Baseball playoffs
- Updated: April 18, 2025
Goode, Barber pitch two-hitters as Alexandria flashes 2024-style dominance in firs-round sweep of Dora. Jacksonville, Hokes Bluff and Coosa Christian eye Game 3s, and Ranburne advances.
Area first-round series results
CLASS 1A
Woodland at University Charter
Game 1: University Charter wins 5-1
Game 2: University Charter wins 7-3, advances
Coosa Christian at Hubbertvillle
Game 1: Hubbertville wins 4-3
Game 2: Coosa Christian wins 7-4
Game 3: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Pickens Academmy at Spring Garden
Game 1: Pickens Academy wins 14-2
Game 2: Pickens Academy wins 12-2, advances
CLASS 2A
Central-Haneyville at Ranburne
Game 1: Ranburne wins 13-0
Game 2: Ranburne wins 11-0, advances to second-round series at Cottonwood
Lindsey Lane at Pleasant Valley
Game 1: Lindsey Lane wins 9-6
Game 2: Lindsey Lane wins 9-6, advances
CLASS 3A
Glencoe at Winfield
Game 1: Winfield wins 6-4
Game 2: Winfield wins 14-2, advances
Gordo at Piedmont
Game 1: Gordo wins 6-2
Game 2: Gordo wins 2-0, advances
J.B. Pennington at Wellborn
Game 1: J.B. Pennington wins 27-3
Game 2: J.B. Pennington wins 19-5, advances
Randolph County at Vinemont
Game 1: Randolph County 7, Vinemont 4
Game 2: Vinemont 15, Randolph County 12
Game 3: Vinemont wins 19-2, advances
CLASS 4A
Dora at Alexandria
Game 1: Alexandria wins 10–0
Game 2: Alexandria wins 12-2, advances to play at Deshler in second round
Cherokee County at Cordova
Game 1: Cordova wins 8–1
Game 2: Cordova wins 3-1, advances
Hokes Bluff at Haleyville
Game 1: Hokes Bluff wins 8-7
Game 2: Haleyville wins 8-4
Game 3: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Handley at Trinity Presbyterian
Game 1: Trinity Presbyterian wins 14-4
Game 2: Trinity Presbyterian wins 6-2, advances
Tallassee at Munford
Game 1: Tallassee wins 6-5
Game 2: Tallassee wins 7-6, advances
CLASS 5A
John Carroll Catholic at Jacksonville
Game 1: John Carroll wins 6-1
Game 2: Jacksonville wins 4-3
Game 3: Saturday, 2 p.m.
CLASS 6A
Southside at Hartselle
Game 1: Hartselle wins 3-1
Game 2: Hartselle wins 11-1, advances
Oxford at Mountain Brook
Game 1: Mountain Brook wins 10-7
Game 2: Mountain Brook wins 12-6, advances
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
ALEXANDRIA — The scene following Alexandria’s sweep of its first-round baseball playoff series against Dora on Friday looked happily familiar for the Valley Cubs.
They lined up and did their lap around the perimeter of Kevin “Byrd” Welch Field, slapping hands with happy fans before gathering at the usual team meeting spot, in shallow right field.
Alexandria coach Zac Welch didn’t do his victorious dive and tumble into the huddle, perhaps a subtle message about games yet to be won, but the celebration had that 2024 feel.
It was scene last year’s 15 seniors lived often with their younger teammates on the to a Class 5A state title. Their successors got to feel it Friday, after beating Dora 10-0 and 12-2 to earned a second-round series next week at Deshler.
Senior and University of South Alabama signee Bray Goode, who pitched a two-hitter in Friday’s Game 1, said the postgame celebration brought back a familiar feeling.
“The excitement and just the joy is awesome,” he said. “It’s amazing. The memories and just the ability to live it again and do it again is a different feeling.”
For one series in this year’s playoffs, at least, the team Welch calls his “Baby Cubs” looked like last year’s title team while improving to 20-11. Playing in front of a scoreboard extension that honors last year’s state-title team, they swept their first round opponent in two five-inning games.
Reminiscent of Andrew Allen and Tripp Patterson from 2024, Goode and Game 2 starter Brodie Barber each pitched a two-hitter. They combined for 18 strikeouts, 13 for Goode.
Cooper Smith went a combined 5-for-8 with six RBIs and four runs. Knox Faulkner went 5-for-7 with one run and three RBIs.
With former players including 2024 second baseman Nic Thompson attending, Alexandria dominated in a manor similar to how the Valley Cubs dispatched Douglas in the first round last year.
“I think our best baseball is still ahead of his, but today was pretty close,” Welch said. “We played pretty good today, but as long as we keep getting better, we always follow the motto of, we’re not quite good enough today. Gotta be a little better tomorrow.
“I think, in the morning, we’re going to wake up a little bit better than we were this morning.”
Welch said he sees a new team with a new identity this year, but one equally as fun to coach. He wanted them to have their postgame celebration.
“I was telling them postgame, you don’t get many playoff victories,” he said. “You don’t get many victory laps. Take your time, shake the hands of the people in the community that came out to support you, because I’ve never felt closer to our community than in those moments.
“Last year was great when we had them. I’m glad they got to experience them this year. It’s just special. We have a special thing going on here that not everybody has.”
Playoff roundup
JACKSONVILLE 1-4, JOHN CARROLL 6-3: Jacksonville (17–17) scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning of Game 2 and lived to play Saturday’s decisive Game 3 of their Class 5A series with John Carroll Catholic.
The rally featured Jackson Bonner’s RBI single, Easton Lackey’s RBI single and Maguie Mallett’s run-scoring fielder’s choice.
Jacksonville’s Nicholas Johnson came on in relief in the bottom of the seventh inning and struck out the final two batters with runners on first and second base. Johnson was credited with a save.
Mallett got the win while working 1 1/3 innings of middle relief. Starter Matthew Salmon spread out four hits and gave up three runs (none earned) with five strikeouts.
Bonner went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, and John Ducar went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs.
Xaye Lemon had a single and an RBI in Game 1, but the Golden Eagles managed just four hits.
HOKES BLUFF 8-4, HALEYVILLE 7-8: Bryce Whitaker scored on a Colten Shields lineout plus an error in the top of the eighth inning of Game 1, and reliever Bray Bearden made it stand with a perfect bottom of the eighth for an 8-7 victory.
The victory combined with an 8-4 loss in Game 2 sets the stage for Saturday’s decisive Game 3 in their Class 4A first-round series.
Shields got the win, spreading out eight hits over seven innings with five strikeouts. Five of Haleyville’s seven runs were earned.
Hokes Bluff pounded out 11 hits in Game 1. Carson Peppers went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run. Brodie Brogdon went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI, and Shields went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI.
Glavine Lamberth doubled and scored a run.
Bearden went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Game 2. Lamberth went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI, and Shields had a double, a run and an RBI. Whitaker went 2-for-3 with a double and a run.
COOSA CHRISTIAN 3-8, HUBBERTVILLE 4-6: Angelo Alberghina went 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs, and Coosa Christian won Game 2 after falling in Game 1 of their Class 1A series.
That sets up Saturday’s decisive Game 3.
Coosa Christian (13-12) also got two RBIs from Blaine West. John David Justus went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI, and Dylan Edwards went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Coosa Christian’s Cameron Robertson went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run in Game 1. Alberghina went 2-for-4 with a double, and Justus went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
RANBURNE 13-11, CENTRAL-HANEYVILLE 0-0: Drew Davenport pitched a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in Game 1, and Rance Merrill pitched a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts in Game 2 as Ranburne advanced.
The Bulldogs will face Cottonwood on the road in a best-of-3, second-round series.
Friday’s Game 1 saw Cason Jones single home two runs and score a run, and Colton Johnson went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. James Ward went 1-for-1 with two RBIs and a run, and Davenport went 1-for-3 with a triple, two runs and an RBI.
In Game 2, Carter Loren had a double, three RBIs and a run. Davenport went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Johnson went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Ward added a double, an RBI and a run, and Ranburne got a single, an RBI and a run apiece from Jones and Logan Carter.
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