Alabama Daily Roundup: April 5th

DEATSVILLE, AL - It was a back-and-forth game on Monday at Holtville High School where 4A No. 9 Saint James traveled to face 5A No. 6 Holtville in a tune-up game before area play this week. Saint James had won the previous matchup a few weeks ago by a score of 5-4, but this matchup was much more high scoring than the previous. Both teams ran out numerous arms to save pitching for area, but RHP Ethan Alston (2023) started for the Bulldogs and RHP Carson Howard (2021, North Alabama) toed the rubber for Saint James. 

Saint James opened up the game scoring at least a run in the first four innings of the game and seemed like they had a commanding 8-3 lead heading to the 5th inning, but Holtville did a solid job of getting into the bullpen and getting timely hits when it mattered.

After the bottom of the lineup loaded the bases with one out, SS Sam Silas (2023) smoked a fastball the other way to bring home two runs and cut the deficit to 8-6. After two more runs came in to tie the game at 8-8, 3B Tanner Potts (2023), who drove home a run on a double earlier in the game, came up clutch again when he singled through the right side to give the Bulldogs a 9-8 lead.

Saint James answered back quickly and in a big way to start the 7th. Down to their final three outs, they loaded the bases with one out and the top of the order coming up soon. OF Jeffrey Ford (2021) provided a spark from the bottom of the order the whole game, and came up big by driving home a run on a single to center field to tie it back up at 9-9. After a hit-by-pitch that gave Saint James the lead, SS Zac Russell (2021) continued to swing a hot bat in the 2-hole, driving home two runs on a double to left field to extend the lead to 13-9. Right behind him, 1B KJ Jackson (2024) recorded his fourth hit of the day and third RBI, as he singled to center field to bring home Russell with two outs. Saint James erupted for six runs in the 7th, and carried a commanding 14-9 lead to the last frame.

Holtville was able to push across a run on a RBI groundout from SS Sam Silas (2023), but couldn’t manage to get anything else going. Saint James won the contest 14-10 to improve to 18-8 on the season. 

Top Performers - Saint James

Jeffrey Ford - 3-4, 2B, 5 RBI’s, R

KJ Jackson - 4-5, 2B, 3 RBI’s, R

Zac Russell - 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI’s, 2 R’s

Reed Mangum - W, 1.2 IP, R

Top Performers - Holtville

Todd Wilson - 2-3, RBI, 2 R’s, 2 BB’s, SB

Sam Silas - 1-3, 3 RBI’s, 2 R’s, BB

Lane Talley - 2-3, 2 RBI’s, R

Tanner Potts - 2-4, 2 2B’s, RBI, BB