Eagles lose Game 3 in extra innings

A great run came to an end on Saturday, as Oak Mountain fell to Hewitt-Trussville, 7-5, in nine innings in Game 3 of the Class 7A quarterfinals.

Oak Mountain -- who from an outside perspective, was not expected to do much this season -- came out of Area 5 and subsequently defeated No. 2 Vestavia Hills in the first round en route to the first 30-win season in program history.

The Eagles tied the game in the third inning, tied and took the lead in the fifth, reclaimed the lead in the sixth, and attempted to rally after falling behind by three runs in the ninth.

“We had so many tough situations,” first-year head coach Derek Irons said. “Even in the last inning, we’re down three, it would’ve been human nature to just give up. But we haven’t done that all year.”

They loaded the bases and even scored a run before succumbing to the final out, but that does nothing to put a damper on what the program has accomplished in its first playoff berth since 2011.

“The word that popped up the last few weeks about our team and what I hope is a characteristic for Oak Mountain for the next however many years is just grit. Just keep battling, keep fighting,” Irons said.

Sophomore Gene Hurst drove in three runs and John McDonald the other two for Oak Mountain, while Ethan Holsembeck and Joseph Hartsfield put together multi-hit games.

Michael Flack started threw six strong innings to give his team a chance.

“Couldn’t have asked for a better outing of him,” Irons said.

Irons emphasized the importance of his senior class in his first season at the helm of the program. Will Driskill, Jake Elkins, Coleman Autrey, Trevor Shaw, and Flack all contributed in big ways for the Eagles.

“Those guys are the standard bearer,” Irons said. “They’ve set the bar…They’re the guys every year going forward that we point to and say there’s the example to follow. Be like them. I’m so proud of them that they’ve stuck with it for four years and were rewarded with this season.