WEEKEND PREPS: St. James baseball tops Brew Tech

BASEBALL

St. James 13, Brewbaker Tech 3 (5)

J.B. Braswell's three run homer, the first home run St. James has hit in its opening nine games, was the headliner of a seven-run fourth inning which gave the Trojans a 13-3 run-rule victory over the Rams on Saturday.

The Rams scored two runs off starter Carter Carroll in the first inning. A walk, a single, and a wild pitch led to an RBI single by Machari Parker and was followed up by a sacrifice fly by Mike Wilson to make it 2-0. A great defensive double play by third baseman Emmett Rasmussen saved further damage.

St. James loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but failed to score. The Trojans took a lead they would not relinquish with four runs in the bottom of the second. After an infield error and a fielder’s choice which failed to create an out, Clint Houser and Ethan Beard each singled in runs. Tabor Offord then singled in Houser and Offord for a 4-2 lead. 

St. James added two more in the third as Houser doubled in Cole and Caden Anderson.

In the top of the fourth, the Rams cut the lead to 6-3. After a pop out, Carroll gave up a single and two walks before he was replaced by Riley Britton. Britton hit the first batter he faced with the bases loaded to force in a run, then retired five of the next six batters to eventually get credit for the win.

Rams starter Cason Dunlap gave up a single to Offord and a double to Carroll in the bottom of the fourth inning before he was pulled for Jeremiah Elliott, and Braswell immediately greeted him with the three-run homer to increase the lead to 9-3. Saint James would go on to score four more runs, unearned, in the fourth inning to take a 10-run lead and shorten the game.

St. James (7-2) will face Prattville in its opening game of the 30th annual Jason Armstrong FCA Baseball Classic on Wednesday at Riverwalk Stadium.

Catholic 11, Springfield (La.) 1 (5)

The Knights played Springfield for the second straight day and came away with a run-rule victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday at Catholic.

Josh Palmer picked up the win, allowing just two hits while striking out five in four innings of work. At the plate, Palmer went 1 for 2 with a double and scored a run in his first game as a Knight.

Justin Rose pitched the fifth inning, allowing a run on two hits.

Hudson Parrish went 2 for 3 with a home run, scoring two runs and driving in two more. Caleb McCreary went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs and Alex Fleet went 3 for 3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Kam Miller went 1 for 2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI and Jayden Phifer went 1 for 2 and scored a run. 

Catholic 12, Springfield (La.) 5

Kam Miller went 4 for 4, scoring four runs and driving in five to lead the Knights to a 12-5 win over Springfield on Friday at Catholic. 

Miller had a solo home run in the first, singles in the third and fourth innings and a double in the fifth.

The Knights broke open the game in a six-run fourth as Hudson Parrish doubled in a run, Miller singled in a pair of runs and Parks Hickman added an RBI in the inning.

Alex Fleet picked up the win for the Knights, allowing five runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking none in 5.1 innings. At the plate, Fleet went 2 for 2 and drove in a run.  

Gavin Phelan with 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI as well, while Caleb McCreary had a triple for Catholic. 

Jayden Teague took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing five hits and four runs over three innings while striking out five. Tripp Sims led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 2 for 4.

 

SOFTBALL

Pike Road 2, Charles Henderson 1 

TROY -- Christina Juarez picked up the win, beating the host team Trojans 2-1 in a tournament at the Troy Sportsplex on Saturday. Juarez allowed six hits, striking out five and walking one to secure the win. 

At the plate, Kayla Bester tripled and drove in a run, Ameria Anderson doubled and Haley Melton and Mary Hayden Hargrove singled for the Patriots.

For Charles Henderson, Janazia Cantlow and Molly Garrett each hit a double and single. Hannah Sparrow took the loss in the circle, despite striking out six Patriots. 

Pike Road (10-5) plays at LAMP on Tuesday.  

 

Holtville 6, Pike Road 1

TROY -- Haley Melton took the loss in a complete game effort, allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out two and walking two.

Melton was 1 for 2 at the plate and drove in the Patriots’ lone run. Kailen Perdue had the only other hit for Pike Road with a single. Addison Belyeu, Kennedy Cuthbert and Mary Hayden Hargrove each walked once. 

For Holtville, Bailea Boone, Avery Goff and Maddie Emerson each had two hits with Goff driving in three runs. Taylor Price picked up the win in the circle, striking out seven and walking three. 

 

Montgomery Academy 12, W.S. Neal 0

BREWTON -- The Eagles won the T.R. Miller junior varsity tournament on Saturday, tying for first place and being awarded the championship based on runs scored. 

The Eagles defeated Cottage Hill Christian 12-3 in the opening game, lost a 7-6 heartbreaker to T.R. Miller, then bounced back and defeated W.S. Neal 12-0.

Kaci Armistead went 6 for 6 in the tournament with five singles and a double, four RBIs and four runs scored along with eight stolen bases. She also pitched two games and had two wins. 

EG Hines went 5 for 6 with a pair of singles, a pair of doubles, a triple, three runs scored and six RBIs. She pitched one game, taking the loss against T.R. Miller. 

Rehmat Sidhu went 4 for 6 with three singles and a triple, four RBIs and three amazing defensive plays at third base. 

Montgomery Academy improved to 3-1 after going 2-1 in the tournament.

Hueytown 5, Pike Road 4

TROY -- Pike Road had runners on second and third with two outs when game officials called a halt to the game, leaving the Patriots on the short end of a 5-4 loss to Hueytown in a tournament at the Troy Sportsplex on Friday. 

Haley Melton went 2 for 2 with a double and a single, driving in a run to lead the Pike Road offense. Addison Belyeu went 1 for 1, hitting a solo home run and adding a sacrifice fly to drive in a second run. Kailen Perdue also had a solo home run for the Patriots. 

Ansley Olesen suffered her first loss of the season in the circle, allowing four earned runs in the first inning.  

 

Pike Road 9, Pike County 0

TROY -- Haley Melton picked up the win in the circle and drove in three runs at the plate to lead the Patriots to a 9-0 win over the Bulldogs in the opening game of a tournament at the Troy Sportsplex on Friday. 

Melton picked up her fourth win of the year, striking out three in three innings while allowing no hits. At the plate, she had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs. Kailyn Perdue pitched two innings of relief, striking out three while giving up just one hit. 

At the plate, Addison Belyeu had a double and a single, Kennedy Thompson had a double and Kennedy Cuthbert hit her fifth homer. Emmie Sphor, Ameria Anderson, Kayla Bester and Mary Hayden Hargrove added singles for the Patriots.