7A No. 5 vestavia hills (9) VS. 5A No. 6 Madison academy (0)

MADISON, AL - The Vestavia Hills Rebels traveled to Madison on Saturday, March 20 to play Madison Academy and James Clemens on Saturday. In the Rebels opening game of the day RHP Carter Tyus (2021, Birmingham Southern College) got the call on the mound as he was pitted against RHP Brandon Yeager (2022) for the Mustangs. Both guys delivered solid outings as it was a 1-0 game through 4 innings of play. Tyus eventually took control of the game and was able to deliver a complete game shutout for the Rebels, allowing 4 hits while striking out 6 and not allowing a walk or run.

Vestavia Hills was able to take a 1-0 lead in the 2^nd inning when Christopher Johnston (2023) drew a lead off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Newman (2021) and eventually scored on a single by DH Connor Witherington (2022). The score remained the same until the 5^th inning when Braden Glenn (2021) led off the inning with a homerun over the left field fence to stretch the Rebel lead to 2-0. The Rebels would add 4 more runs in the inning to take control of the game 6-0. Grayson Dobbins (2021) singled and Joseph Sullivan (2021, University of South Alabama) walked when Jackson Harris (2023) sacrificed bunted them over and reached on error himself. Dobbins and Sullivan scored on an error and Hudson Walburn doubled down the left field line to score Harris for the fifth run. Johnston again reached base, this time on a fielder’s choice, and came around to score on Newman’s RBI single to make the score 6-0. Sullivan delivered a two out single in the 6^th and came around to score a few batters later to make the lead 7-0 headed to the 7^th inning. The Rebels added the last two runs in top half of the seventh for the final 9-0 margin. Duncan Tapscott (2022) led off the inning with a single and later scored on a wild pitch while Gunter Walburn (2021) reached on an error and later scored in the inning.

James Clemens defeated Vestavia Hills in game 2 of the day by a score of 10-1 while Madison Academy got in the win column on Saturday with a 10-1 victory over the Jets.  

 

Top Performers - Vestavia Hills

Carter Tyus - 7 IP (W), 4 hits, 0 runs, 6 K, 0 BB

Joseph Sullivan - 1-3, 1 BB, 2 runs scored, 1 SB

Jackson Harris - 1-1, 2 BB, 1 Sac bunt

Hudson Walburn - 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Jacob Newman - 1-2, 1 RBI

Connor Witherington - 1-3, 1 RBI

Braden Glenn - 1-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Grayson Dobbins - 1-2, 1 run

 

Top Performers - Madison Academy

Avery Seaton - 1-3

Jackson Hirschler - 1-2

James Slaughter - 1-3

Blake Helton - 1-3

1A NO. 1 lindsay lane (1) VS. 2A No. 1 decatur heritage (0)

MADISON, AL - In a game billed as a pitcher’s duel between 1A No. 1 Lindsay Lane Christian and 2A No. 1 Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, it was everything it was supposed to be as the Lions pulled off a 1-0, 9 inning controversial win. Lindsay Lane sent LHP Ray Anderson (2023) while the Eagles countered with RHP Cole O’Brien (2022). Both pitchers were dynamic and both pitched well enough to win but neither factored into the decision as both reached their pitch count limit. Anderson simply filled the zone up with multiple pitches and was very efficient over his 6 2/3 inning stint. The southpaw scattered six hits , struck out 11 hitters while walking 2 and not giving up a run. O’Brien matched Anderson pitch for pitch as he showcased a live fastball and really mixed in a power breaking ball in any count to keep the Lion hitters off balance. O’Brien went 5 1/3 innings and only allowed 1 hit. He did not give up a run, walked 3 and struck out 7 hitters.

 As mentioned, both pitchers were in complete control throughout and both teams had small chances to score at different times throughout but there was never a golden opportunity for either side to score. After both starters left the game, both teams went to their respective bullpens and both relievers continued the pitching dominance. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth inning as Sam Hogue (2021) singled with 1 out and later stole 2^nd base with 2 outs, which set the stage for the intriguing finish. Alex Cook (2024) swung at the first pitch he saw a delivered a single to left field and Hogue rounded 3B headed to the plate as LF Maddux Terry (2021) threw a strike to the plate well ahead of Hogue but the game ended with Hogue being called safe after a collision, and controversial finish.   

Lindsay Lane lost their second game of the day by a score of 8-3 to East Lawrence while Decatur Heritage beat East Lawrence earlier in the day by a score of 10-0.

Top Performers - Lindsay Lane

Ray Anderson - 6.2 IP, 6 hits, 0 runs, 11 K, 2 BB

Seth Mitchell - 2.1 IP (W), 3 hits, 0 runs, 3 K, 0 BB

Alex Cook - 1-4, 1 RBI

Sam Hogue - 1-4, 1 run scored

 

Top Performers - Decatur Heritage

Cole O'Brien - 5.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 7 K, 3 BB

Tyler Craft - 3.1 IP (L), 3 hits, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB

Charlie Moores - 2-3, 2 2B, 1 BB