PREP UPDATE: Brew Tech wins Capital City Bash; Autaugaville eliminated from 1A basketball finals
Brewbaker Tech won the J.D. Capital City Bash this past weekend at Lagoon Park. (Contributed)
COMBINED REPORTS
The Brew Tech Lady Rams dominated competition in the second annual J.D. Capital City Bash, outscoring six opponents 67-3 and finishing undefeated at Lagoon Park on Friday and Saturday.
For the tournament, Gabbie York went 7 of 15 with five RBIs, a pair of home runs, a pair of doubles and 10 runs scored; Grace Hunter went 6 of 17 with a triple, eight RBIs and a pair of stolen bases; Taniyah Brown went 4 of 11 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs; Khamiyah Brown went 7 of 14 with a home run, a triple and 14 RBIs; Kyra Wallace went 3 of 8 with five walks and five runs scored; and Kaymarria Bandy went 8 of 14 with a double, three RBIs and eight runs scored.
In the circle, Taniyah Brown allowed just four hits and no runs in nine innings while striking out 16, Kyra Wallace surrendered just one run and four hits while striking out nine in six innings pitched and Peyton Garrett gave up just two hits and a pair of unearned runs in four innings pitched.
Brew Tech opened the tournament with a 12-1 win over Russell County. Freshman Kyra Wallace picked up her second win of the season after allowing only one run on two hits while striking out five in three innings of work.
Offensively, the Lady Rams picked up only five hits but took advantage of eight walks and a hit by pitch. Sophomore Jaquayla Jarrett went 1 for 1 with a run scored, two RBIs and a walk. Grace Hunter and Jaila Griffin also had big days at the plate, both recording a hit and combining for 5 RBIs.
The Lady Rams continued their winning ways with a 5-0 win over Stanhope Elmore as Taniyah Brown picked up her sixth win of the season with a two-hitter while striking out six in five innings.
Senior Grace Hunter and freshman Kyra Wallace led the way at the plate with Hunter going 3 for 3 with three runs scored, an RBI and a triple and Wallace going 1 for 3 but picking up three RBIs. Eighth grader Kaymarria Bandy also picked up multiple hits, going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
In the final game of pool play, Brew Tech defeated Park Crossing 14-2. Peyton Garrett picked up her first win of the season in the circle, going four innings while allowing two runs on two hits and walking one. Offensively, a 10-run third inning was the difference as Taniyah Brown went 1 for 2 with two RBIs and Bandy went 3 for 3, scoring three times and driving in a run.
The Rams would face the Thunderbirds again, this time in the quarterfinals of bracket play on Saturday, for a 15-0 win. Kyra Wallace picked up her third win of the season in the circle, throwing three innings of two-hit shutout ball while striking out four. Senior Gabbie York went 2 for 2 with a home run, scoring three runs and driving in three more. Senior Khamiyah Brown went 1 for 2 with a home run, scoring once and driving in four runs. Peyton Garrett went 1 for 1 with two RBIs and a walk.
In the semifinals, Taniyah Brown picked up win number seven on the season with a 9-0 win over Maplesville, allowing just one hit while striking out six. Jaquayla Jarrett went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two stolen bases and Taniyah Brown went 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Khamiyah Brown also went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Brew Tech captured their second straight Capital City Bash championship with its third win over Stanhope Elmore in a week with a 12-0 win over the Mustangs. Taniyah Brown picked up win number eight on the season, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Gabbie York went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, Khamiyah Brown was 3 for 3 with an RBI, Taniyah Brown went 1 for 3 with a solo home run and Kyra Wallace went 1 for 1 with a pair of RBIs.
BASEBALL
Montgomery Academy 4, LAMP 2
Ware McCollum, Oscar Fiore and Beau Smith conbined to scatter four hits as the Eagles defeated LAMP 4-2 on Friday.
McCollum started and pitched three innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking one. Fiore pitched into the seventh, allowing one hit and one unearned run while walking two and striking out five. Smith recorded the final out with a strikeout.
Bray Renfroe led the Eagles with an RBI and a single, going 1 for 3, while McCollum went 1 for 3 and scored a run. Tom Main scored a pair of runs and Parker Cook scored a run.
Montgomery Academy (2-0) will play host to Trinity on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Bowen Field.
SOFTBALL
Macon East Academy 8, Lowndes Academy 0
LOWNDESBORO -- Casey Stengell threw a no-hitter to lead the Knights to an 8-0 win over Lowndes Academy on Monday afternoon. Stengell pitched a complete game, striking out seven and walking one.
Macon East broke open the game with six runs in the third inning, using singles by Stengell, Kylee Smith and Jamya Powell, along with a double by Jadah Powell. Macon East had 11 hits in the win, led by Miya Tatum and Smith with three hits each.
Alice Murchinson took the loss for the Rebels, allowing five hits and six runs over three innings while striking out two and walking one. Harley Hooper pitched 2.2 innings, followed by Ava Casey with the final 1.1 innings.
Macon East travels to Edgewood Academy on Tuesday.
Trinity 9 Highland Home 5
Marley Sharpless and Ava Milton each went 3 for 4 with three RBIs to lead a 14-hit attack as the Wildcats won their home opener in a 9-5 win over the Flying Squadron on Monday.
Milton had a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Wildcats some insurance going into the last inning.
Madi Milton and Evie Knight also went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
In the circle, Madi Milton (4-0) pitched a complete game, surrendering five runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts.
Trinity (5-1) remains home to play Greenville on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Valley 12, Trinity 5
GREENVILLE -- Kate Knight, Evie Knight and Madi Milton each had a hit as Trinity was eliminated by Valley in the semifinals of the Lady Tigers Softball Bash Tournament on Saturday.
Kate Knight led the team with two RBIs. Marley Sharpless struck out three batters in the game.
Trinity 7, Greenville 4
GREENVILLE -- The Lady Wildcats scored seven runs on eight hits to defeat the Greenville Tigers in the bracket play quarterfinals in the Lady Tigers Softball Bash Tournament on Saturday.
The Wildcats were led at the plate by Marley Sharpless, Emma Rose Meldrum and Evie Knight who each were 2 for 3. Meldrum had three RBIs and scored twice.
In the circle, Madi Milton gave up four earned runs on seven hits while striking out three batters for Trinity (4-0).
Trinity 10, Excel 7
GREENVILLE -- The Lady Wildcats finished pool play undefeated in the Lady Tigers Softball Bash Tournament on Saturday morning, pounding out 10 runs on 10 hits to beat Excel 10-7 on Saturday morning.
Marley Sharpless, Emory Harris, Ava Milton and Emma Rose Meldrum each went 2 for 3. Ava Milton and Meldrum homered in the game and had three RBIs each.
Madi Milton picked up the win giving up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout for Trinity (3-0).
Trinity 17, Carver 0
GREENVILLE -- The Lady Wildcats picked up 17 runs on seven hits to hand the Wolverines a run-rule defeat in the Lady Tigers Softball Bash Tournament on Friday.
Evie Knight led the Wildcats at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Emma Rose Meldrum added a double, while Marley Sharpless and Ava Milton each had a triple.
In the circle, Marley Sharpless gave up two hits and struck out four Wolverines to pick up her first win of the season for Trinity (2-0).
Trinity 11, Carroll 2
GREENVILLE -- Evie Knight, Emma Rose Meldrum, Ava Milton and Marley Sharpless each went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead Trinity to a season-opening win over Carroll in the Lady Tigers Softball Bash Tournament on Friday.
Meldrum and Milton each had three RBIs and Sharpless had 2 RBIs.
Madi Milton picked up her first win in the circle, giving up one earned run on two hits while striking out 2.
GIRLS SOCCER
St. James 10, Brew Tech 0
The Trojans opened the 2023 season with a 10-0 win over Brew Tech at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex on Monday night.
Addison Barber opened her career with the first goal of the season and then added a second later in the game along with one assist.
Katie Brightwell scored four goals and had two assists. Kendal Wright scored two goals and Mary Grace Hixon added a goal and three assists.
Ragan King began her St. James’ soccer career with a goal and an assist along with two assists by Natalie Barton. Hilda Elofsson added an assist.
The shutout was preserved by goalkeeper Katie Irving along with sisters Hannah and Hope McCain in the middle of the defense.
St. James (1-0) travels to Tuscaloosa to play Tuscaloosa Academy on Friday at 5 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
MA girls finish third, boys fifth in Opelika Invitational
OPELIKA -- Montgomery Academy kicked off the outdoor track and field season on Friday at the Opelika Invitational, with the girls placing third and the boys finishing fifth.
The girls team was led by eighth grader Elle Ingram, who won the 800-meter and 1600-meter and was a leg in the second-place 4x800-meter relay team along with Elizabeth Ray, Susannah Miller and Megan Link.
Isabella Johnson placed second in both discus and shot put.
For the MA boys, Grant Casey won the 3200-meter run, while Eli Jernigan was third in the 400-meter run and was a leg on the third-place 4x100-meter relay team along with Mac Benefield, Jack Garrett and Chance Wilson.
Other podium finishers were pole vaulters Jack Garrett and Knox Wingate, who tied for third.
Montgomery Academy returns home to host the first of three “Monday MAdness” meets on March 6.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Oakwood Academy 52, Autaugaville 44
BIRMINGHAM -- Oakwood Academy made the most of its first trip to the state tournament, turning back a cold-shooting Autaugaville 52-44 in the Class 1A semifinals at Legacy Arena on Monday.
“It's a feeling that is really indescribable,” Oakwood coach Melvin Allen said. “I had chills and was almost in tears walking out on the court because this day is a reality for our student athletes and our student body.”
Autaugaville ends the season at 20-7 after reaching the state tournament for the third consecutive season, a first for the school’s basketball team.
Oakwood (27-8) will play Covenant Christian (30-3) om Thursday at 5:45 p.m. for the 1A championship.
Four of Autaugaville’s first five shots were missed 3-pointers, yet the Eagles held a 12-7 lead six minutes into the game. An 11-2 run by Oakwood in the second quarter and another 11-2 run to open the second half gave them a seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
“The defense wasn’t quite where we needed it to be when we started but we were able to tighten up a little and make a few shots,” Autaugaville coach Darren Golson said. “We got the shots that we wanted, it just wasn't falling. We missed two or three in a row. It was a tough night. It was a tough shooting atmosphere.”
The Eagles made a late rally, trimming the deficit to 44-41 on a Nashaun Palmer basket with 1:33 remaining, but the Mustangs made free throws down the stretch to secure the game. Autaugaville standout Jaden Nixon fouled out with 2:08 remaining, the first time he had fouled out in his Autaugaville career.
“Nixon was a person that we’ve been discussing all week,” Allen said. “He is a great athlete. When we found that he was getting in foul trouble, we certainly went after him, hopefully to slow him down, possibly even to get him into foul trouble to foul out.”
Nixon hit just 7 of 27 shots and 3 of 16 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds but missing the final rally by the Eagles.
“Well, it changes everything,” Golson said. “He’s an engine, guys look up to him, he plays really hard. He’s strong on offense and has great defense.”
Jonathan Walden led Oakwood with 14 points, followed by David Still with 12 and Camden Edwards with 10.