4A No. 2 AMERICAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (4) VS. 4A NO. 4 NORTHSIDE (1)

TUSCALOOSA, AL - In an area matchup on Tuesday where the #2 and #4 teams in 4A were pitted against one another, pitching shined bright for both the American Christian Academy Patriots and the Northside Jaguars. The Patriots, who rode a stellar pitching performance by LHP Nathan Shelton (2021, Alabama) to a 4-1 victory over the Northside Rams who had a strong outing by their starter,  LHP Brandon Fenimore (2021).

The first inning saw the most action for both squads offensively, where in the top of the first, a walk, a HBP, a dropped 3rd strike followed by a throwing error allowed the Rams to score first, taking a 1-0 lead into the Patriots offensive half of the inning. The Patriots were quick to take that run back though as a 2 out double by 3B Brexton Taft (2022) followed by a triple by Shelton sent us back to the top frame of the second all tied up at one.

The second inning was quick work for both pitchers as Shelton struck out the first two batters he faced, hit the 3rd one with a pitch and then proceeded to pick him off at first. Fenimore followed suit by sitting down the first 3 batters all via strikeout. Shelton would match Fenimore by striking out all 3 batters he faced in the top half of the 3rd inning.

The Patriots would strike in the 3rd to take their first lead of the game, a double from LF JP Brasfield (2021) and an error from Northside would set up Taft to shoot his 2nd hit of the game to the opposite field and score both runs. Shelton struck out 6 of the 9 batters he would face in the next 3 innings where he would take a no hit bid into the 7th. Fenimore had similar success in a different facet, forcing 3 groundouts and 2 flyouts over the course of the next 2 innings.

In the bottom of the 6th, ACA would lengthen their lead, after 2 one out walks, another error by the Northside defense would allow a run to score, putting them at a 4-1 deficit heading into the 7th. Shelton’s no hit bid would be broken up after Fenimore led off the inning with a single in an attempt to give himself some much needed run support. An error, a flyout, and a HPB would be the result of the next 3 at bats, loading the bases with 1 out for the Rams. Shelton would obtain strikeout #13 and 14 on the next 2 batters though, to end the game and give the Patriots a 4-1 victory.

 

Top Performers- American Christian Academy

Nathan Shelton 7 IP, 14 K, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB;  1-2, 3B, RBI, BB

Brexton Taft 2-2 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 2R

JP Brasfield 1-2, 2B, R

Top Performers- Northside

Brandon Fenimore 6 IP, 5 K, 3 ER, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 H; 1-2 1B, HBP, SB

 

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