The Reset: Baseball, softball teams play over spring break
Over the course of the year, 280 Living will keep you up to date on the various local high school athletic teams. For previous weekly updates, click here.
BASEBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood baseball team played a few games last week as part of Hoover’s Buccaneer Classic, and began things with a pair of wins on Thursday afternoon. The Lions first beat Rossview (Tennessee) 11-1, breaking open a tight game with nine runs over the final two innings to pull away. Wesley Helms notched a triple among his three hits and drove in three runs, while Parker Hutson doubled and had three RBIs as well. Carson McKinney and Noah Whatley combined to allow one unearned run on four hits on the mound.
In the second game, the Lions walked off with a 6-5 win over local foe Chelsea. Chelsea rallied to tie the game at 5-5 with three runs in the top of the seventh, but Bryce Perrien’s run-scoring single gave the Lions the walk-off win. Blake McKenna drove in two runs for the Lions on the day.
The Lions played two more games on Friday, as they defeated Stanhope Elmore 11-4 and fell to Farragut (Tennessee) 13-3.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team competed in Hoover’s Buccaneer Classic last week, beginning play on Wednesday with a convincing 12-1 win over Wetumpka. The Hornets put up eight runs in the first inning and were never threatened. Will Peacock led the offense with three RBIs, while Nolan Forehand, Jacob Tinnell and Connor Ball all knocked in two runs. Brock Hill earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in five innings of work.
Chelsea split a pair of games on Thursday, beginning with a solid 3-1 win over Hoover, as the Hornets notched single runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings. Ball picked up the win, allowing one run on six hits in six innings of work. The Hornets fell to Briarwood 6-5 in the second game, as the Lions walked off with a win after Chelsea scored three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game.
On Friday, Chelsea fell to Houston (Tennessee) 3-1, after allowing the go-ahead run on an error in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bennett Horton pitched well for the Hornets, as he allowed five hits and a run in his five innings. The Hornets rebounded on Saturday to finish the tournament with a 10-0 win over Stanhope Elmore. Ball led the way offensively, as he went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Horton had a triple among his two hits and drove in a pair as well. Garrett Frye went the distance, hurling a one-hit shutout with six strikeouts in six innings.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain baseball team went to the beach over spring break to compete in Gulf Coast Classic II. The Eagles began play last week on Monday and notched a 3-2 win over Etowah in nine innings. Luke Percer’s base hit scored Jake Rivers to lift the Eagles to the walk-off victory. Percer racked up three hits in the ball game and drove in two runs. Hunter Hall picked up the win in relief, pitching the final three innings in scoreless fashion.
Oak Mountain picked up another win on Tuesday, as the Eagles knocked off Normal West (Illinois) 6-3. Hansen McCown earned the win, striking out 10 in the complete game effort.
On Wednesday, Oak Mountain split a pair of games to wrap up pool play. The Eagles started with a dominant 16-2 victory over Richmond-Burton (Illinois). Hall was the star offensively, as he doubled and tripled among his three hits, drove in five runs and scored three times. Percer and Ryan Reuse each drove in three runs as well. Turner Hughes was solid on the mound, going five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts. Oak Mountain fell to Spanish Fort 2-1 in the second game of the day, despite Jackson Kimbrell’s 10 strikeouts in the complete game.
SOFTBALL
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team was also at the beach last week, playing in Gulf Coast Classic III. The Eagles played in two games to begin things on Monday, grabbing one win. In the first game, Oak Mountain fell to Normal West (Illinois) 5-0, as Dawn Autry notched two of the team’s four hits. The Eagles beat Charles Henderson 5-4 in the second game, as a pair of two-run doubles from Abi Brown and M’Kiyah Mitchell led the charge.
The Eagles played two more games on Tuesday and won both. They began the day with a 6-2 win over Carmel (Illinois). Autry had three hits and scored three runs and Brown hit a two-run homer. Lacy Marty allowed just two runs on six hits in four innings. Oak Mountain scored five runs in the first inning and went on to beat Vernon Hills (Illinois) 10-3 in the second game. Brown homered again and drove in three runs, while Hannah Atwood went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Oak Mountain completed its run in the tournament with three games in bracket play on Wednesday. The Eagles began the day with a 3-1 win over Dale County, as Atwood and Riley Sullivan’s home runs accounted for the runs. Atwood also pitched, allowing just two hits and one run in five innings.
The Eagles’ bats were hot in a 13-3 win over Southside-Gadsden in the following game. Libby Jackman, as she went 3-for-3 with a triple and five RBIs in the contest. Brown and Marty each drove in two runs. Oak Mountain fell to Pisgah 9-0 to conclude its stay in the tournament.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.