Thursday, February 21

Long Ball leads Mountain Brook over Oak Mountain, 7-4

RHP Edward Berry, #68 in our 2020 rankings, got the start on the mound for Mountain Brook. He allowed 4 runs (0 ER) on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Oak Mountain starter Sr. Hansen McCown was sharp as well, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing 4 runs (1 ER).

The Spartans took an early lead when Will Yarbro, #41 in our 2020 rankings, deposited a first pitch breaking ball from McCown over the right-center field wall in the bottom of the 1^st.

Oak Mountain answered back with 3 runs in the top of the 3^rd when Sr. SS Caleb Ragland (Wallace Stace CC signee- #52 in our 2019 state rankings) drove in Sr. OF Jack Wilson, who had reached on an error to start the inning. 2 batters later, Sr. 1B Ryan Reuse came up clutch with a 2 out, 2 RBI double into the left-center field gap. The Eagles would tack on another run in the top of the 5^th when Ragland doubled to right field and came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Sr. C Dylan Fraser.

Rain began to fall heavier in the bottom of the 5^th, and the conditions proved problematic for the Eagles defense. a 2 out single and an error led to a critical moment - McCown appeared to escape the jam as he got Harrison Ware (2020, South AL commit) to pop up to short, but the ball hit off the SS glove and fell to the ground, allowing 1 run to score and the inning to continue. Colton Yeager (2019 Wallace State CC signee- #50 in our 2019 state rankings) followed that with an RBI single to put the Spartans within 1 and chase McCown from the game.

Following a walk to load the bases, 1B Ford Kelly, #35 in our 2020 rankings, delivered the decisive blow, turning around a high fastball and blasting it over the wall in right, giving the Spartans the 7-4 lead. That score would go final as 2020 Clark Griffin slammed the door with his second scoreless inning of relief. With the win, Mountain Brook moves to 1-1 on the young season and Oak Mountain falls to 2-1. 

 Top Performers – Oak Mountain

• Caleb Ragland – Single, Double, 1RBI
• Ryan Reuse – 2 RBI, Double
• Jake Rivers – 2 singles

Top Performers – Mountain Brook

• Will Yarbro – HR, 1 RBI, 2 R
• Ford Kelly -  HR, 4 RBI