FCA TOURNEY: Trinity tames Providence Christian; Lee, Tallassee gain victories
Ben Easterling did not give up an earned run and struck out seven in Trinity’s win over ACA in the 29th Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Cassic at Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday. (Tim Gayle)
COMBINED REPORTS
Every spring, Trinity has a spring play that features many of the school’s top male and female athletes.
On Thursday, the Wildcats were forced to take the field for the 29th annual FCA Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Tournament against Providence Christian without four players.
No problem. Ben Easterling struck out seven and held the Eagles without an earned run in an 8-1 win by the Wildcats at Riverwalk Stadium.
“We had some guys missing, but we had some (other) guys come up today and our guys believed in each other and that’s what it’s all about,” Trinity coach Jarrod Cook said. “Our guys just went out there and played loose, they played with confidence, they played with a toughness that we have been talking about, regardless of who’s on the field or who we’re playing.”
It was the top of the batting order that delivered late for the Wildcats as Trinity scored a run in the third, added two more in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie, then scored five in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Grayson Ashe went 3 for 4 with a double and a triple to drive in three runs, Easterling added a two-run single and David Michael Lieux reached base twice and scored twice.
But it was Easterling’s performance on the mound that set the tone as he allowed just an unearned run in the fifth and four singles throughout the game. He only ran into trouble once, getting help from his defense in the second inning after giving up a walk and consecutive singles by Chance Smith and CJ Sullivan. Sullivan’s single to left resulted in a strong throw from Lieux to Ashe at the plate and the Trinity catcher tagged out Win Brock to leave the game scoreless.
“You’re always going to have teams that play better when they know the guy up there is going to throw strikes,” Cook said. “He’s going to get after it and he’s going to give them his best effort.”
But Cook saved some of his highest praise for Brady Rascoll, forced into a starting role after an injury to starting shortstop Fleming Hall, and junior varsity second baseman Wilson Albrecht, forced into a starting role with the absence of Simmons Byrd.
“Our starting shortstop rolled his ankle in practice and he’s down,” Cook said. “Then our shortstop tonight slides into second and rolls his ankle. Brady was huge for us tonight. He had a big hit and laid down a big bunt for us. He grew up tonight. He got tougher and played through some adversity and a little bit of pain and it was good for him.”
Trinity improved to 5-0 with the win and impressed their first-year coach after putting together a solid performance against Providence Christian.
“Casey (Smith) does an unbelievable job with those guys,” Cook said. “They’re always scrappy, they’re always coached well, they always do the little things right, the epitome of a well established program. It’s a big win for us in terms of our guys feeling like they belong.”
Both teams resume play in the tournament on Friday. Trinity will play Chilton County at 2 p.m., while Providence Christian will play Wilson High at Riverwalk Stadium at 11 a.m., then wrap up play in the Armstrong Tournament against Prattville Christian at Paterson Field at 4 p.m.
R.E. Lee 4, Brew Tech 1
Starting pitcher Jerold Bonner went the distance, scattering six hits and striking out 11 to help the Generals earn their first win in the 29th annual FCA Jason Armstrong Memorial Tournament at Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday.
Lee (5-4) scored two runs in the first with Bonner driving in a run and TJ Lambert scoring on a bases-loaded walk to James Sanders. Later the Generals added a run on a sacrifice fly by Javeon Vansandt. Bonner also added a run on a ground out.
Brew Tech got three hits from Macahei Washington including a double and two singles. JuQuon Robinson drove in the lone run for the Rams, who return to tourney action Saturday against Prattville Christian at Paterson Field. Lee will travel to Opelika on Saturday.
Tallassee 3, Alabama Christian 1
Jackson Rhodes pitched a compete game to lead the Tigers to the win over the Eagles at Riverwalk Stadium on Thursday.
Clayton Gough had an RBI singe and finished with two hits while Mason Stewart drove in a run with a single for the Tigers. Rhodes gave up two hits and struck out six. He also had two hits.
Thomas Stovall tallied the one run for ACA, scoring on Trey Schlemmer’s sac fly. Hayes Hunt pitched a complete game, striking out four but took the loss.
ACA will play again Friday at Riverwalk Stadium against Chilton County.
Catholic 7, Tallassee 4 (Wed.)
Bordy Hudson went 2 for 3 with a pair of stolen bases, Patrick Ryan went 2 for 4 and drove in a run and Alex Wieser went 1 for 4 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Knights to a 7-4 win over the 5A Tigers in the 29th FCA Jason Armstrong Memorial Baseball Tournament at Paterson Field on Wednesday.
Alex Fleet allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out two in four innings of work to pick up the win, while Hudson Parish earned a save by pitching the final three innings, allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out four.
Catholic returns to action in the tournament on Friday at 2 p.m. against Wilson High at Riverwalk Stadium.
Wednesday scores
Riverwalk Stadium
G.W. Carver 9, Jeff Davis 1 (4 inn)
Elmore County 11, Montgomery Academy 2 (6 inn)
Greenville 8, Robert E. Lee 6 (6 inn)
Paterson Field
Catholic 7, Tallassee 4
LAMP 11, Luverne 1
Thursday scores
Riverwalk Stadium
Robert E. Lee 4, Brew Tech 1
Tallassee 3, Alabama Christian Academy 1
Trinity 8, Providence Christian 1
Paterson Field
Prattville Christian Academy vs. Straughn
St. James 5, Wilson 3
Friday schedule
Riverwalk Stadium
11 a.m.: Providence Christian vs. Wilson
2 p.m.: Wilson vs. Catholic
4 p.m.: Park Crossing vs. Montgomery Academy
6 p.m.: Chilton County vs. Alabama Christian Academy
Paterson Field
2 p.m.: Chilton County vs. Trinity
4 p.m.: Providence Christian vs. Prattville Christian
6 p.m.: Elmore County vs. Luverne
Saturday schedule
Riverwalk Stadium
10 a.m.: Prattville Christian vs. Brew Tech
12 p.m.: Catholic vs. LAMP
2 p.m.: Straughn vs. St. James
Paterson Field
10 a.m.: Alabama Christian vs. Wilson
12 p.m.: Park Crossing vs. Jeff Davis
Monday, March 7
Riverwalk Stadium
4 p.m.: Pike Road vs. Trinity
6 p.m.: Luverne vs. St. James
Paterson Field
4 p.m.: Greenville vs. Montgomery Academy
6 p.m.: LAMP vs. Brew Tech
Tuesday, March 8
Riverwalk Stadium
4 p.m.: Elmore County vs. Trinity
6 p.m.: Pike Road vs. St. James
Paterson Field
4 p.m.: Catholic vs. Alabama Christian Academy