The top-seeded Yellow Jackets capitalized on nine walks to defeat seventh-ranked Mars Hill Bible 6-2 on Wednesday, securing their place in the Class 2A state baseball championship scheduled for next week in Oxford and Jacksonville. This win brought Vincent’s record to 32-7 for the season and avenged their previous year’s loss to the Panthers in the state quarterfinals.
Mars Hill (23-15) secured victory in the first game of the three-game series with a score of 3-1 on Tuesday but lost 14-6 to Vincent in the second game, setting up a decisive match for Wednesday.
In the top of the first inning, Vincent scored when they had back-to-back runs, thanks to an initial single from Casen Fields followed by four consecutive walks, all this happening after a Panther pitcher named Cam Isbell made a groundout. Freed-Hardeman’s commit faced defeat as he conceded 4 earned runs off 4 hits, along with striking out 5 batters but walking 8. Oakley Bevis pitched for two innings and allowed 2 runs—of which only one was unearned—and gave up just one hit; during his stint, he struck out three hitters and walked another.
The Panthers reduced Vincent’s lead by half during their turn at bat in the top of the third when Noah Hanback hit a single, allowing William Mann—who had started the inning with a single—to score. In response, Vincent struck back in the bottom part of the same inning as Landon Archer drove in Aiden Poe with a two-out single.
After a Mars Hill run in the top of the fourth when Mann bunted Luke Fowler across, Vincent scored a pair of runs – Poe walked, went to second on another walk and scored on a wild pitch – in the bottom of the inning. The Yellow Jackets tacked on another run in the sixth when Fields singled, took second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on Aiden Gasaway’s ground out.
Grayson Gulde earned the complete-game win, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks.
Fields was 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored for Vincent. Air Force Academy commitment and Bryant-Jordan state Scholar of the Year Poe was 1-for-3 with 2 runs and Archer went 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs.
Mann went 2-for-3 at bat; Hanback, Brooks Campbell, and Fowler also had successful hits during the game.
Vincent will face Pike Liberal Arts in the state championship.
CLASS 2A
Pike Liberal Arts 12-10, Reeltown 11-4
The Patriots secured their spot in the state championship series by completing a sweep of their best-of-3 series against Reeltown with two victories on Wednesday.
Pike Liberal Arts has advanced their record to 22-5 for the season whereas the Rebels concluded their season with a record of 20-14.
During an exciting Game 1, Pike secured victory when Kade Brookins executed a game-winning stolen base of home plate in the bottom of the eighth inning. This dramatic play came right after Reeltown equalized the score at 11-11 by scoring eight runs in the top of the sixth.
In the Reeltown sixth inning, three batters were struck by pitches. Hudson Wood delivered a 2-run double, followed by another 2-run double from Slade Carleton. The game was tied due to a balk, and Pike Liberal Arts secured the save by tagging out Carleton as he attempted to score at home with two outs remaining.
The Patriots maintained an 11-3 advantage heading into the sixth inning, having scored 2 runs in the bottom of the first, 6 in the second, and solo scores in both the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
During Pike Liberal’s six-run outburst in the second inning, the Patriots capitalized as three consecutive batters earned hits-by-pitch (HBP). Jackson Baggett got a base with a single, prompting courtesy runner Tyler Whatley to advance to second after Wilson Cotton received an HBP. Cole Garrott also gained first on an HBP, advancing Whatley to third, who then scored when Pruitt Vaughan was hit by another pitch. Following this, Cotton touched home plate due to a single from Jacob Bowen, whereas Garrott crossed home thanks to a sacrifice fly into center field off the bat of Luke Barron. In the same rally, Garrett Whitaker brought both Vaughan and Bowen across the plate before scoring himself via Baggett’s subsequent single.
Bowen, Baggett, Brookins, and Whitaker each contributed 2 hits in their victory. Whitaker scored 3 runs, while Brookins hit a double.
Barron, the fourth pitcher from Pike, secured the victory by pitching two hitless innings. During this time, he struck out three batters and issued one walk. The starting pitcher, Brookins, recorded ten strikeouts but conceded five runs—three of which were earned—on four hits along with two walks across five innings.
Wood and Carleton played as doubles for Reeltown, where Wood and Hagan Lewis scored two runs apiece. Both Lewis and Ja’Markius Smith went 2-for-5 at the plate.
Rookie Smith conceded 6 runs — of which 4 were earned — over just 1.1 innings pitched, recording 4 strikeouts along with one walk. Meanwhile, Branton Spraggins surrendered 6 runs — including 5 earned ones — off 9 hits, fanning 2 batters and issuing 2 walks across 5.2 innings.
During the game-deciding victory, the Patriots took an early 3-0 lead after one inning, extended their edge to 4-1 following two innings, and led 8-1 at the conclusion of four innings. Pike Liberal recorded 8 hits compared to Reeltown’s 7 and made 2 errors against the Rebels’ 4.
Vaughan, batting first, had two hits out of five at-bats including a double and scored twice for Pike. Brookins went one for two but managed two walks and crossed home plate four times. Barron, who has committed to the University of Mobile, pitched as the starting pitcher for the Patriots and secured the victory. In his five-inning appearance, he allowed three runs—two earned—on six hits, struck out five batters, and issued one walk.
Reeltown’s Ja’Markius Smith was 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs and Wood went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Lewis was charged with the loss after giving up 8 runs – including 6 earned ones – off 7 hits along with walking 7 batters over 3.2 innings. Brody Smith surrendered 2 runs on one hit, struck out 2 batters, and walked 3 others during his 3.1-inning appearance.
Next week, the Patriots will go up against Vincent in the state championship.
CLASS 4A
Deshler 2-6, Etowah 1-0
In Game 2, Camden Fuller and Jacob Alexander both hit home runs as the fifth-ranked Deshler team swept the third-ranked Etowah in the Class 4A state semifinals.
The Tigers (31-10) are set to face No. 6 Bibb County in the state championship next week. Etowah concluded their season with a record of 26-14.
Following their victory in the initial match, Deshler secured a 3-0 advantage at the start of the bottom of the first inning during the night game and later extended their lead with an additional three runs in the fifth inning.
In his complete-game effort, Alexander held Etowah to just 3 hits. He recorded 3 strikeouts and issued 2 walks. The loss fell upon Jameson Scissum of the Blue Devils. He surrendered all 6 runs—3 of them earned—off 5 hits. Additionally, he registered 7 strikeouts.
To start off, Deshler secured narrow victories with solo runs in both the fifth and seventh innings. Both teams only managed five hits each. Additionally, the Blue Devils made two mistakes in the field.
In the fifth inning, Jay Murner hit a home run to even the score at 1-1. The Tigers then grabbed the lead in the seventh due to one of Etowah’s errors.
Garrett Reid threw a full nine innings for the victory, conceding just one run, striking out five batters, and walking two. Damon Devine absorbed the defeat, giving up both runs on four hits. He recorded eight strikeouts in his outing.
Brady McKinney recorded 2 hits for Deshler, while Bennett Reeves got 2 hits for Etowah.
CLASS 3A
Glenwood has a record of 8-3, while Prattville Christian stands at 4-4.
The top-seeded Prattville Christian advanced to the 3A semifinals by coming back for a Game 2 victory against No. 2 Glenwood at their home venue on Wednesday—though it was quite challenging.
The Panthers (35-5) managed to secure their victory when relief pitcher Conner Williams induced an inning-ending double play with the bases full in the bottom of the seventh.
When PCA was leading 4-2 during the seventh inning, Jack Diefenderfer came into pitch as a replacement for Ethan Walls. Committed player to Auburn University, Mason McCraine—who previously hit two home runs earlier—hit another double at a count of 3-2 and advanced to third due to an error made by Glenwood’s team. After striking out Carter Judah, Diefenderfer then walked both Levi Pinder and Andrew Wilkinson, which filled up the bases. When Christopher Lawrence got to bat after Williams relieved Diefenderfer, his play resulted in an error allowing McCraine to score, reducing PCA’s lead down to just one point with the score now being 4-3.
Williams brought the count to 3-1 before turning it into a 6-4-3 double play and securing the save.
Glenwood (30-5) grabbed an early 2-0 lead with runs in the first inning. However, Prattville Christian narrowed their lead to one run after scoring once in the third and taking the lead with two more runs in the fourth. The decisive score occurred in the sixth when Gavin Oates crossed home plate following a stolen base and a wild pitch, setting up Glenwood for victory as Tyson Houston drove him in with his hit.
Williams, Diefenderfer, and Luke Lawson recorded doubles for PCA.
The Panthers’ Walls allowed two runs on two hits along with recording 12 strikeouts and issuing six walks over six innings to secure the victory.
McCraine, who stands at 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 205 pounds, along with Lawrence, hit doubles for Glenwood. Lawrence had two hits out of four attempts and drove in one run. The starting pitcher, Hudson Campbell, suffered the loss for the Gators after giving up three runs on five hits. He also recorded six strikeouts and issued two walks over five innings.
McCraine from Glenwood started Game 1 by hitting a home run to right field on a 3-2 pitch and then smashed a two-run homer in the top of the fourth, leading the Gators to a victory over the host team. In the third inning, Judah contributed significantly by delivering a two-run home run, which accounted for half of the three runs scored by the Gators in that frame.
Glenwood extended their advantage to 6-0 after scoring two runs in the fourth inning. Then, PCA managed to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Glenwood sealed the game with an additional two runs in the top of the sixth, setting the final score.
Glenwood secured the victory with 8 hits and corrected 3 mistakes, whereas Prattville Christian recorded 6 hits and made 3 errors.
In the game, McCraine had an impressive performance going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and scoring 3 runs. Meanwhile, Pinder contributed significantly by getting 2 hits out of 3 attempts for the winning team.
Tyler Sykes secured the complete-game victory, giving up 4 runs – of which 3 were earned – on 6 hits, along with striking out 4 batters without issuing any walks.
Williams went 2-for-3 with a double for Prattville Christian. Lawson scored a double in his four plate appearances and drove in a run. Cody Baker also recorded a hit along with an RBI.
Blake Bowman, who started as a rookie, was tagged with the loss after giving up 8 earned runs off 7 hits, along with striking out 2 batters but walking 6. Relief pitcher Logan Post pitched for 1.1 innings, yielding one hit accompanied by a walk and a strikeout.
The game to determine the state championship series participant is set for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Winfield 7-4, Gordo 2-5
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Collin Pate hit a single driving in Jared Pate with one out, leading fifth-ranked Gordo to stave off elimination against No. 3 Winfield on Wednesday. Carrying a 4-2 advantage heading into the seventh, the Green Wave saw their opponents score due to a groundout before tying up the game via a two-out balk.
Jared Pate from Gordo’s team walked when there was one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. He advanced to second base due to a single by John Driver and moved to third base because of an error committed by the right fielder on Driver’s hit.
The third game is planned for Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The victor will face the remaining team from the Glenwood-Prattville Christian series, which also has its decisive Game 3 on Thursday.
Ford Hewitt went 2-for-5 at bat, hitting both a homerun and a double, contributing two RBIs for the Green Wave team. Driver matched Hewitt’s hits going 2-for-5 as well but added one RBI of his own. Meanwhile, Jase Neel contributed with a single hit—a double—out of four attempts and scored once himself. Additionally, Noah McDaniel notched up another RBI during the game.
The driver pitched 5.1 innings for Gordo, conceding 2 unearned runs from 3 hits along with recording 3 strikeouts and issuing 6 walks. In the last 4.2 innings, Hewitt gave up 2 runs off of 3 hits.
Breck May and Brandon Whitley used substitutes for Winfield during their defeat. Walt Hennicke, who was the second reliever for the Pirates, faced the brunt of the loss after pitching only two-thirds of an inning. During this time, he managed one strikeout and issued one walk, also conceding two hits. The starting pitcher Breck May performed with four strikeouts but also walked four batters, allowing six hits which led to four runs over seven and one-tenth innings.
During Game 1, the Pirates took an early lead by scoring two runs after recording two outs in the bottom of the first inning. They then countered Gordo’s addition of two runs during the top of the sixth inning by scoring five runs in their half of the inning, securing their victory.
During the crucial inning, Blaine Bowen got on base with a fielder’s choice, advanced to second when May reached due to an error, moved to third after a walk, and then scored as a result of Hennicke’s hit. Following this, Brayden McCaleb drove in May and Hayden Ballard, who previously secured a walk, giving them a 5-2 lead. Subsequently, Hennicke came home thanks to a passed ball, and McCaleb also crossed home plate from yet another one, extending their score to 7-2.
Winfield’s Hennicke had a 3-for-4 performance including one RBI. McCaleb recorded two hits out of four at-bats and contributed two RBIs, while Whitley hit once in two attempts with one RBI. Additionally, May achieved one hit in four tries along with a double.
Kyson Key secured the victory, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits along with recording 5 strikeouts and issuing 3 walks.
Neel, who started and was one of the four pitchers for Gordo, ended up taking the loss. He allowed 5 runs—3 of which were earned—on 5 hits. In 5.1 innings pitched, he also struck out 8 batters but issued 5 walks.
McDaniel had a performance of 2 hits out of 4 at-bats along with one run batted in; Neel, Driver, and Collin Pate also contributed with individual base knocks.
Certain details in this report originate from GameChanger Media.
AHSAA 2025 BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Semifinal results/pairings
CLASS 1A
Leroy (26-10) versus Brantley (21-3),
Friday at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.)
Addison (27-9) vs. Hackleburg (29-7),
Thursday at 5 and 7 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Friday at 5 p.m.)
CLASS 2A
Pike Liberal Arts (21-5)
12-10,
Reeltown (20-13)
11-4 (Pike Liberal Arts (21-5) clinches series with a 2-0 lead)
Vincent (32-7)
1-14-6,
Mars Hill Bible (23-15)
3-6-2 (Vincent (32-7) secures series win 2-1)
CLASS 3A
Glenwood (32-5)
8-3,
Prattville Christian (35-5)
4-4 (Match 3, Thursday, 4:30 PM)
Winfield (32-7)
7-4,
Gordo (25-15)
2-5, Match 2, 10 innings (Match 3, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.)
CLASS 4A
Bibb County (29-10)
2-3,
Oak Grove (30-5)
(Bibb County (29-10) wins the series 2-0)
Deshler (31-10)
2-6,
Etowah (26-14)
1-0 (Deshler (22-10) clinches series 2-0)
CLASS 5A
St. Paul’s Episcopal (26-9) versus Elberta (26-8),
Friday at 4:30 and 7 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.)
Madison Academy (35-7) versus American Christian (30-13-1),
Friday at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.)
CLASS 6A
Elmore (27-14) from Stanhope will play against Chelsea (25-10).
Thursday at 4:30 PM and 7 PM (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Friday at 4:30 PM)
Gardendale (26-9) vs. Hartselle (31-8),
Thursday at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Friday at 5 p.m.)
CLASS 7A
Fairhope (31-1) vs Enterprise (32-1)
Thursday at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held on Friday at 5 p.m.)
Bob Jones (36-10) versus Tuscaloosa County (30-12),
Friday at 5 and 7 p.m. (If needed, Game 3 will be held Saturday at 1 p.m.)
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