PREP UPDATE: St. James baseball sweeps ACA in area play; MA boys tennis beats Auburn
COMBINED REPORTS
BASEBALL
St. James 9-12, Alabama Christian 0-3
St. James finished off a three-game series sweep of Alabama Christian on Friday and got back in the playoff picture with a 9-0 and 12-3 sweep at home on Friday.
The Trojans’ sweep of the series lifted them into a first-place tie with Prattville Christian at 3-1, followed by Montgomery Academy at 2-2 and Alabama Christian at 0-4. The Trojans must win two of the three games against Prattville Christian on Thursday and Friday to ensure themselves of a playoff berth.
In the first game on Friday, Tabor Offord and Tucker Byrd combined on a five-hit shutout of the Eagles. Offord pitched the first six innings with Byrd wrapping up the game.
The Trojans scored three runs in the bottom of the second. Dawson Knowles reached on an infield error. After a strikeout, Wils Johnson doubled him to third and both were driven in on a Connor Johnston single. He would later score on a Cole Anderson sacrifice fly.
St. James added single runs in the fourth as Benton Offord singled in Wils Johnson and in the fifth as Tabor Offord's courtesy runner Jimmy Dickens scored on a perfect squeeze play executed by Knowles.
The Trojans added four runs in the sixth. Clint Houser doubled in Benton Offord and later scored on a balk. Charlie Cutler and Braylen Corley also had RBI hits to clinch the area series.
The loss by ACA, coupled with Thursday’s 12-4 loss, eliminated the Eagles from playoff consideration.
In Game 2, St. James sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring six runs all on only two hits and none before the ninth batter. Connor Johnson and Cole Anderson had RBI singles. St. James added a run in the second on a Dalton Nickles single and a Braylen Corley double.
Alabama Christian added a run in the top of the third on an RBI double by Zander Constanza, but the Trojans added two runs in the bottom of the third on consecutive doubles by Taylor Offord and Charlie Cutler to to increase the lead to 9-3.
The Trojans scored three runs in the sixth on a Corley sacrifice fly and a two-run single by Wils Johnson.
St. James (16-7) will play at Pike Road on Monday and then will host Prattville Christian on Thursday to begin the final area series of the season.
Montgomery Academy 10-1, Prattville Christian 9-4
Montgomery Academy evened its 3A Area 6 series with Prattville Christian in walkoff fashion at Bowman Field on Friday, scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh on a throwing error to the plate.
Prattville Christian won the second game of Friday’s doubleheader 4-1 to use as a tiebreaker should the two teams finish tied in the area standings at the end of the regular season. Prattville and St. James are both 3-1, followed by Montgomery Academy at 2-2 and Alabama Christian at 0-4 heading into the final area series next week.
In Friday’s game, PCA scored two runs in the second inning and another in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Eagles answered with two runs in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI double by Rick McBride and an RBI single by John Allen Jones.
After PCA scored a run in the fourth, the Eagles tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth with a two-run double by McBride before a throwing error led to another run and a 5-4 lead.
PCA went back on top with two runs in the fifth before Oscar Fiore’s RBI double tied the game again.
Montgomery Academy took a 9-7 lead in the sixth with an RBI single by Luke Jones, before Will Hardin was hit by a bases-loaded pitch and Fiore followed with an RBI double.
After PCA scored two runs to tie the game at 9-9, the Eagles loaded the bases and Luke Jones hit a hard ground ball to second, scoring Rick McBride from third on a throwing error.
McBride went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, John Allen Jones went 1 for 3 with two RBIs, Luke Jones drove in a pair of runs, Hardin went 1 for 2 with an RBI and Fiore went 3 for 3 with two RBIs
Fiore pitched the first four innings, allowing five hits and five runs, four earned, while striking out six. Hardin pitched the final three innings, picking up the win after allowing eight hits and four runs, three earned, with a strikeout.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Montgomery Academy managed just one run on four hits. Luke Jones had two hits, while John Allen Jones and Reid McBride each had a hit.
Reid McBride pitched 3.2 innings of no-hit ball but was tagged with three earned runs after Luke Jones gave up three hits and a run in 0.2 innings of relief. Andrew Hosein pitched the final 2.2 innings of no-hit ball, striking out four.
Montgomery Academy (10-11) will travel to Catholic on Monday before playing Alabama Christian in its final area series on Thursday and Friday.
SOFTBALL
Pike Road 10, Alabama Christian 5
PIKE ROAD -- Pike Road won the opening game in pool play in the Pike Road Tournament on Friday, defeating the Eagles 10-5 at the Pike Road recreational complex on Trotman Road.
Haley Melton went the distance for the Patriots, earning the win and getting two hits at the plate. She allowed six hits and two earned runs, striking out four and walking two.
Ameria Anderson went 3 for 3 with a triple and three runs scored to lead the Patriot offense. Kennedy Cuthbert and Ava Milton each had two hits, with Cuthbert hitting a triple in one of her at-bats. Kasyn Wilson doubled and Anna Williams singled.
Pike Road 10, Catholic 2
PIKE ROAD -- Pike Road won its final game in pool play in the Pike Road Tournament, defeating the Knights 10-2 on Friday night at the Pike Road recreational complex on Trotman Road.
Pike Road’s Anna Williams went the distance in the circle, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking three.
Ameria Anderson had three hits, including a double, and three RBIs to lead the Patriot offense. Addison Belyeu had three hits, including a triple, and three RBIs. Kennedy Cuthbert, Kennedy Thompson, Kasyn Wilson, and Mary Hayden Hargrove each had a single.
Prattville Christian 16, Dallas County 0
PRATTVILLE -- Laura Beth NeSmith and Kandice Crosby combined for a no hitter as the Panthers remained unbeaten in 4A Area 5 play with a 16-0 win over Dallas County in a Friday game limited to three innings by the mercy rule.
Chloe Hollon had a three-run home run and Peyton Thrash hit a home run and drove in three runs to lead Prattville Christian at the plate. Saniyah Weaver went 2 for 2 with two RBIs, Paysley Bayer went 2 for 2 with one RBI and Crosby added a two-run double in the win as the Panthers improved to 4-0 in area play.
PCA (11-3) will travel to Millbrook to play Stanhope Elmore on Tuesday.
St. James 5, Brew Tech 0
Emily Needham threw a complete-game no hitter to lead the Trojans over the Rams 5-0 on Thursday.
Needham walked six and struck out 10 to hold the Rams in check. St. James scored three runs in the third and two more in the seventh to secure the win.
At the plate, Kaitlin Hudson went 2 for 4 and scored a pair of runs and Ava Stanford went 1 for 4, scored twice and drove in a run. Sydney Johnston and Tat Shuford each had two RBIs as well.
St. James (20-1) will play host to Alabama Christian on Monday in an Area 6 matchup.
Alabama Christian 11, Trinity 5
Lily Sconyers went 2 for 4, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs and Maddie Traywick went 2 for 5 with a double, scored twice and drove in a run as the Eagles won a huge 3A Area 6 matchup at Trinity on Thursday.
With the win, ACA won back-to-back games for the first time this season and improved to 1-1 in Area 6 play, trailing only St. James (3-0). Trinity dropped to 1-2 in area play ahead of Montgomery Academy (0-2).
Campbell Hammett went 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs, Anna Gleason went 2 for 4, scored twice and drove in a run and Chloe Childs went 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Izzy Warrick pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and five runs, three earned, in seven innings while walking one and striking out nine.
Micaiah Shelton went 3 for 4 with a triple and a home run, scoring three runs and driving in three more for the Wildcats. Marly Sharpless went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Evan Knight went 1 for 4 and scored twice.
ACA (4-10) will play in Pike Road’s tournament on Trotman Road, facing Dale County on Friday at 4 p.m., followed by Pike Road at 5:45 p.m. After bracket play on Saturday, the Eagles will travel to St. James on Monday.
Trinity (5-6) will travel to Montgomery Academy on Tuesday.
Pike Road 17, Russell County 0
SEALE -- Paisley Forshey and Ava Milton combined to pitch a four hitter in a game limited to four innings by the mercy rule on Thursday,
Haley Melton wenr 3 for 3 with three doubles to lead the Patriots, while Ameria Anderson added an inside-the-park home run.
Pike Road finished area play with a 4-0 record and will host the upcoming area tournament. In area play, Pike Road pitchers Anna Williams, Forshey, Haley Melton and Milton haven’t allowed a hit or a run.
Pike Road will host a tournament with pool play on Friday at the Pike Road recreational fields on Trotman Road. The Patriots will play Alabama Christian at 5:45 p.m. and Catholic at 7:30 p.m. Smiths Station, Brew Tech, Dale County and Oak Mountain will also play two games on Friday.
On Saturday, the tournament will move to Pike Road High School for bracket play.
Prattville Christian 11, Dallas County 0
PLANTERSVILLE -- Alivia Messick struck out nine batters in four innings and Kandice Crosby struck out two in her one inning of work as Prattville Christian defeated Dallas County 11-0 on Thursday.
Neither PCA pitcher allowed a hit as the Panthers remained undefeated in 4A Area 5 play.
At the plate, Paysley Bayer was 2 for 3, Erin Williams had a two-run home run and Crosby had a double with two RBIs.
PCA (10-3) returns home to play host to Dallas County on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Prattville Christian 2, Holy Spirit 0
TUSCALOOSA -- Cade Segars led the Panthers with a goal and an assist in an area win at Holy Spirit on Friday night.
Liam Taylor scored a goal for the Panthers as well. Spencer Perkins recorded the shutout and victory in goal.
PCA (2-7) improved to 1-1 in area play.
GIRLS SOCCER
St. James 6, Tuscaloosa Academy 1
The Trojans closed out a busy week that included two home matches sandwiched around a trip to Dothan with a 6-1 win over Tuscaloosa Academy on Friday at Carlisle Field.
Katie Brightwell led the way with four goals. Hope McCain and Sana Shuford each contributed a goal. Five different players each recorded an assist -- Shuford, Hailey Vance, Mary Grace Hixon, Molly Phillips and Elsa Seeman.
Brightwell’s goals give the senior 224 for her career, one shy of the River Region record set by Montgomery Academy’s Tara Katz in 2019. The Alabama High School Athletic Association record of 232 career goals is held by Holy Spirit’s Jordan Richmond (2012-16).
St. James (9-0-1) will play host to Montgomery Academy on Tuesday at Carlisle Field at 5:30 p.m.
St. James 6, Houston Academy 0
DOTHAN -- Katie Brightwell scored three goals to lead the Trojans to a 6-0 win over Houston Academy in a battle of highly regarded 1A-3A teams at Westgate Soccer Complex on Thursday.
Hope McCain scored the game winner in the first couple of minutes with a go-ahead header to begin the evening. Hailey Vance and Mary Grace Hixon each contributed a goal as well.
Hixon added two assists, along with Vance and Elsa Seeman each chipping in an assist.
Katie Irving recorded the assist on Katie Brightwell's second goal while playing in goal for the Trojans. The backline of KK Corley, Hannah McCain and Hope McCain worked tirelessly throughout the game to keep Houston Academy off the scoreboard, preserving the shutout along with Katie Irving who also came up big on a couple of saves in the first half.
Prattville Christian 2, Holy Spirit 1
TUSCALOOSA -- Avery Rogers scored a pair of goals, including the game winner with a little over a minute left, as the Panthers defeated Holy Spirit 2-1 on Friday.
Addison Sutton had assisted on one of the goals, while Kendall Jordan recorded the victory in goal.
PCA (2-7) improved to 1-1 in area play.
Montgomery Academy 7, Pike Road 1
Sophia Cho and Mary Elizabeth Cole each scored three goals as the Eagles wrapped up area play with a 7-1 win over the Patriots on Wednesday at McLemore Field.
Ella Harding added the Eagles’ other goal as Montgomery Academy clinched the regular season area title with the win.
Montgomery Academy (8-1-1) will play St. James on Tuesday.
BOYS TENNIS
Montgomery Academy 9, Randolph School 0
HUNTSVILLE -- Montgomery Academy swept Randolph School in singles and doubles on Friday in the first of two matches played in Huntsville.
Jackson Brown, Edwin Wu, Ford Morano, Anton Yang, Duncan McInnes and Bo Johnston won singles matches and the teams of Brown-Morano, Ron Sharma-Yang and Wu-McInnes won doubles matches.
Montgomery Academy (8-3) will play Huntsville High School on Saturday morning.
Montgomery Academy 5, Auburn 4
Montgomery Academy edged Auburn High 5-4 at McLemore Tennis Center on Thursday in a rematch of last year’s 7A Section 2 winner and runner-up.
With the match tied at 4-4, eighth grader Duncan McInnes won his No. 6 singles match to clinch the win.
In a match where five of the nine matches went to third-set tiebreakers, John Alford won at No. 1 singles and Jackson Brown won at No. 2 singles. In doubles, the teams of Alford-Brown at No. 1 and Ron Sharma and Ford Morano at No. 2 won their matches.
The win left Montgomery Academy (5-0) as the undefeated team in 7A Section 2. The Eagles can win the regular-season section title with a win over Enterprise at O’Connor Tennis Center on Monday.
Montgomery Academy (7-3) will travel to Huntsville this weekend to play Randolph School and Huntsville High School.
Houston Academy 6, Montgomery Academy 3
Montgomery Academy lost a hard fought match to Houston Academy 6-3 in a match played at McLemore Tennis Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Jackson Brown won his singles match to lead the Eagles and Ford Morano won his singles match and then teamed with Ron Sharma to win doubles. All of the other matches were close hard fought matches with Houston Academy coming out on top.
The Eagles (6-3) will host section foe Auburn High on Thursday on Senior Recognition Day.