AHSAA Roundup: Bob Jones 8 Florence 7

April 10, 2019
PBR Alabama Staff

April 9

Colten Carver delivers a 2 out walk off single in the 7th to win it for Bob Jones in the 7th inning.

On a picture perfect night in Madison, Bob Jones and Florence squared off in Game 1 of a key 7A Area 8 series. Both teams have rosters filled with college prospects as no fewer than 8 current Division 1 commits were on the field with multiple other signees and commits on both teams. The action on the field did not disappoint as Bob Jones escaped with an 8-7 win.

Both teams got quality outings on the mound. Florence starter Cade Henry (2020 RHP and University of South Alabama commit) went 5 + innings and did a nice job of making big pitches on the night. He scattered 11 Bob Jones hits, allowing 7 runs (4 ER) while only issuing 1 walk and striking out 4. Bob Jones countered with 2020 LHP Cam Hill (Auburn University commit) and he also went 5 + innings allowing 8 hits and 6 runs (5 ER). Hill issued 2 walks and struck out 3. Henry is the #23 in the state '20 class while Hill comes in at #10. 2019 RHP William Conrad relieved Henry and was the tough luck loser. He went 1 2/3 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run. He did not issue a walk and struck out 1. 2020 SS/RHP Caden Rose (University of Alabama commit) relieved Hill and worked 1 1/3 innings on the mound allowing 2 hits and 1 unearned run. He struck out 1 and issued 1 walk. Rose is our # 3 player in the state '20 rankings. Junior RHP Sam Maynard would come on in relief of Rose as he recorded the final 2 outs of 7th inning, stranding 2 runners on the base paths. Maynard struck out 1 hitter and was credited with the win for the Patriots.

Florence started the scoring in the top of the 1st with RBI singles from 2021 3B Zeke Bishop (# 24 player in the '21 AL class) and 2021 RHP/SS Cason Henry (# 5 in the '21 class and University of Miami commit). Florence would add to their lead in the 2nd inning as 2019 OF Brantley Holden (Calhoun CC signee) would score another run on a drag bunt base hit. In the 4th, Florence made it 4-0 as 2019 C Austin Stanfield lifted a home run over the wall in left field. Bob Jones would cut the lead to 4-3 in the home half of the 4th as 2019 OF Colten Carver had a 2 RBI single and would later score on Logan Hittle's 2 out RBI double. Bob Jones would knot things up in the 5th as Hill singed and drove in Rose, who began the inning with a double. Florence retook the lead 7-4 in the sixth inning as sophomore Parker White doubled, driving in 2 runs. White would later score on an RBI groundout as Austin Stanfield collected another RBI. Bob Jones immediately answered back in the bottom half of the 6th and tied things back up at 7 apiece. Caden Rose grounding into a fielders choice scoring Carver, who reached on an error to start the inning. Tyler Jones scored on a groundout off of the bat of Cam Hill and Rose came around to score on errant throw and tie things up headed to the 7th. Florence had two men on with 1 out in the 7th but was unable to score, setting the stage for Carver's walk off with 2 out in the 7th. 2020 OF/RHP Dylan Ray (University of Alabama commit and #1 player in the AL '20 class) led off the 7th with a double. Two quick outs brought Carver to the plate and he delivered a single up the middle, scoring Ray from 2B for the game winner.

Games 2 and 3 will be Thursday, April 9 at Florence High School as Bob Jones is expected to start 2019 LHP Austin East, a UAH signee while Florence will counter with 2021 RHP Grant Taylor, an LSU commit. East is the #35 player in our 2019 state rankings while Taylor is the #1 player in Alabama in the 2021 class, and ranked #8 nationally.

Offensive Leaders:

Florence

'19 Brantley Holden- 1B, 1 RBI

'20 Carson Sweetwood- 1B

'20 Ben Arnett- 1B

'21 Zeke Bishop- 1B, 1 RBI

'21 Cason Henry- 2 1B, 1 RBI

'21 Grant Taylor- 1B

'21 Parker White- 2B, 1B, 2 RBI

'19 Austin Stanfield- 1B, 2 RBI

Bob Jones

'20 Caden Rose- 2B, 1 RBI