SPRING ROUNDUP: STJ, PCA get key wins in softball; MA tops Trinity in tennis Sectional
Tuesday’s prep action included St. James softball (Emily Needham) defeating ACA; PCA softball winning against Catholic and Montgomery Academy tennis (Hamilton Chapman) winning the Class 6A sectional). Eddie Olszewski)
By TIM GAYLE
Both pitchers allowed a minimum of hits, but St. James used some timely hitting from its seniors to edge Alabama Christian 2-0 on Tuesday in a 4A Area 3 battle at Denise Ainsworth Field.
ACA senior Rose Costanza, for the second time in a week, was the unfortunate loser in the circle after her team scored just one run in an area loss to LAMP last week and was shut out by the Trojans on Tuesday.
“She had command of all of her pitches,” ACA coach Chris Goodman said. “She moves it around well, she’s not going to overpower you, but she threw the ball extremely well today. She threw it well against LAMP the other day. We just have to get her some support. You can’t do that and win ballgames, against good teams, and LAMP and St. James are both good teams.”
St. James seventh grader Emily Needham was effective when necessary and stayed away from walks and other miscues that inexperienced pitchers often make on a big stage.
“The pitchers did their job,” St. James coach Mark Hall said, “and I just told (Needham), ‘Emily, you just gave us a chance to win the game by just walking three. In a game like this, hits are going to be few and far between, so you’ve got to capitalize.
The Trojans would manage just four hits off Costanza, but had two in the second inning and two more in the seventh to score their runs. In the second inning, Cam Greene singled to lead off the inning and scored on senior Makenzie Corley’s two-out single to left. In the seventh, Maddox Trumbly singled to lead off the inning and scored on senior Hannah Grace Griggs’ double to left
“That early run obviously gets us out of the gate and breaks the ice,” Hall said, “but that second run was huge. It changes the whole mindset. Being down one and being down two is a big deal in a game like this.
ACA managed just three hits off Needham, but couldn’t find the timely hit. In the fourth, Costanza led off with a single but was forced out on a grounder back to the circle by Hayley Cassidy. Cassidy went to second on Izzy Warrick’s two-out single but both runners were stranded.
The Eagles’ best chance to score came in the fifth when Skylar Crews drew a leadoff walk and a single by Haley Ingram put runners on second and third with one out. Katie Chappell was hit by a pitch that would have loaded the bases for Costanza, but Chappell was brought back to the batter’s box for initiating the contact, a ruling that brought a heated protest from Goodman.
“That was a big call right there and not a good time (for it),” Goodman said. “I just hate to see those calls made in those kinds of times.”
Chappell struck out on the next pitch, Costanza flied out and the Eagles remained scoreless.
“It fell our way tonight,” Hall said. “It could totally not go our way the next time we face them.”
ACA (12-15) dropped to 3-2 in area play and will travel to Lagoon Park on Thursday to play LAMP in another Area 3 game. St. James (16-5) is 2-1 in area play and will face Bullock County in an Area 3 game on Thursday.
BASEBALL
Macon East Academy 13-15, Lakeside School 0-0
EUFAULA -- Macon East clinched the regular-season area championship on Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep of the Chiefs, earning a first-round bye in the upcoming state playoffs.
Macon East (21-8) improved to 5-1 in area play, including a 3-0 record against Lakeside this season.
In the opener, Matthew Kitchens pitched a three hitter while striking out one and walking none in a game shortened to three innings by the mercy rule.
At the plate, Luke Noffsinger had three hits and Gunner Justice drove in four runs to lead the Knights.
In the second game, Kirkland Pugh returned from a knee injury suffered two weeks ago to lead Macon East to a 15-0 win with two innings of no-hit ball, striking out three and walking none.
Tanner Moore had a pair of hits and drove in three runs to lead the Knights at the plate.
Macon East is scheduled to play host to Fort Dale on Monday but drew a bye in the first round of the state playoffs and won’t play again until the second round on April 29-30.
St. James 7, Brewbaker Tech 3
It was senior day at Saint James but several underclassmen powered the Trojans to their 10th consecutive win with a 7-3 victory over the visiting Rams.
Brew Tech scored in the first inning. Justin Allen’s first of two doubles was sandwiched by walks. A wild pitch scored Dawson Corvin with the first run of the game.
Saint James rebounded with three runs in the second without the benefit of a hit. Two hit batsmen and a walk loaded the bases. Shaun Bridges, pinch running, scored the first run on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice which failed to earn an out. Senior Carson Howard knocked in senior Jeffrey Ford for the second run on a sacrifice fly and Ethan Beard scored on a wild pitch for the third run.
The Rams would tie the game in the top of the fifth. After an Ashtun Dean single and a Corvin walk, both runners advanced on a sacrifice and both would score on wild pitches.
Saint James brought in their third pitcher, Reed Mangum, and he earned the win by pitching the last two innings, giving up no hits. The Trojans pushed across four two-out unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth against the Rams’ third pitcher, Cesar Morales. After a line out, senior Zac Russell reached on an error. After a pop out, K.J. Jackson singled in the go-ahead run. Senior Tyson Eley lifted a pop fly double down the right field line and Jackson scored all the way from first. After a Clint Houser walk, Michael Winn drove in the final two runs with a deep double to left field for the victory.
Kevin Taylor was the fifth Trojan senior recognized.
The Trojans finish up their regular season Monday, traveling to Stanhope Elmore in hopes of avenging a tough extra-inning loss in the Jason Armstrong tournament earlier in the spring.
Park Crossing 11-1-1, Sidney Lanier 1-0-0
Deonte Powell pitched a one-hitter while striking out seven as the Thunderbirds defeated Lanier 11-1 on Tuesday.
The Poets forfeited the second game of the area doubleheader and the tiebreaker as well.
D’Alveon English went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks, scored twice and drove in three runs to lead Park Crossing. Jason Tatum went 1 for 3 and drove in a pair of runs as well.
Brandon Jones went 1 for 2 with a double for the Poets’ only hit and scored Lanier’s only run as well.
Robert E. Lee 8, Park Crossing 6
Park Crossing took a 5-0 lead in its area meeting with Robert E. Lee before giving up three runs in the bottom of the sixth in an 8-6 loss on Tuesday.
Mathew Pettway had a pair of hits for the Thunderbirds, while Deonte Powell went 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI and Jason Tatum went 1 for 4, scoring a run and driving in another.
D’Alveon English suffered the loss, allowing 11 hits and eight runs, five earned, in six innings of work.
Danfrenee Bonner went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI to lead the Generals. Davin Clinkscales went 2 for 2 and scored a run, while picking up the win in relief by pitching the final 2.1 innings. Jamichael Bean went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
SOFTBALL
Prattville Christian Academy 7, Catholic 0
Landyn McAnnally allowed just one hit over six innings while striking out eight to give Prattville Christian a 7-0 win and the 3A Area 6 regular-season championship on Tuesday at Catholic.
The win guaranteed the Panthers (19-6) a berth in the regional tournament in Tuscaloosa on May 14-15. PCA will host the three-team Area 6 tournament, tentatively set for May 4, and will play the Trinity-Catholic winner for the area tournament title. Both the champion and runner-up advance to the regionals.
McAnnally pitched the first six innings before giving way to fellow senior Riley Sweeney, who pitched the seventh.
Sally Swindall had a three-run home run to lead the PCA offense. Sarah Williams went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Jersee Carter went 2 for 4, Arielle Williams went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Chloe Hollon went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
PCA returns to action this weekend in a tournament in Andalusia.
GIRLS SOCCER
Montgomery Academy 3, St. James 0
Montgomery Academy claimed the number one seed in 4A-5A Area 4 and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a convincing 3-0 victory against St. James on Tuesday at Montgomery Academy.
The first half was one-way traffic in favor of MA, but St. James goal keeper Katie Irving preserved the shutout with save after save for the Trojans.
The second half started in similar fashion, but the Eagles broke the scoreless tie with a penalty kick by Leighton Robertson two minutes in. Not long after the first goal, Kaitlin Phenix made a fantastic run and played the ball to Hayes Jenkins who made no mistake in putting the ball in. Robertson finished off the scoring with a great header off a Alex Budny corner kick.
“A great performance again from our girls against a tough area opponent,” MA coach Joe White said. “With a few injuries in defense, we asked a few players to carry out roles for the first time this season and they did the job to perfection back there. Limiting a top team like Saint James to zero shots on goal shows the work we put in defensively. I’m delighted to win our area and excited to finish off our regular season before playoffs.”
BOYS SOCCER
Trinity 4, Providence Christian 0
Jackson Champion scored a pair of goals and Jake Hufham had a pair of assists as the Wildcats shut out Providence Christian 4-0 on Tuesday.
Grayden Flowers scored the game’s first goal on an assist from Hufham and Josh Hixon scored the second with an assist by Browder Gulledge. Champion scored the game’s final two goals, the first on an assist by Hufham.
Prattville Christian 14, Autaugaville 1
AUTAUGAVILLE -- Matthew Lisle led the Panthers with three goals and an assist as PCA coasted by Autaugaville 14-1 on Tuesday.
Trey Barkley and Cohen Palmore each scored three goals, while Jake Davis had three assists.
Jacob Hollon, Wade Pratt and Adam Ouellet each added a goal and an assist. Andrew Ouellet and Liam Taylor each scored a goal.
PCA (6-5) remains undefeated in region play and will host Thomasville on Thursday in another region game.
BOYS TENNIS
Class 6A Section 2 Boys Tennis Tournament
Montgomery Academy edged Trinity 32-31 to capture the Class 6A Section 2 boys championship at O’Connor Tennis Center on Tuesday.
Both teams reached the finals of the five-team section tournament intact to advance to the state tournament at the Mobile Tennis Center next weekend.
At No. 1 singles, Montgomery Academy’s Hamilton Chapman defeated Trinity’s Thomas Treadwell 6-3 in the first match before Treadwell was forced to retire with an injury.
At No. 2, Trinity’s Timothy Hornsby defeated Montgomery Academy’s Whit Davis 0-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-3.
At No. 3, Montgomery Academy’s Guy Hughes defeated Trinity’s Luke Franklin 6-1, 6-1.
At No. 4, Montgomery Academy’s John Alford defeated Trinity’s Samuel Treadwell 6-3, 6-1.
At No. 5,, Trinity’s James Treadwell defeated Montgomery Academy’s Charlie Hill 6-2, 6-3.
At No. 6, Montgomery Academy’s Jackson Brown defeated Trinity’s Jon Paul Tankersley 6-0, 6-1.
While the Eagles won four of the singles’ finals, the Wildcats won two of the three doubles matches on Tuesday.
At No. 1 doubles, Thomas Treasdwell and Hornsby defeated Chapman and Davis 6-3, 6-4.
At No. 2, Samuel Treadwell and James Treadwell defeated Hughes and Gaines Freeman 6-2, 2-6, 10-3.
At No. 3, Alford and Brown defeated Franklin and Matthew Satcher 1-6, 6-1, 11-9.
Trinity reached the finals in singles by beating five Opelika players and one from Eufaula, while all three doubles teams won with semifinal wins over Opelika.