Oak Mountain tops Spain Park in tournament opener

Published 11:17 pm Thursday, March 3, 2011

By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Oak Mountain High School junior Richard Greene powered the Eagles to a 13-5 win over Spain Park in the first game of the Birmingham Metro tournament March 3.

The first baseman finished finished 2-for-2 at the plate and drove in three runs in the victory. Greene also scored a run.

Oak Mountain (4-2) scored three runs in the first inning and six runs in the second inning to jump out to an early lead.

Spain Park, which scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, tacked on two runs in the fifth to cut the Eagles’ lead to 9-5. However, Oak Mountain responded with three runs in the top of the sixth inning and added an insurance run in the seventh to secure the victory.

John David (J.D.) Crowe finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Heath Quinn went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Barrett Gossett finished 2-for-4 and scored a run.

David Dahl, who scored four runs and drove in one run, finished 2-for-2. Conner Pinegar finished 1-for-3 and scored two runs. Matthew Byars and Cameron Ridley scored one run each.

Jake Hubbard picked up the win on the mound after giving up five earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks in five innings.

Will Nobles gave up one hit with four strikeouts in two innings in relief.

Chris Ellis led Spain Park (6-3) at the plate as he finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored.

Alex Close went 2-for-3 and drove in a run. Charlie McPherson finished 1-for-3 and drove in a run.

Carter White went 1-for-4 and scored a run. Mikey White finishe 1-for-4. Marks Abernathy went 1-for-3. Sean Taylor scored two runs in the defeat. Paul Angel and Paul Hosemann scored one run each.

Abernathy took the loss after giving up eight runs, including seven earned runs, on seven hits with one walk in 1 1/3 innings.

Colton Freeman gave up five runs, including four earned runs, on four hits with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 5 2/3 innings in relief.