HS sports update: Baseball, softball teams play in spring break tournaments
BASEBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood baseball team played in the Lake Martin Classic during the week. On Monday, the Lions picked up a 4-2 win over Etowah. Sam Hamner and Parker Scott each registered two hits and an RBI. Wesley Helms was strong on the mound, going six innings and allowing four hits and two runs (one earned).
The Lions knocked off Benjamin Russell, 11-2, on Tuesday, behind strong performances from several players. Carson Eddy had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs. Scott, Helms, Hamner and Eli Steadman each drove in two runs. Noah Whatley surrendered two runs on six hits in seven innings on the mound.
Briarwood earned a pair of victories on Wednesday. In a 10-4 win over Headland, Steadman homered and knocked in three, while Jonah Carroll and Eddy each doubled and knocked in two runs. Hudson Hartsfield was the offensive star in the second game, as he went 4-for-4 with three RBIs in an 8-5 win over Marbury.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team took part in the Lake Martin Classic over the week of spring break. The Hornets got started with a 2-1 win over Headland on Monday. Riley Watkins and William Root each notched two hits. Emmitt Hudspeath was great on the mound, as he picked up the win in six innings of work, allowing four hits, no runs and three walks to go along with seven strikeouts.
The Hornets dropped both games it played on Tuesday, falling to Etowah, 9-1, and Valley, 3-0.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain baseball spent spring break at the beach, playing in Gulf Coast Classic II. The Eagles began the week with a 3-1 loss to Russell County on Monday. Caleb Ragland doubled twice in the game.
The Eagles rebounded with a 2-0 win over Hendersonville (Tennessee) on Tuesday. Jackson Kimbrell was lights out on the mound. He allowed just one hit and struck out 15 in seven innings.
Oak Mountain split a pair of games to finish up pool play on Wednesday. The Eagles began the day with a 17-6 win over Corner. Kimbrell went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs. Caleb Kennedy doubled and knocked in three as well. Landon Cato homered in a 3-2 loss to Foley.
Spain Park
The Spain Park baseball team began play in Hoover’s Buccaneer Classic on Wednesday and suffered a tough-luck 7-5 loss to Springville in nine innings. In the game, Adam Wygle went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.
The Jags played just one of two scheduled games on Thursday due to rain, but they picked up a 6-3 win over Hazel Green in the one they got in. After giving up three runs in the top of the first, Spain Park scored the game’s final six runs to win. Sam Dozier was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, and Jarrod Kennington went the distance on the mound, allowing seven hits in seven innings.
Spain Park split its two games on Friday. The Jags won a wild one over Houston (Tennessee), 16-15, after Houston walked the bases loaded in the seventh and plunked Wygle to force in the game-winning run. Colton Ledbetter and Brody Richey homered in the game and combined to drive in seven runs. Dozier went 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs. Helena then downed Spain Park, 16-2.
The Jags wrapped up the tournament with a 4-3 win over Buckhorn on Saturday. Spain Park scored three runs in the seventh inning and Matthew Moser notched the walk-off single to lift the Jags.
SOFTBALL
Spain Park
The Spain Park softball team played in Gulf Coast Classic III last week at the beach. The Jags split their pool games on Monday. In the first game, they fell to Beech, 8-3. Spain Park scored three runs in the final inning, including a two-run home run by Maddie Majors. The second game went better, as the Jags ran away with a 7-2 win over Hayden. Lindsay Parker and Caroline Wooley each homered and knocked in three runs, while Majors homered again.
Spain Park won both pool games on Tuesday to finish with a 3-1 record. In a 10-2 win over Headland, Bailey Bowers was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Wooley and Annabelle Widra each knocked in a pair. Kate Campbell threw five innings, allowing just four hits and two runs (one earned). The Jags followed that up with an 11-5 win over Colbert Heights. Wooley had a big game, as she homered, doubled and knocked in four runs. Alexis Anderson drove in four runs as well.
Spain Park wrapped up the tournament after two games on Wednesday. The Jags began the day with a 9-0 win over Sumiton Christian. Majors was 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. Parker also knocked in three runs. Anderson only surrendered a single hit in four shutout innings, while also going 2-for-2 with an RBI at the plate.
The Jags then fell to eventual tournament champion Thompson, 4-1. The Jags got their lone run on a Wooley homer.