PREP UPDATE: ACA baseball tops Lee; Brew Tech, Prattville hoops eliminated from state tourney
COMBINED REPORTS
BASEBALL
Alabama Christian 11, Robert E. Lee 1
Landon Nelson pitched four innings of no-hit ball, striking out 10, while going 2 for 3 at the plate with three RBIs to lead the Eagles to an 11-1 win over the 7A Generals at the AUM Baseball Complex on Thursday.
Hayes Hunt went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks and a pair of stolen bases while scoring three runs for ACA (3-2), while Preston Hicks went 2 for 2 with a double and drove in three runs.
Catholic 5, Montgomery Academy 1
Catholic picked up four runs in the first inning and relied on its pitching to hold off the Eagles 4-1 on Wednesday at Catholic.
Parks Hickman went 3 for 3 and drove in three runs to lead the Knights. Adrian White went 2 for 4 and scored a run and Gavin Phelan went 1 for 3, scoring a run and driving in another.
Ware McCollum led Montgomery Academy, going 1 for 3 and driving in the Eagles’ only run in the second inning. Will Hardin, Rick McBride and Walton Norrell had singles for MA.
Prattville 5, Auburn 0
PRATTVILLE -- Andrew Hicks pitched six scoreless innings and Prattville scored three runs in the fifth to break open a tight game and defeat Auburn 5-0 on Tuesday at Roger Lambert Field.
Hicks, a junior, allowed just two hits while striking out four, walking four and hitting one batter with a pitch. Zack Ervie came on in the seventh with runners on first and second and struck out a batter, walked a batter to load the bases, then struck out the final two batters to end the game.
Leading 2-0 in the fifth, the Lions broke open the game in the fifth as Jack Studdard hit a leadoff single, Tanner Vance walked and Clayton Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Studdard scored on a wild pitch and Drew Jolly followed with a single off the left field wall to score Vance and Smith for a 5-0 lead.
Vance scored the game’s first run in the first after getting hit by a pitch, advancing on a groundout and a wild pitch and scoring on Jolly’s sacrifice fly.
Vance added another run in the third after drawing a walk and eventually scoring on a wild pitch.
Prattville improved to 3-2 in winning its home opener, while Auburn dropped to 4-2.
Montgomery Academy 4, Trinity 3
Oscar Fiore drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to score Rick McBride with the game-winning run as the Eagles defeated Trinity 4-3 at Bowen Field on Tuesday.
Trinity had tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh when McBride led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. After Parker Cook was intentionally walked, both runners advanced with a wild pitch and Will Hardin was intentionally walked, bringing Fiore to the plate.
The Eagles got a strong outing from Hardin, who threw four scoreless innings while giving up one hit and striking out five. Ware McCollum pitched the fifth and sixth innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three, before Fiore pitched the seventh, allowing three runs that tied the game.
Montgomery Academy won the game despite managing just five hits. Bray Renfroe, Fiore, McBride, Hardin and Walton Norrell each had a hit.
Prattville 5, Auburn 0
PRATTVILLE -- Andrew Hicks pitched six scoreless innings and Prattville scored three runs in the fifth to break open a tight game and defeat Auburn 5-0 on Tuesday at Roger Lambert Field.
Hicks, a junior, allowed just two hits while striking out four, walking four and hitting one batter with a pitch. Zack Ervie came on in the seventh with runners on first and second and struck out a batter, walked a batter to load the bases, then struck out the final two batters to end the game.
Leading 2-0 in the fifth, the Lions broke open the game in the fifth as Jack Studdard hit a leadoff single, Tanner Vance walked and Clayton Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Studdard scored on a wild pitch and Drew Jolly followed with a single off the left field wall to score Vance and Smith for a 5-0 lead.
Vance scored the game’s first run in the first after getting hit by a pitch, advancing on a groundout and a wild pitch and scoring on Jolly’s sacrifice fly.
Vance added another run in the third after drawing a walk and eventually scoring on a wild pitch.
Prattville improved to 3-2 in winning its home opener, while Auburn dropped to 4-2.
Montgomery Academy 4, Trinity 3
Oscar Fiore drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to score Rick McBride with the game-winning run as the Eagles defeated Trinity 4-3 at Bowen Field on Tuesday.
Trinity had tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh when McBride led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. After Parker Cook was intentionally walked, both runners advanced with a wild pitch and Will Hardin was intentionally walked, bringing Fiore to the plate.
The Eagles got a strong outing from Hardin, who threw four scoreless innings while giving up one hit and striking out five. Ware McCollum pitched the fifth and sixth innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three, before Fiore pitched the seventh, allowing three runs that tied the game.
Montgomery Academy won the game despite managing just five hits. Bray Renfroe, Fiore, McBride, Hardin and Walton Norrell each had a hit.
SOFTBALL
Trinity 9, Dadeville 8
The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Dadeville 9-8 on Thursday at Trinity.
Emma Rose Meldrum and Ava Milton started the seventh inning with singles before Marley Sharpless lined out to second base. Emory Harris walked to load the bases for Madi Milton, who delivered a single to score two runs and tie the game. Kate Knight was then intentionally walked to load the bases before Kayleigh Creel hit a full-count single to right field to score Harris.
Meldrum went 3 for 4, Madi Milton went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Evie Knight went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Wildcat offense.
Sharpless pitched five innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out three. Madi Milton pitched the final two innings, giving up three runs on two hits.
Trinity (6-1) remains home to play Catholic on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
Pike Road 15, Russell County 0
PIKE ROAD -- Christina Juarez had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in five runs to lead the Patriots to a run-rule win over Russell County in the area opener on Thursday.
Haley Melton, Ameria Anderson, Kayla Bester and Kennedy Thompson each had singles.
In the circle, Ansley Olesen picked up her fourth win, striking out three and walking none while allowing just one hit, a single by Russell County first baseman Addison Barrett.
Pike Road (8-3, 1-0 in area play) will participate in a tournament at Charles Henderson on Friday and Saturday, playing Pike County and Houston Academy.
Prattville Christian 8, Tallassee 7
TALLASSEE -- Alivia Messick went the distance in the circle, striking out six, as the Panthers held on for an 8-7 win over the Tigers on Thursday.
Avery Stokes went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Payson Hanson went 2 for 4 and Chloe Hollon went 1 for 4 with 3 RBIs.
PCA (4-3) will play in a tournament in Wetumpka this weekend, with the Panthers’ first game set for 2:45 p.m. on Friday.
Prattville Christian 7, Catholic 2
Brylee Byrd pitched a complete game to lead Prattville Christian to a 7-2 win over Catholic on Wednesday.
Sarah Williams went 2 for 3 with a home run and five RBIs to lead the Panthers. Chloe Hollon was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Saniyah Weaver was 4 for 4 with three runs scored.
BOYS SOCCER
Catholic 2, Alabama Christian 1
Will Besterling had a pair of goals to lead Catholic to a 2-1 victory over Alabama Christian on Thursday at Catholic.
Belsterling was assisted on his goals by Todd Bonnell and Max Barranco.
Goal keeper Harrison Howell preserved the shutout with nine saves.
Catholic remains home to play BTW Magnet on Tuesday.
Trinity 6, St. James 1
Jackson Champion led the Wildcats with a hat trick in a 6-1 win over the Trojans, with two unassisted goals and a goal assisted by Tillman Clements.
Champion returned the favor, assisting Clements on a goal. Lawson Roth and Mac Davis each added a goal, with Andrew Ensminger assisting Davis on his goal.
Trinity (4-4-1) will play Booker T. Washington on Monday.
Montgomery Academy 6, Auburn 1
Lucas Rizzo scored three goals and Win Berry added two as the Eagles defeated Auburn 6-1 in a soccer match at Montgomery Academy on Tuesday.
Berry scored the Eagles’ first goal, followed by a goal from Bobby Eskridge. Rizzo scored his first goal on a penalty kick, assisted Berry on his goal, then scored the team’s final two goals on a free kick and with an assist from Luis Rubio.
Montgomery Academy travels to Russell County next Tuesday for a 6A Area 4 game.
GIRLS SOCCER
Montgomery Academy 1, Auburn 0
Hayes Jenkins scored the game’s only goal with an assist from Mary Elizabeth Cole as the Eagles edged Auburn 1-0 on Tuesday at Montgomery Academy.
GIRLS TENNIS
Montgomery Academy 9, St. James 0
The Eagles swept the singles and doubles matches on Thursday, shutting out the Trojans 9-0 at Lagoon Park Tennis Center.
In singles, No. 1 Gabby Barrera defeated Reilly Taylor 8-1, No. 2 Jenna Chandler shut out Stella Sponseller 8-0, No. 3 Mae Mae Voltz beat Karly Bailey 8-0, No. 4 Kareena Singh defeated Bailey Woods 8-2, No. 5 Marianna Lassner beat Davis Wilsford 8-0 and No. 6 Lillian Cameron edged Raileigh Covert 8-6.
In doubles, the No. 1 team of Barrera-Chandler defeated Bailey-Sponseller 8-0, No. 2 Voltz-Lassner defeated Taylor-Wilsford 8-1 and No. 3 Lola Campbell and Singh shut out Covert-Woods 8-0. Anna Powell and Claire Moore also won their exhibition doubles match for the Eagles.
Montgomery Academy (5-1) will face Trinity at Lagoon Park on Tuesday.
BOYS TENNIS
Brew Tech 4, Carroll 3
The Rams won three of the five singles matches with Carroll on Tuesday to pull out a 4-3 victory.
In singles, No. 2 Devin Harper, No. 4 Trace Cantrell and No. 5 Ethan Walton won their matches.
Carroll won at No. 1 singles with Peter Bates defeating Sean Pouncey and at No. 3 singles as Clark Peterson defeated Tucker Black.
The two teams split their two doubles matches, with the No. 1 team of Bates and Peterson defeating Brew Tech’s Pouncey and Harper, while the No. 2 team of Black and Walton defeated Carroll’s Isaiah Driskell and John Bull.
BOYS GOLF
Montgomery Academy finishes 10th in Wynlakes Invitational
Montgomery Academy placed 10th in the 22-team field at the Wynlakes Invitational, scoring 331 in the first round and 318 in the second.
William Hall was the low medalist for Montgomery Academy, shooting a 76 and a 78 to finish with a two-day total of 154. McRae Foshee was second for the Eagles with a two-day total of 162 (84, 78), followed by Mac Freeman at 165 (82, 83), Breland Burnham at 173 (94, 79) and Thomas Floyd at 178 (89, 89).
GIRLS GOLF
Trinity finishes fifth in season opener
DOTHAN -- The Trinity girls’ golf team opened the season on Monday in the Talons Up Tournament at a very windy Robert Trent Jones’ course in Dothan, finishing fifth in the 16-team tournament.
The Pike Road girls won the tournament, followed by Spain Park, Auburn, Providence Christian and Trinity.
Virginia Anne Holmes led the Trinity girls with two birdies to finish sixth overall.
The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday in the Wynlakes Invitational.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Arab 52, Brew Tech 49
BIRMINGHAM -- Sophomore Maggie Chastain broke a tie with 2.2 seconds remaining on three free throws to give Arab a 52-49 win over Brew Tech in the 5A state semifinals at the Legacy Arena on Wednesday night.
Arab (22-12) will play Pleasant Grove (27-6) for the 5A state championship on Saturday at 9 a.m.
Brew Tech led for most of the first half, building a nine-point lead before Arab cut it to 23-20 at the half, then went in front with an 11-2 run to open the third quarter with the help of 3-pointers from Sydney Ferguson and Chastain.
Brew Tech rallied to tie the game on three occasions in the final 4:03, including Erin Martin’s 3-pointer that tied the game at 49-39 with 8.8 seconds left. Chastain was then fouled on a 3-point attempt, stepped to the line and sank all three free-throw attempts.
Ferguson led Arab with 16 points and six rebounds, followed by Chastain with 15 points on 4 of 4 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Bennett Elrod added 11 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Kenneddi McGhee led Brew Tech with 19 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots, followed by Jillian Baine with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists and Martin with eight points.
Hoover 87, Prattville 39
BIRMINGHAM – Prattville coach Erica DuBois said her Lions were “overly excited”, which was to be expected for a team making its first trip to the BJCC’s Legacy Arena since 1998.
That proved to be a problem as the defending champion Hoover Bucs (34-1), built a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter, push the lead to 29 points at halftime, and earned an 87-39 victory over Prattville (23-5) in Thursday’s Class 7A girls semifinals.
The victory was the 15th in a row for the Bucs and sent them into Saturday’s championship game, the fifth straight season to advance to the title game.
They will face Sparkman for the 7A title.
Reniya Kelly led the Bucs with 18 points and five steals, while Layla Etchison added 16 points, four assists and six steals. Kristen McMillan scored 14 points and Ariana Peagler contributed 13 points.
Hoover forced 24 turnovers, led Prattville in rebounds, 48-30, while also making10 3-pointers.
U’llyriah Lewis led Prattville with nine points, while Keziah Seay added eight.
“I’m proud of these girls,” DuBois said. “We’re young. I’m proud of all they accomplished all year. I feel like we earned it.”