Tuesday prep roundup
- Updated: April 6, 2016
Weaver gets area win, Westbrook web gems stop Ohatchee, Heflin tops White Plains, Alexandria rolls; Oxford, Faith, Piedmont score softball wins
The view between the umpire’s arm and body shows Westbrook’s Kyle Edwards climbing the left-field fence to rob Ohatchee’s Michael Cherry of a two-run game-tying homer and end the game. (Photo courtesy of Blake Jennings)
By East Alabama Sports Today
Dalton Hamby doubled home pinch-runner Taylor Deck with two outs in the eighth inning Tuesday and Josh Langley made it stand through the bottom of the inning — two innings after taking a shot off his leg — as Weaver pulled out an important 4-3 Class 3A Area 12 win over Wellborn.
It was the Bearcats’ fourth victory in their last six games and kept them in the mix for a playoff berth after being swept in their area-opening series with Pleasant Valley.
Tyler Perez started the winning rally with a leadoff walk and was replaced on the bases by Deck. It proved to be a key decision as the freshman moved to second on a passed ball and alertly tagged up on a foul pop to the third base side of home plate when he noticed no one covering third.
Weaver tied it in the seventh when Cody Ortiz scored on a passed ball.
Wellborn took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Brant Denham scored from third on Kane Pitts’ rocket off Langley’s shin. Langley walked it off and continued to pitch.
Cleburne County 6, White Plains 4
The Tigers took advantage of some loose play by White Plains to score three runs in the final two innings and held on to win the first game in a series of area unbeatens.
The loss forces the Wildcats to win the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader in Heflin to maintain an edge in the race for a Class 4A playoff spot.
“The first game is very, very important on Thursday,” White Plains coach Wes Henderson said. “We’re looking at it as a must-win for us. We’re going to go out and give it all we’ve got; try to clean it up a little bit.”
Cleburne County extended a 3-2 lead with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. White Plains rallied for two in the seventh on Andrew Cronan’s RBI double and Andrew Norred RBI single, but couldn’t get any more despite bringing the winning run to the plate with two outs.
The Tigers pounded 12 hits in the game with Josh Davis, Brock Swafford, Damian Benefield, Macain Carlile and Nick Dunston all getting two. Cronan and Charlie Huey each had two hits and an RBI for White Plains.
Westbrook Christian 3, Ohatchee 1
OHATCHEE – Don’t be surprised if the outfield on the Indians’ baseball field is cordoned off by yellow crime scene tape today. Indians slugger Michael Cherry was robbed three times by the Warriors’ outfielders in the 3A Area 11 series opener.
None of the pilferage was more brazen than Kyle Edwards climbing the left field fence to bring Cherry’s potential game-tying two-run homer back into the park to end the game. The Warriors’ right fielder and center fielder got him with Web Gems earlier in the game.
“It happens to him so much,” Ohatchee coach Blake Jennings said. “It’s weird.”
The Indians outhit Westbrook 5-3, but two of the Warriors’ hits came with runners in scoring position. Sophomore Garret Kennedy had two hits and an RBI and sophomore Troy Bearden had a two-run double.
Tyler Self threw a complete game with 10 strikeouts to get the win.
“It was a great pitching performance by Tyler Self and some timely hitting by my two sophomores,” Warriors coach Matt Kennedy said.
Alexandria 16, St. Clair County 5
ODENVILLE – Cody Dodd hit a two-run homer, Riley Shaw went 3-for-5 and Cayden Marsh had two extra-base hits and three RBIs as the Valley Cubs pounded the Saints for another 5A Area 12 victory.
Taylor Shaddix was the winning pitcher; he gave up three hits and struck out four in four innings. Jacob Heathcock pitched two innings and Jake Woodward finished.
Oxford 4, Chelsea 1
OXFORD — Austin Bolander went 2-for-4 and Andy Hammond struck out seven in five innings as the eighth-ranked Yellow Jackets picked up an area victory and remained unbeaten at Choccolocco Park.
Bolander, Caden Higgins and Chance Adams all drove in runs for the Jackets. Brody Syer scored their first run on a wild pitch.
SOFTBALL
Tuesday’s scores
Oxford 4, Chelsea 1
Faith Christian 10, JCA 0
Piedmont 2, Wellborn 1
Faith Christian 10, JCA 0
Presley Whitten’s solo homer in the fourth inning capped three extra-base hits that lifted the Lady Lions to their second straight win over Jacksonville Christian in as many days.
Whitten’s homered followed doubles by Logan Boyd and Andrea Davis in a three-run fourth inning that gave Faith a 7-0 lead.
Piedmont 2, Wellborn 1
Hannah Hulsizer’s fourth-inning RBI single in the fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Lady Bulldogs picked up an area victory. Kayleigh Williams made it stand, scattering six hits and striking out five in seven innings.
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