Hitting and pitching

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: March 6, 2017

Baseball roundup: Faith’s Sills nearly hits for the cycle, 3 Jacksonville pitchers combine to no-hit Weaver, Piedmont 1-hits Donoho, Munford rolls

Faith’s Garrett Steward went four innings and struck out three in his first career start. On the cover, Lions coach Brad Yarbrough holds Jack Sills (3) at third with a triple. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

Monday’s baseball results
Faith Christian 11, Anniston 5
Gaston 7, Glencoe 0
Handley 5, Tallassee 1
Jacksonville 10, Weaver 0
Munford 15, Childersburg 0
Piedmont 10, Donoho 0
St. Clair County 2, Ragland 0
White Plains 10, Ohatchee 9

By East Alabama Sports Today

Garrett Steward worked four innings in the first extended pitching outing of his career and Jack Sills came within a single of hitting for the cycle helping Faith Christian to its first win of the season, 11-5 over Anniston Monday.

Sills went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and then struck out the side in the seventh inning to close out the game behind Steward.

Steward, a senior right-hander, missed the last two games on a school trip, but jumped in Monday and pitched four innings, giving up four runs and striking out three. His previous mound experience was one-third of an inning last year that was, he said, “not one to be remembered.”

“(Monday’s start) was exciting, for sure,” he said. “It was a great opportunity and I’m thankful Coach trusted me with the ball in my hand.

“It was my first time starting on the mound so I had to work through some nerves, but it helped to know my team had my back. I started feeling more comfortable as the game went on and the defense made some good plays behind me.”

The Bulldogs (0-6) loaded the bases three times in the game and couldn’t capitalize.

“The biggest factor for our team right now is we’re a development team,” new Anniston coach Greg Green said. “Overall as a team we’re improving.”

Meanwhile, in addition to Sills, the Lions (1-4) got two hits from Riley Camp and Stone Huie each had two hits and Brodie Sewell had two RBIs.

Faith’s Julien Key slides into the bag in a big cloud of dust during Monday’s game with Anniston. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

Jacksonville 10, Weaver 0: Three Jacksonville pitchers combined for a no-hitter as the Golden Eagles’ continue to shut down opposing hitters.

Brandon Breeding, Josh Glass and Austin Lackey put down the Bearcats (0-4) with eight strikeouts. At the plate, Colton Clark homered and singled, Kyle Seeger had two hits and Lackey and Glass both ripped doubles for the Golden Eagles (6-1).

The no-hitter comes on the heels of a pair of one-hitters by Jacksonville pitchers on Saturday. Colton Clark stopped Guntersville over five innings 12-2 and Colin Casey struck out 12 in blanking Westbrook Christian 2-0.

“They’re throwing the ball well right now and we’re playing solid defense behind them,” Jacksonville coach David Deerman said of his pitchers.

Jacksonville’s Colton Clark crosses the plate after his home run against Weaver. (Photo by Daniel Lee)

Piedmont 10, Donoho 0: Bailey Graves gave up a two-out single in the first, allowed only two base-runners and faced only two batters over the minimum in six innings of work for the Bulldogs (2-4). Bailey threw just 64 pitches in his gem.

The Bulldogs supported him with 12 hits, including four doubles. Michael Rogers and Easton Kirk had three hits apiece while Taylor Morrow had two. The Bulldogs broke it open with a six-run sixth.

Barry Billings had Donoho’s only hit. Graves then retired the next nine batters before hitting Seth Ford. Graves struck out six and had only three balls to the outfield.

Munford 15, Childersburg 0: The Lions pounded 17 hits as a team and two pitchers blanked the Tigers on two singles over five innings. Ethan Bell walked the game’s leadoff hitter than retired the next 10 Tigers in a row before giving up the first hit.

Bell homered, drove in three runs and was among six Lions with multiple hits in the game. Drew Harkins went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Dakota Green went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, and Draven Campbell, Jeffery Threat and Marshall Clark all had two hits.

St. Clair County 2, Ragland 0: In a classic pitchers’ duel played in a quick 75 minutes, the teams combined for three hits. Ragland was held to one.

Handley 5, Tallassee 1: Colby Cagle drove in a pair of runs with two doubles, Clayton Owens had two hits and Rhett Fetner scattered four hits with seven strikeouts in a complete-game victory.

Coaches are encouraged to report the results and highlights of their games to East Alabama Sports Today the day they are played either through text (256-239-6715) or email (almusky@aol.com)