SPRING UPDATE: St. James gets Area-opening win over LAMP; PCA softball dominates Trinity

COMBINED REPORTS

BASEBALL

St. James 10, LAMP 2

Cooper Wright pitched a complete game two hitter while retiring 12 of the last 13 batters he faced to help the Trojans to a 10-2 win over LAMP in the 4A Area 3 opener for both teams on Thursday at St. James.

The two teams resume the area series on Friday, weather permitting, at Paterson Field with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. The first game counts in the area standings while the second game serves as a tiebreaker. 

Wright was efficient in holding the LAMP bats in check, allowing only four base runners, but certainly was aided by six errors by the Golden Tigers that allowed the Trojans to score six unearned runs and build a comfortable lead. 

St. James scored three run in the bottom of the first inning as Shaun Bridges singled, stole second and scored on a three-base error that allowed Ethan Beard to advance to third. Beard scored on a double by Foster Rasmussen and Rasmussen later scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

LAMP picked up their only two runs of the game in the second inning. Oliver Stephens was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a single and scored on a wild pitch. Another run would later score on a safety squeeze.

The Trojans countered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Michael Winn reached on an error and pinch runner Cole Anderson would score after an Adam Garnett single and another error loaded the bases. Bridges knocked in Anderson with a ground out and Rasmussen executed a suicide squeeze to knock in Garnett for a 5-2 lead.

St. James (8-3) added two in the bottom of the third on a Clint Houser single, a K.J. Jackson double, and another infield error. The Trojans wrapped up the scoring with three runs in the fifth. After one out, Winn walked and was replaced by courtesy runner Anderson. Garnett singled and both were driven in with a deep double by Ariel July. July scored on a Bridges’ hit.

Will Romanowski took the loss for LAMP, surrendering seven runs, two earned, in four innings of work. Romanowski also had one of the two hits by the Golden Tigers (8-4), along with Andrew Lutz. Josh Donaldson added a walk, while Oliver Stephens was hit by a pitch and stole a base.

Holtville 9, LAMP 2 (Monday)

The Tigers dropped its final game before the start of area play, falling 9-2 on Monday to Holtville at Paterson Field.

The Tigers got an RBI groundout by Will Romanowski and added a second run on a fielder’s choice by Luke Littlejohn, which plated Junseo Park.

Andrew Lutz led LAMP, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Walker Parsons added a pair of hits and a stolen base. Lutz was also strong behind the plate, throwing out 3-of-4 would-be base stealers.

Holtville’s Randy Davis finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a walk. Todd Wilson drove in three runs, while Sam Silas and Garrett Ingram also drove in runs.

Ethan Alston picked up the victory for the Bulldogs (13-1), tossing 3 2/3 innings and allowing just two runs. Cooper Mann tossed the final 3 1/3, scattering just two hits.

Carter Lehman took the loss for LAMP, allowing five runs on five hits and walking four in just two innings of work. Preston Stephens tossed an inning of relief, before giving way to Josh Donaldson, who threw 2 2/3 innings. Josh Bell finishing the game with 1 1/3 innings of no-hit relief.

Trinity 9, Reeltown 5

Fleming Hall pitched three innings of no-hit ball and Ben Easterling came on to record the save as the Wildcats defeated Reeltown 9-5 on Wednesday at Whittle-Armstrong Field. 

Hall picked up the win in relief while striking out three before Easterling took over to hold the Rebels at bay. 

Simmons Byrd went 3 for 4 with a double, scoring twice and driving in three runs to lead the Wildcat offense. Grayson Ashe also went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, while Webber McClinton went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Trinity (9-1) will play host to Elmore County on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and Holtville on Saturday at 11 a.m., weather permitting.

Macon East Academy 16, Hooper Academy 4 (4)

CECIL -- Jason Tatum and Camden Bell combined on a one-hitter and Dalton Nickles and Bryant Rascoll drove in three runs each as the Knights defeated Hooper 16-4 in a game halted by the mercy rule after four innings on Thursday.

Tatum pitched three innings of no-hit ball, allowing only a walk and no earned runs while striking out two. Bell pitched the final inning, allowing only one hit and a pair of earned runs while walking one and striking out one. 

Nickles went 3 for 3 with a double and Rascoll went 2 for 3. Matthew Kitchens went 2 for 2 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI and Luke Noffsinger went 2 for 2 and drove in a pair of runs. Jabe Boroff went 1 for 2, including a pair of walks. Zach Brown, Gunner Justice, Deonte Powell and Hunter Timmerman all had one hit. 

Macon East (18-2) won its eighth consecutive game in the process and returns to action, weather permitting, in the Macon East Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Macon East Academy 4, Crenshaw Christian 1

CECIL -- Jabe Boroff went 2 for 3, including a two-run home run, to lift Macon East to a 4-1 win over the Cougars in the opening round of the Macon East Tournament on Thursday. 

Camden Bell went 1 for 1 and drove in another run as the Knights struggled to find their offense after a pair of lopsided wins over Crenshaw earlier in the season. Gunner Justice, Dalton Nickles and Luke Noffsinger also had a hit in the win.  

Sawyer Nelson picked up the win, striking out seven, walking one and allowing four hits and an earned run. Hunter Timmerman pitched the remaining three innings, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out six.

SOFTBALL

St. James 9, Pike Road 3

Cam Greene went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and also picked up the win in the circle with four solid innings. Emily Needham went 3 for 4 at the plate and pitched the final three innings for the save while striking out six.

Maddox Trumbly, KK Hall, Tat Shuford, Sydney Johnston and Kaci Armistead all recorded hits for the Trojans.

St. James (3-0) returns to action next week in a tournament hosted by Orange Beach High.  

 Prattville Christian 17, Trinity 0

Lara Beth Nesmith threw a one-hitter, striking out nine in a complete-game performance as the Panthers defeated Trinity 17-0 in a game halted in the fifth inning by the mercy rule at Trinity on Thursday afternoon. 

Jersee Carter went 4 for 5 with an RBI to lead PCA, while Saniyah Weaver was 2 for 2. Sarah Williams, Chloe Hollon and Jenna McClendon were all 1 for 2 with two RBIs each.

PCA (7-5) improved to 2-0 in 3A Area 6 play. The Panthers now take a week off for spring break, resuming play on March 29 with an area game at Montgomery Academy at 4 p.m. 

Catholic 9, Stanhope Elmore 6

MILLBROOK -- Carissa Gilbert helped her cause with four hits to lead the Knights to a 9-6 win over the 6A Mustangs on Thursday.

Gilbert picked up the win in the circle, striking out eight while allowing six hits. 

Jennifer Looney and Kayleigh Everage each had a pair of hits for the Knights. 

Catholic (12-8) will return to action next Friday in the opening round of the second annual FCA Alex Wilcox Memorial Softball Tournament at Lagoon Park.  

BOYS SOCCER

Trinity 5, Catholic 0

Jackson Champion scored three goals and Ja’Michael Jones and Kip Brown each added a goal as Trinity defeated Catholic 5-0 in an area soccer game on Thursday.

Trinity (8-2) improved to 3-0 in area play with the win. 

The Wildcats got assists from Norris Pemberton, Loudon Wilson, Jackson Champion, Mac Davis and Bo Stewart.

Joe Handey had the shutout with eight saves.

Montgomery Academy 5, St. James 0

Alex Kohn and Ruston Bassett each scored a pair of goals and John Allen Lachney added one of his own as the Eagles remained perfect in area play at 4-0 with a shutout of the Trojans at Carlisle Field on Thursday night.

Goal keeper Will Beringer had his seventh clean sheet in the season. Kohn had a pair of assists and Bassett, Lukas Yi and Will Ashworth each added an assist.  

Montgomery Academy (14-0-1) will take a week off for spring break, resuming play with a home game on March 29 against BTW Magnet. 

Prattville Christian 5, Brew Tech 1

PRATTVILLE -- Cade Segars led the Panthers with three goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over the 5A Rams at Panther Stadium on Thursday night.

Cohen Palmore scored two goals and Kyle Zerkel had an assist for PCA (2-2-1).

GIRLS SOCCER

St. James 2, John Carroll 0

Katie Brightwell scored a goal and assisted on another to lead the Trojans to a half-fought win over John Carroll on Thursday night at Carlisle Field.

Brightwell scored with an assist from Mary Rogers Prim, while McKenzie Turner scored with an assist from Brightwell. The Trojans competed hard as a team throughout to maintain their fifth shutout this spring in less than ideal field conditions.

St. James (5-0) will take a week off for spring break before resuming play on March 30 at home against Montgomery Academy at 5:30 p.m.