Auburn High School Claims 6A Title with 13-3 Win

May 15, 2009

The Auburn High School Tigers won an impressive victory over Oxford High School to claim the Alabama 6A State Championship. Coach Matt Cimo relied on a soft lefty to keep the Yellow Jacket bats quiet in Game 2 and it worked to perfection. Junior southpaw Andrew Eiland kept Oxford off stride for six innings until his teammates could put it away with their bats. The lefty's fastball would frustrate the Yellow Jacket hitters all day.

Eiland got plenty of help from his teammates at the plate. The Tigers were led by a couple of impressive sophomores - Tanner Cimo and Grant Massey. The two hit every ball hard and found themselves on base most of the afternoon.

The Tigers got out of the gate quickly with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. They would add one in the third, three in the fifth and put the game away in a ten run rule with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. All that remained as the dogpile at home plate.

Mike Good's Cardiac Kids

May 15, 2009

Wow! They have done it all year, but it doesn't help the heart rate of their coaching staff. Mike Good's cardiac kids captured the Alabama 3A State Crown today, but it wasn't easy. It began last night while trailing the Trinity Wildcats 2-6 in the top of the seventh inning. The Madison Academy Mustangs won in their cardiac fashion 7-6 to leave a stunned Trinity crowd wondering what had just happened.

Game 2 started as though the Mustangs would walk away with it and even had a chance to run rule the Trinity High School team with a run in the fourth inning, but came up a little short at 8-1. The Wildcats would not go without a fight and with the aid of a few walks in the top of the sixth inning came roaring back to tie the score at 8-8. Ben Seabrook (MVP) relieved starting pitcher Drew Mobley, who had been dominant until the sixth when he got into trouble with walks, in the sixth inning and shut the Wildcats down in the top of the seventh. The stage was set for another come dramatic finish. With one out and runners at second and third the a SAC fly into right field was all it took to seal the deal and a season the Mustangs won't soon forget.

American Christian Academy Wins 2A Crown
May 14, 2009


Coach Matt Moore's American Christian Patriots came away with an impressive sweep of Lexington High School today. The Patriots threw up 11 runs in five innings to walk away with the coveted "blue trophy". They were led by an impressive sophomore pitcher - Dillon Williams. Williams dominated the Lexington hitters in closing out yesterday's Game 1 and then again in Game 2. His 80-82mph fastball and 62-64mph slurve was just too much for the Lexington hitters. Williams worked both games off spotting his fastball to both sides of the plate, while using his slurve as an out pitch.


Two other young Patriots caught our eye during the series - sophomore Eric Hall (OF) and freshman Landon Fancher (RHP). Both are quality prospects and players to watch closely the next two years to see how they develop. Hall hit in the lead off spot for ACA in both games and showed good pitch selection, while controlling the bat well. He also showed nice speed that translates well in the field and at the plate. Fancher pitched in Game 1 and showed nice mound presence, while locating a 78-80mph fastball. He has a nice pitchers frame and shows some projection in his frame.


Congratulations to the Patriots!

Hartselle at 50-9 Wins Their Seventh State Title
May 14, 2009

With the series now even at 1-1 Hartselle Skipper William Booth went again with a seasoned veteran on the mound in Garrett Turrentine. The large right hander has mastered a change that can buckle the knees. Add an 81-84mph fastball to the mix and 68mph curve ball and he can dominate a team. The big boy did exactly that as the Tigers cruised into their seventh state championship and extended their single season win record to 50 wins.
Briarwood tried to match Turrentine with sophomore Logan Crook. The young sophomore can run his fastball up to 84-85mph, but struggled with his command in this outing and the Hartselle lineup quickly struck for a lead in the top of the second inning that they would never relinquish. Luke Bole sealed the deal with his 20th home run this season to plate 3 more RBI and a 4-0 Hartselle lead.

Coach Lee Hall and the Briarwood Patriots have a lot to be proud of this season. The team never rolled over and made a run in the bottom of the seventh that put the outcome in question for awhile. They were one of two teams to make it to Montgomery in the 5A classification. Few expected them to be here, but they proved they deserved to be here and with the young talent we saw on the field expect to see them back before long.

The Hartselle win brought William Booth's all-time winning record up to 775 wins!

Hartselle Calls on Their G-Man
May 14, 2009

With their back against the wall Hartselle High School's skipper William Booth went to a familiar face their G-Man - Chad Girodo. He knew the Mississippi State signee had what it took to even the Alabama 5A State Championship at 1-1 against an impressive Briarwood Christian High. It was the logical move. Girodo had been tested for three years and can elevate his game. Booth was right. Girodo's bulldog mound presence and competitive spirit is impressive to watch. He can carry a game on his arm and did so in Game 2 today at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.

The Tigers got out of the track fast scoring one in the top of the first and three more in the top of the second to hold a 4-0 lead at the end of two complete innings. It's all Girodo would need. Briarwood would strike for one in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to narrow the Tiger lead to 5-2. Hartselle would strike for two more in the sixth and one in the seventh, before Briarwood threatened with one more in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out the score at 8-3. The Hartselle victory even the series at 1-1 with the championship game to follow. With the win Hartselle High School set a new single season win record at 49 wins.

Report From State Championship Games

Brantley Wins Thriller in Bottom of the Eighth to Capture 1A Title

May 14, 2009

Both of these teams represented their schools and areas well. Both games were close and thrillers. The game at Riverwalk today was highlighted by several highlight reel defensive plays by both teams and come from behind offensive displays. The games was tied 7-7 after seven complete. ABS took the lead off a home run by senior Conner Brown, but it was short lived as Brantley won later in the bottom of the eight to win this year's 1A State Championship.

Both starting pitchers pitched well. ABS starter Jesse Gibson worked out of several jams early and was aided by several nice defensive plays that saved runs. Branley's starter Jerry Walker also pitched well. We also see what the Auburn football staff see's in Brantley's Anthony Gulley. He is quite an athlete and should do well catching footballs for the Tigers in the next few years.

Haleyville Wins 4A Title

May 14, 2009

It took three games, but Haleyville avenged their second place finish last year to win the Alabama 4A Title. I was unable to watch the two games today, but yesterday's game was another thriller. Several promising young players caught our eyes. Thomasville's James Williams (Jr.) pitched well and ran his fast ball up to 82mph with a nice 62mph slider that was very effective against a good hitting Haleyville team.

Haley's starting pitcher Ryan Forester was a warrior. He kept the Thomasville team off balance most of the afternoon. His fastball sat upper 70's and low 80's and he spotted it well to both sides of the plate. He is a bulldog on the hill.

American Christian Takes Game One in 2A Opener

May 14, 2009

American Christian won a hard fought 4-3 opener against a gritty Lexington team. ACA's starter freshman Landon Fauncher pitched well through five innings, but got into some trouble in the sixth. Dillon Williams (soph.) woked ACA out of the jam and closed things out in the seventh inning. Several of ACA's young players caught our eyes including Fauncher and Williams. Shortstop Andy Cooke (Soph.) and outfielder Eric Hall (Soph.) both played well. Reports will be forthcoming on several of these young men.

Bracewell Wins Bulldogs Fight Against Future Teammate Bole

May 14, 2009

Ben Bracewell may well have pitched his best game of the year last night against Hartselle Tigers as he came away with a tough 2-1 win. He held a very good hitting team to only three hits and one earned run. But his future teammate at Mississippi State Luke Bole pitched a one hitter and lost! Both young men should be proud of their performances. They threw well as expected and the 1500-2000 fans enjoyed every pitch.

Briarwood earned their two runs by playing small ball. The Patriots would strike first in the first inning plating one run. They would add another in the fourth inning on a throwing error to third base by Hartselle's catcher. It's all Bracewell would need, but it wasn't without suspense. Hartselle pushed the hard throwing righty in the bottom of the seventh and scored one run, while leaving two on base at the end of the game.

Briarwood definitely won the winners seat, but still have an uphill battle against a strong Hartselle pitching staff. They will have to beat their second Mississippi State LHP in game two tomorrow in Chad Girodo. If Hartselle comes away win a win in game two General Booth has two more righties waiting their chance in Garrett Turrentine and Josh Doyle (Pensacola JC).