Hornets achieve goals this spring, nab playoff berth

The Chelsea High School baseball team is making good on its promise to have a stronger year, as the Hornets parlayed the momentum gained from their spring break performance into a playoff berth.

The goal at the top of the Hornets’ list was to make the playoffs after missing out last season. The top two teams in each area advance, and Chelsea competes in Class 6A, Area 8 with Pelham and Helena, both formidable opponents.

Chelsea took care of business as quickly as possible to secure a playoff berth, clinched by way of its sweep over Pelham in early April.

“We just challenge our guys to set some goals, and that was No. 1 for us, among other goals,” said Chelsea coach Michael Stallings. “It was good to mark that one off. I’m super excited for the program and proud of our guys and how they’ve prepared and worked and been able to work and accomplish that.”

In the first game against Pelham April 4, Chelsea jumped out to an 8-0 lead and cruised to an 11-1 victory. The second game, on April 6, featured quite a few fireworks, as the game was tied at 8-8 after only two innings of action. Pelham scored four runs in the bottom of the first, Chelsea put an 8-spot on the board in the second, and Pelham tied it in the bottom half of the frame.

Riley Watkins’ home run in the fourth gave Chelsea a 9-8 lead, but Pelham tied it again in the bottom half. The Hornets took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fifth inning and held on from there for the 14-9 win. 

The key to Chelsea playing well down the stretch is simply creating more opportunities at the plate. Before the Hornets’ spring break games at the Lake Martin Classic, they were not generating enough hits for Stallings’ liking. Wins and losses were both coming primarily in close, low-scoring games. 

But at the Lake Martin Classic, the bats came alive, as Chelsea won all four games it played in the event and swept a doubleheader the following day against Benjamin Russell, who hosted the event.

Chelsea defeated Tallassee, 11-1; Sardis, 16-1; Gardendale, 7-2; and Valley, 14-4 as they put up 48 runs in those four contests.

“Our offensive approach has been really good,” Stallings said.

It hasn’t just been the offense though. Stallings felt good about his pitching staff going into the season, and it has not disappointed. He also said he was impressed with the way his team has played defense.

“We’re playing with great confidence,” he said. “Our pitching’s been good and has been for most of the year. No matter how we’re hitting, we’re going to have a great chance to go compete and win a ball game.”

The Hornet roster is filled with juniors, but Stallings made note to applaud the efforts of his four seniors, Tristan Sulser, Connor Burnett, Josh Gregg and Jacob Burback, whose batting average exceeded the .400 mark through the middle of April.

“Our seniors have stepped up and carried a lot of the weight,” Stallings said.

Chelsea has a handful of reliable arms on the mound, and at this stage of the season, it’s “all hands on deck” for Stallings and the Hornets.

“We’re taking it one game at a time,” he said.

The Class 6A baseball playoffs began April 21, and you can keep up with the Hornets and the other area schools at 280living.com.