Alabama Daily Roundup: March 18th

6A Mountain Brook (8) vs. 6A Gardendale (2)

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Spartans opened up a doubleheader on Thursday by taking on the traveling Gardendale Rockets at 4:00. Both teams had gotten off to solid starts in begin 2021 with Mountain Brook came in with a 12-6 record and Gardendale boasting at 9-2 record. RHP Brennan Holden (2021) started on the mound for the Spartans, while the Rockets handed the ball to RHP Eli Moore (2022.

Gardendale opened up the top of the 1st by putting up a crooked number on the scoreboard to set the tone for the contest. After the 2-hole hitter reached, SS Presley Walker (2021, Wallace State-Hanceville) battled with two strikes and drove a ball to deep center field for a RBI triple with one out. C Juan Morales (2022) drove Walker in on the next at-bat, as he singled home another run to take a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the 1st. 

Not much happened offensively for the next few half innings, until the Spartans erupted for six runs in the bottom of the 3rd. It all started when SS Walker Allen (2023) singled through the left side to start the inning, then OF Patch Lyman (2022) smoked a pitch into the right field gap for a RBI double to score Allen and cut the lead to 2-1. Singles from Braxton Wetzler (2021), Brock Payne (2021), Trent Wright (2023), and another from Walker Allen (2023) eventually plated five more runs in the inning. Mountain Brooks took a commanding 6-2 lead to the 4th inning and never looked back.

Meanwhile, RHP Brennan Holden (2021) was in cruise control on the mound for the Spartans. After a bumpy 1st inning, Holden settled in for the duration of his outing. He went the distance for the seven innings while only allowing four hits, two runs, a walk and punched out 11 hitters. He was credited with the win after an impressive start on the mound.

The Spartans added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to extend the lead to 8-2. OF Tanner Plummer (2021) stepped up to the plate with two runners on and singled to right field to bring home those two runs. Mountain Brook would go on to close things out in the 7th, ending the game at 8-2.

Top Performers - Mountain Brook

Walker Allen - 2-4, 2 RBI’s, R

Patch Lyman - 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R’s

Brennan Holden - W, 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, BB, 11 K’s

Tanner Plummer - 1-3, 2 RBI’s, R, BB

Brock Payne - 1-3, 2 RBI’s, R

Top Performers - Gardendale

Presley Walker - 2-3, 3B, RBI, R

Juan Morales - 1-3, RBI

7A No. 3 Hewitt-Trussville (11) vs. 6A Clay Chalkville (0)

TRUSSVILLE, AL - Hewitt-Trussville, the 3rd-ranked team in 7A and the most recent Alabama Power 25 Rankings, Clay Chalkville in the nightcap on a chilly Thursday night in Birmingham. The Huskies are one of the state’s hottest teams right now, as they currently have a 15-2 record to start 2021. RHP Riley Quick (2022), the top uncommitted player in the 2022 AL Rankings, took the ball for the Huskies and was dominant on the mound. The Cougars countered with RHP Josh Ervin (2022).

Hewitt-Trussville wasted no time in the early innings jumping out to a commanding lead. It all started in the 1st inning when C Matt Miller (2022) doubled home a runner who reached on a walk with two outs. The Huskies would go on to score four more runs in the frame off of a couple of errors to take a 4-0 lead after 1 inning played.

Hewitt-Trussville would add two more runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings. C Matt Miller (2022) would come back up again for his second at-bat in the 2nd and drive another run for the Huskies. With a walk and a hit-by-pitch to start the inning and one coming home to score on a wild pitch, Miller drove home the other by recording his second double of the game, but he wasn’t done yet for the night. Nevertheless, this extended Hewitt’s lead to 6-0 after the 2nd inning. They scored two more runs in the 3rd on two passed balls, making the score 8-0 heading to the 4th. RHP Riley Quick (2022) turned in an impressive outing on the mound for Hewitt. He reached 90 mph with his fastball and struck out 11 hitters in five scoreless innings pitched.

After scoring again in the 5th inning on a hit-by-pitch to make the score 9-0, C Matt Miller (2022) logged his third double of the contest to extend the lead to 10-0. This would end the game via mercy rule after five innings.

Top Performers - Hewitt-Trussville

Riley Quick - W, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K’s

Matt Miller - 3-4, 3 2B’s, 4 RBI’s, R

Jackson Holland - RBI, 2 R’s, 2 BB’s

Top Performers - Clay Chalkville

Javen Hunter - 1-2

Kobe Lewis - 1-2

Braxton Russell - 1-3