FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Shelby County High School baseball team split an opening day doubleheader Feb. 20 against Sipsey Valley and Calera.

The Wildcats defeated Sipsey Valley 6-5 in its opener.

Shelby County started off the game by scoring three runs in the first inning. Jacob Tidmore led off with a walk and Bailey Benton got an infield hit before Josh Pennington singled to right center to score both runs.

Pennington later scored on a single up the middle by his brother Jacob Pennington.

Sipsey Valley came back in the second inning and tied the game at 3-3. In the third inning, Tidmore singled to lead off the inning and  Evan McNeal hit a two-run homerun to put the Wildcats ahead 5-3.

The Wildcats added a run in the fourth inning when  McNeal  scored off a  Benton fly to right. The Bears scored their final two runs in the top to the sixth inning.

Dakota Falkner earned the win on the mound. Jacob Pennington picked up the save.

Shelby County fell to Calera 8-6 in the nightcap.

Shelby County gave up three runs in the top of the first inning.

The Wildcats scored one run in the bottom of the second inning when Chad Ware scored to make the score  3-1.

In the third inning, the Eagles  added one run to their lead  and the Wildcats add two runs  to make the score 4-3. Again in the fifth inning, Calera s scored one run and  Shelby County added two runs to tie the score at 5-5.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wildcats took the lead for the first time in the game when Benton  singled to right  and Tidmore scored from second base.

But the  Wildcats couldn’t hold on to the lead and the Eagles scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Evan McNeal started on the mound and pitched the first four innings. Benton took the loss after pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief. Tidmore recorded the final out.