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1+2=3 (again)

Second-ranked Oxford opens its Class 6A semifinal series with dominant performance, but No. 1 Hartselle wins to force a Game 3.

Cover photo: Oxford’s Reid Maniscalco dives into home plate on a sacrifice fly during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle. (Photo by Joe Medley)

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

OXFORD — Top-ranked Alexandria and and No. 2 Sardis went three games in their Class 5A quarterfinal series last week. Second-ranked Oxford and top-ranked Hartselle confirmed the uncomplicated math Wednesday.

One plus two, indeed, equals three.

Oxford rolled to a 10-0 victory in Wednesday’s Game 1 of their Class 6A semifinal series at Choccolocco Park, but Hartselle rebounded to win Game 2 5-3.

First pitch for Thursday’s Game 3 is 4 p.m. at Oxford’s campus, on Bud McCarty Field.

Oxford (32-11), which survived a 12-inning Game 3 against Mountain Brook in the quarterfinals at The Bud, will try to win another Game 3 less than a week later.

“They’re a great team, and I feel like we’re a great team,” Oxford catcher Forrest Heathcock said. “That’s just how it goes.”

Oxford will likely start Hudson Gilman on the mound, first-year head coach Travis Janssen said.

“Probably Hudson,” Janssen said. “My mind frame eight now his Hudson, and if he can get us to the middle of the game, then we can give it to Carter (Johnson) pretty quick.”

That was the pitching sequence in Game 3 against Mountain Brook, when Hudson started and Johnson worked seven innings in relief. When Johnson ran up against his pitch county, Bryson Bradford finished.

Gavin Griner continued his solid postseason work with a three-hit shutout in Wednesday’s Game 1.

Oxford ended it with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. That rally featured bases-loaded walks to Heacock and Tide Gann and Canaan Whitman’s sacrifice fly.

Heacock had two of his three two-run doubles for the day in Game 1. He was 2-for-3 with five RBIs in Game 1 and finished with seven RBIs for the day.

“I’m proud of him,” Janssen said. “It hasn’t been easy for him the last two weeks. He hit a grand slam against Buckhorn (second round), and that was a meaningful hit, but hits have been hard to come by for him.

“He’s worked hard, and it’s good for us and good for him to see him have some success.”

Oxford mounted 10 hits in Game 1, but the Hartselle combination of starter Nic Chumley and closer Andrew Coleman held them to seven with two earned runs in Game 2.

Cade Miles led the Tigers’ offense in Game 2 with a two-run home run to regain a 4-3 lead. It was part of their three-run fifth inning.

“We came out like gangbusters in the first game,” Janssen said. “We did a really good job, and really, maybe our most complete game against a quality opponent. Defense was great, and Griner gave us a good start, and then putting up 10 runs in a playoff game is not easy to do.

“The second game, it was a good baseball game. Two good teams, and they did a good job of bouncing back and getting one.”

Game 1

–T1: Nothing for Hartselle.
–B1: Forrest Heacock’s two-run double puts Oxford up 2–0.
–T2: Reid Maniscalco makes a diving catch in foul territory for the third out, and nothing for Hartselle. Still 2-0, Oxford.
–B2: Nick Richardson’s RBI single makes it 3-0. … Carter Johnson’s sac fly makes it 4-0. … Forrest Heacock’s double off the glove to deep CF scores two more runs … 6-0. … R.J. Brooks with an RBI single … 7-0.
–B5: Bases-loaded walk makes it 8-0, Oxford. Make it two bases-loaded walks, 9-0. Canaan Whitman’s sac fly ends it.
FINAL: Oxford wins Game 1, 10-0. Game 2 to follow.

Game 2

–B1: Hartselle pushes one across, leads 1–0. … Pitching change for Oxford … Tide Gann for Nick Richardson. … Hartselle gets another run on a sac fly to lead 2-0.
–T3: Heacock’s two-run double over the LF’s head ties it, 2-2.
–T4: Reid Maniscalco with an RBI double … 3-2, Oxford.
–B5: Canaan Whitman in to pitch for Oxford. … Cade Miles’ two-run home run puts Hartselle up 4-3. … Peyton Steele’s RBI single gives Hartselle a 5-3 lead.
–B6: Bryson Bradford in to pitch for Oxford.
FINAL: Hartselle wins Game 2 5-3. Game 3 Thursday at 4 p.m. at Bud McCarty Field.

Photo gallery by Joe Medley

Oxford’s Judd Syer (17) and Nick Richardson celebrate after scoring runs during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Oxford’s Forrest Heacock follows through on a two-run double during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Oxford’s Gavin Griner deals during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Oxford’s Carter Johnson enjoys a light moment as Hartselle has a conference on the mound during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series
Oxford’s Tide Gann lines up for a sacrifice bunt during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Oxford’s Carter Johnson follows through on a hit during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Oxford’s R.J. Brooks follows through on a hit during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Tailgaters outside of Choccolocco Park’s signature field during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Tailgaters outside of Choccolocco Park’s signature field during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.
Tailgaters outside of Choccolocco Park’s signature field during Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Yellow Jackets’ Class 6A semifinal series against Hartselle.

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