with his two-run double to lead the Panthers past the Eagles.
Martin finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Panthers (30-2, 7-0 in Class 6A, Area 10) and drove in two runs.
Trae Santos finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Ty Pierce recorded a hit and scored a run. Fletcher Johnson also scored a run.
Oak Mountain starter Cary Baxter gave up only three earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.
J.D. Crowe finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Eagles (12-15, 3-4 in Class 6A, Area 10) and drove in a run.