Edward McLeod homered in both games as Class 5A No. 3 St. Paul’s swept Greenville 20-2, 13-0 in the first round of the playoffs.
McLeod hit a grand slam in Game 1 and a 2-run homer in the nightcap as the Saints improved to 21-10. John Stowers also hit a 2-run homer in the first game. Tate Farrell got the win, allowing 2 hits and an earned run in 4 innings.
Bradley Irish got the win in the nightcap, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 9 in 3 innings. Tate Johnston was 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs.
The Saints will play either Valley or Elberta in the second round next week.
CLASS 6A
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 12-5, Faith Academy 5-2
Unranked Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa swept past No. 4 Faith Academy in the first round of the playoffs.
The Patriots scored 6 runs in the top of the sixth to break Game 1 wide open. J. Jameson Farley and Evan Williams each drove in 2 runs for Hillcrest. Jackson Henderson went 3-for-4 and Brooks Tunnell and Gunnar Hobson had 2 hits each. Williams pithed the first 5.2 innings to get the win.
Hillcrest (24-10) knocked around Faith ace Eli Driskell for 6 hits and 5 runs in 4 innings. He was the first of five Ram pitchers. Carlos Ortiz went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs for Faith (21-7).
In Game 2, the Patriots took a 5-0 lead into the top of the seventh before giving up 2 runs but ultimately working out of a bases-loaded jam to secure the sweep. Spencer Davis got Ortiz to pop out for the final out.
Hillcrest’s big inning came in the bottom of the sixth when the Patriots scored 4 runs. They finished with 10 hits in the game compared to just 1 for Faith. Henderson went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Farley added 2 more hits. Barkley Crawford was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Baldwin County 10-4, Helena 7-3
Eli Woody’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 lifted Baldwin County to a road sweep of No. 6-ranked Helena.
Brayden Bryars got the final 2 outs in the top of the seventh to get the win. Brayden Dockery took the loss for the Huskies. Woody and Reid Johnson each had 2 hits for the Tigers. Quincy Walters and Jackson Paul each had RBIs.
John Martin Williamson had 3 hits for Helena. Ty Stricklin and Davis Kelley each drove in a run. Braydon Kendrick walked 3 times.
The two teams combined for 17 runs on 25 hits in the opener. The Tigers built a 10-2 lead after four innings. Woody and Landen Walker each drove in 3 runs for Baldwin County. Jaxen Schuler pitched 5.2 innings to get the win. Paul got the save. Trey Lampman took the loss for Helena.
Hartselle 6-3, Homewood 2-0
The top-ranked Tigers swept No. 10 Homewood at home on Friday to advance in the Class 6A playoffs. Hartselle improved to 26-7 on the year.
Homewood opened the scoring in the top of the first inning of Game 1, but the 1-0 advantage proved to be the Patriot only lead of the day at Hartselle. The Tigers responded in the bottom of the inning with 2 runs before Homewood tied the game in the fourth. The home team pushed across 3 in the bottom of the fifth and added another in the sixth for the final margin.
Jace Meadows struck out 9 Homewood batters on the way to the complete-game win. He allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – on 4 hits with a pair of walks.
Peyton Steele went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Cam Palahach was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Brody Leathers, Cade Miles and Asher Doepel also had base hits for Hartselle.
Jack Ross had a double in 3 at-bats and an RBI for Homewood (19-12). Levi Nickoli was 1-for-2 with a run scored and Jack Bland had an RBI.
Ross also took the loss for the Patriots, allowing 5 runs – 4 earned – on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts with 3 walks in 4.1 innings. Nickoli gave up an earned run on a hit with 2 strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning. Cooper Sain pitched an inning, allowing an unearned run on 1 hit with a walk.
In Game 2, Nic Chumley earned the win, teaming with Leathers and Cole Miles for the shutout. Chumley, the starter, went 6 innings, giving up 6 hits with 5 strikeouts. Leathers walked a batter before Miles finished the game, allowing a hit and striking out a batter.
Jo Williamson went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs in the win. Leathers was 3-for-4 and Lawson Williams was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Doepel was 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored.
Ross had a double in 3 at-bat for Homewood. Jackson Warren was 2-for-3, Bland and Cooper Mullins were both 1-for-2 and Will Siegel finished 1-for-3.
Carson Brown took the loss for Homewood, allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits with 6 strikeouts and a walk over 4.1 innings. Jack Sain pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit with 2 strikeouts and a walk.
Spanish Fort 4-7, Calera 2-3
No. 7 Spanish Fort, last year’s Class 6A runner-up, moved into the second round with a sweep of visiting Calera.
Ethan Kick earned the win in the opener, giving up five hits and two runs over six innings. Will Harrison took the loss for Calera. John Henry Winstead collected the save.
Caleb Chesser drove in two runs for the Toros. Newton Gardner also had an RBI. DeCarl White was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Eagles (14-13).
Spanish Fort (23-10) took a 5-0 lead in Game 2 and held off a Calera rally in the seventh. Kick homered and drove in two. Winstead and Grant Howard each had two hits. Winstead started and got the win.
Northridge 4-2, Saraland 3-9
No. 5 Saraland scored eight runs in its final three at-bats Friday and rallied to salvage a split at Northridge.
The Spartans (23-8) trailed 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth but tied the game on John Abston’s RBI single and took the lead when Santae McWilliams scored on a wild pitch. They blew the game open with five runs in the sixth. McWilliams and Jamison Curtis each had RBI singles.
The teams will play a tiebreaker at 10 a.m. Saturday. The deciding game, originally scheduled for 1, was moved up due to the possibility of rain. Friday’s Game 2 finished at 12:15 a.m. Saturday.
In the opener, Northridge (17-9) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past Saraland. T. Wolf walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run after Milo Obradovich’s RBI double tied the game.
Evan Hilliard pitched 6.1 innings, scattering seven hits and four runs to take the loss. Daniel Osborne could not get the final two outs in relief. Brooks Womble homered and drove in two for the Spartans. Hilliard was 3-for-3 at the plate, while Fuller Chisolm had two hits.
Mayson Elam, Cade Senn and Obradovich each had two hits for Northridge. Senn got the win in relief.
CLASS 5A
Mobile Christian 8-16, Demopolis 1-9
The ninth-ranked Leopards pounded out 24 runs on 21 hits in a doubleheader sweep at Demopolis.
Mobile Christian improved to 17-9.
Damien Gaston homered and drove in a pair of runs in the opener. Brady Keller doubled and had a pair of RBIs. Bryce Rivers and PJ Brown each had 2 hits for the Leopards. Zach McKinion went the distance to get the win, striking out 7. Jake Bumgarner took the loss for the Tigers (12-11).
In Game 2, Mobile Christian broke open a 7-7 tie with 6 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Aiden Gaston, Chandler Carpenter and Carson Cooper all had 3 RBIs for the Leopards. Gatson drove in 2. Reid Schmitz pitched the final 4.1 innings to get the win.
Gulf Shores 8-2, Beauregard 3-0
Connor Gehr pitched a 1-hitter and struck out 13 as No. 6 Gulf Shores swept Beauregard in the first round.
Gehr walked one in the 2-0 win. Joseph Stephens went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In the opener, Stephens went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Alex King and John Luke Stephens each drove in two runs. Jud Harris had two hits.
Jackson Beck pitched 6.1 innings in relief to get the win. He allowed seven hits, no runs and struck out four.
CLASS 4A
Westminster Christian 3-3, Cordova 2-0
Fifth-ranked Westminster Christian advanced to the second round with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Cordova on Friday.
The Wildcats will play at Brooks next weekend after the Lions swept Hanceville 6-0 and 2-0 on Friday.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Westminster head coach Jason Anderson said. “They grinded out two wins. We pitched it well all day and were able to score enough to get it done. I’m looking forward to next week at Brooks.”
In Game 1, the Wildcats overcame 4 errors as starting pitcher Jackson Lange kept the Blue Devils in check. He gave up an earned run on 3 hits and struck out 6 in 6.2 innings.
Westminster managed 5 hits against Cordova starter Jordan Gant – scoring a run in the second inning, another in the third and 1 in the fifth to lead 3-1 headed into the top of the seventh. Cordova’s Lucas Vance reached and took second on an error. After Chesley Harbison flew out and Lange struck out Brandon Graves, Vance scored on another error to narrow the margin to 3-2.
Sean Lapinskes relieved Lange after the starter hit a batter to put runners on first and second. He struck out the final Blue Devil batter to end the game.
In Game 2, Joshua Goode pitched 6 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits with 3 strikeouts. Goode needed 77 pitches before Lapinskes threw the final inning with a groundout and a pair of strikeouts.
Westminster Christian had 6 hits, with second baseman Amos Baldwin going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Lawson Collier drove in Baldwin and Trey Perkins in the top of the third to give the Wildcats all the runs they would need. Baldwin’s single up the middle in the sixth brought home Lapinskes for the final score.
Cordova starter Brandon Graves took the loss, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts.
– Jimmy Lay
Bayside Academy 4-4, Northside 0-9
Northside scored 9 runs in the bottom of the sixth in Game 2 on Friday to salvage a split with No. 2-ranked Bayside Academy.
The deciding game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday in Daphne.
Bayside (20-7) shut out Northside in the opener. Carson Joyner scattered 4 hits and struck out 8 in 5 innings. W. Norton and Gatlin Pitts pitched a scoreless inning each.
Teague Broadhead went 2-for-2 with a triple and an RBI. David Lilley drove in 2 runs. Will Skelton went the distance and took the loss for Northside (14-13).
In the nightcap, Bayside took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning after 5 scoreless innings from Broadhead, but three relievers gave up 9 runs – all earned.
Brody Abernathy and Rowdy McBride drove in 2 runs each for Northside. Griffen Roberts got the win with 2 innings of relief.
Orange Beach 6-3, American Christian 1-7
In a battle of top 10 teams, No. 10 American Christian took a quick 4-0 lead in Game 2 and held on for a win and a split with No. 6 Orange Beach.
The teams will play a deciding Game 3 Saturday.
In the opener, the Makos scored a pair of runs in the first and never trailed. They added 3 in the fifth and another in the seventh. Ryan Gober was 3-for-4 with a solo homer, 3 runs scored and an RBI. Hayden Barber and Tripp Carter each drove in 2 runs.
ACA roared back in the nightcap to even the series. Eric Hines homered and drove in 2 runs. Evan Lightsey and Henry McCaskill also had 2 RBIs each. Coltyn Mitchell went the distance on the mound for the Patriots, allowing 3 hits and 3 runs and striking out 9.
Satsuma 11-9, Hale County 5-0
Satsuma scored 20 runs in two games to sweep past Hale County.
In the opener, the Gators (21-8) scored five runs on six hits in the third to break the game open. Rily Dunn’s two-run double was a big blow. Jansen Banashak earned the win on the mound.
In the second game, Banashak went 3-for-5 with three RBIS and two runs scored. Hayden Johnson was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. He also walked twice. Darius Kapua went 5.1 innings, scattering three hits and striking out eight. Tucker Hicks got the final five outs.
Dylan Carlisle led Hale County with two hits in the second game.
AHSAA BASEBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS
CLASS 1A
SOUTH
South Lamar (19-9) 5-7, McKenzie (11-14) 3-2 (South Lamar wins series 2-0)
Elba (10-12) 13-15, Central-Hayneville (10-2) 4-5 (Elba wins series 2-0)
Sweet Water (16-11) 15-17, Loachapoka (3-6) 0-0 (Sweet Water wins series 2-0)
Billingsley (14-7) 6-3, Leroy (19-10) 5-3 (Game 3, Saturday, noon)
Florala (18-1) 13-12, Calhoun (10-6) 0-0 (Florala wins series 2-0)
Millry (24-4) 9-5, Maplesville (12-9) 4-6 (Game 3, Saturday, 1 p.m.)
University Charter (14-7) 11-17, Wadley (9-11) 1-0 (University Charter wins series 2-0)
Brantley (16-5) 8-15, Berry (7-15) 0-3 (Brantley wins series (2-0)
NORTH
Addison (14-13) 10-3, Covenant Christian (8-18) 3-0 (Addison wins series 2-0)
Hubbertville (10-11) 2-1, Coosa Christian (14-20) 1-11 (Game 3, Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Appalachian (21-2) 10-10, Skyline (6-12) 1-0 (Appalachian wins series 2-0)
Belgreen (12-12) 4-6, Victory Christian (17-5) 2-10 (Game 3, Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Lynn (15-7) 14-14, Cedar Bluff (17-14) 0-6 (Lynn wins series 2-0)
Hackleburg (22-6) 10-15, Talladega County Central (8-8) 0-0 (Hackleburg wins series 2-0)
Athens Bible (13-12) 7-12, Jacksonville Christian (10-12) 2-4 (Athens Bible wins series 2-0)
Sumiton Christian (18-4) 10-13, Shoals Christian (7-12) 0-0 (Sumiton Christian wins series 3-0)
CLASS 2A
SOUTH
Cottonwood (16-13) 10-10, Ranburne (12-16) 6-1 (Cottonwood wins series 2-0)
PIke Liberal Arts (24-5) 5-11, J.U. Blacksher (12-12) 1-0 (Pike Liberal wins series 2-0)
G.W. Long (18-9) 14-15, Aliceville (9-4) 0-0 (G.W. Long wins series 2-0)
Bayshore Christian (14-12) 4-9, Thorsby (20-11) 0-7 (Bayshore wins series 2-0)
Luverne (11-1) 11-13, Washington County (14-18) 12-8 (Game 3, Saturday, noon)
Area 1 RU: St, Luke’s Episcopal (9-14) at Area 6 W: Reeltown (18-9), Friday, 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Ariton (22-7-1) 7-3, Tuscaloosa Academy (21-13) 5-2 (Ariton wins series 2-0)
Wicksburg (20-4) 12-9, Horseshoe Bend (10-17) 0-0 (Wicksburg wins series 2-0)
NORTH
Mars Hill Bible (20-7) 12-7, Winston County (12-12) 1-2 (Mars Hill Bible wins series 2-0)
Collinsville (25-5) 8-3, Altamont (8-10) 2-1 (Collinsville wins series 2-0)
Fyffe (20-11) 12-7, Locust Fork (11-13) 5-2 (Fyffe wins series 2-0)
Area 14 RU: Lindsay Lane (18-7) at Area 9 W: Vincent (22-4), Friday, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Donoho (13-13) 4-1, Southeastern (11-14) 2-1 (Donoho wins series 2-0)
Whitesburg Christian (19-7) 3-5, Fayetteville (14-16) 2-1 (Whitesburg Christian wins series 2-0)
North Sand Mountain (21-9) 10-7, Holly Pond (6-19) 0-3 (North Sand Mountain wins series 2-0)
Red Bay (15-6) 6-2, Lamar County (10-15) 3-1 (Red Bay wins series 2-0)
CLASS 3A
SOUTH
Houston Academy (11-12) 5-7, Oakman (17-7) 4-14 (Game 3, Saturday, 11 a.m.)
Thomasville (24-4) 4-7, Straughn (12-13) 1-5 (Thomasville wins series 2-0)
Opp (19-6) 12-6, Dadeville (12-9) 2-2 (Opp wins series 2-0)
Saint James (19-11) 8-15, Flomaton (15-12) (Saint James wins series 2-0)
Excel (18-9) 15-15, Southside-Selma (4-6) 0-0 (Excel wins series 2-0)
Area 1 RU: Cottage Hill Christian (8-16) at Area 6 W: Prattville Christian (19-9), Friday, 5 and 7 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Area 4 RU: New Brockton (17-11) at Area 7 W: Beulah (11-11), Friday, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Providence Christian (19-8) 16-13, Indian Springs (7-8) 2-2 (Providence Christian wins series 2-0)
NORTH
Lauderdale County (21-4) 5-4 Glencoe (16-18) 4-1 (Lauderdale County wins series 2-0)
Plainview (24-7) 11-6, Walter Wellborn (7-19) 1-2 (Plainview wins series 2-0)
Susan Moore (16-8) 7-12, Colbert Heights (9-21) 6-10 (Susan Moore wins series 2-0)
Gordo (20-6) 11-8, Vinemont (18-7) 1-2 (Gordo wins series 2-0)
Piedmont (22-11) 8-17, Sylvania (10-16) 0-0 (Piedmont wins series 2-0)
Area 9 RU: Fayette County, no record reported at Area 14 W: Decatur Heritage (21-7), Friday, 4 and 6 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Colbert County (15-14) 8-2, J.B. Pennington 6-2 (Colbert County wins series 2-0)
Westbrook Christian (18-9) 7-19, Elkmont (12-17) 2-0 (Westbrook Christian wins series 2-0)
CLASS 4A
SOUTH
Geneva (7-13) 0-9, Munford (19-8) 14-7 (Game 3, Saturday, noon)
Bibb County (28-2) 9-3, T.R. Miller (12-17) 1-1 (Bibb County wins series (2-0)
Area 7 RU: Montevallo (9-16) at Area 4 W: Trinity Presbyterian (20-10), Friday, 1 and 3:30 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Bayside Academy 4-4, Northside 0-9 (Game 3, 1 p.m. Saturday)
Satsuma 11-9, Hale County 5-0, (Satsuma wins series 2-0)
Orange Beach 6-3, American Christian 1-7 (Game 3, 1 p.m., Saturday)
Area 4 RU: Montgomery Catholic (9-14) at Area 7 W: Oa Grove (18-10), Friday, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, noon, if needed)
Area 8 RU: Handley (11-7) at Area 3 W: Andalusia (13-10), Friday, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, 11 a.m., if needed)
NORTH
Brooks (14-11) 4-12, Hanceville (14-9) 0-2 (Brooks wins series 2-0)
Westminster Christian (22-7) 3-3, Cordova (6-20) 2-0 (Westminster Christian wins series 2-0)
Haleyville (16-9) 4-8, Hamilton (19-14) 0-5 (Haleyville wins series 2-0)
North Jackson (26-7) 10-12, Jacksonville (17-15) 1-9 (North Jackson wins series 2-0)
Corner (24-6) 11-9, Madison County (23-10) 1-1 (Corner wins series 2-0)
Etowah (10-12) 11-12, White Plains (11-19) 1-1 (Etowah wins series 2-0)
Deshler (26-7) 2-23, Priceville (20-12) 1-0 (Deshler wins series 2-0)
Area 16 RU: West Limestone (12-17) at Area 11 W: Ashville (16-12), Friday, 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, 1 p.m., if needed)
CLASS 5A
SOUTH
Area 3 RU: Rehobeth (16-12) at Area 8 W: Shelby County (20-9), Friday, 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, 11 a.m., if needed)
Mobile Christian (17-10) 9-16, Demopolis (12-11) 1-8 (Mobile Christian wins series 2-0)
Marbury (22-7) 3-11, Tallassee (15-8) 3-1 (Game 3, Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Gulf Shores (26-10) 8-2, Beauregard (12-12) 3-0 (Gulf Shores wins series 2-0)
Gulf Shores (25-10) 8, Beauregard (12-11) 3 (Games 2 and 3, Saturday, 1 p.m.)
St. Paul’s Episcopal (20-10) 20-13, Greenville (10-10) 2-0, (St. Paul’s wins series 2-0)
Valley (22-4) 8-23, Elberta (11-19) 7-2 (Valley wins series 2-0)
Holtville (20-9) 14-11, Elmore County (22-11) 4-0 (Holtville wins series 2-0)
Headland (16-11) 5-15, Central, Clay County (11-13) 4-2 (Headland wins series 2-0)
NORTH
Madison Academy (22-13) 4-9, Fairview (19-12-1) 0-3 (Madison Academy wins series 2-0)
Sardis (18-11) 18-11, Moody (17-16) 3-0 (Sardis wins series 2-0)
Alexandria (24-8) 14-14, Douglas (15-13) 0-0 (Alexandria wins series 2-0)
Lawrence County (16-16) 9, John Carroll Catholic (18-13) 5 (Games 2 and 3, Saturday, 2 p.m.)
Boaz (19-8) 1-4, Leeds (17-15) 3-2 (Game 3, Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Russellville (24-9) 12-16, Pleasant Grove (17-15) 2-0 (Russellville wins series 2-0)
Area 12 RU: Southside (18-15) at Area 15 W: Arab (16-13), Friday, 5 and 7:30 p.m. (Game 3, Saturday, 1 p.m., if needed)
Springville (25-9) 2-4, Ardmore (18-15) 1-0 (Springville wins series 2-0)
CLASS 6A
SOUTH
Hueytown (22-16) 10-0-5, Stanhope Elmore (11-25) 3-3-1 (Hueytown wins series 2-0)
Baldwin County (24-9) 10-4, Helena (20-14) 4-3 (Baldwin County wins series 2-0)
Pike Road (24-9) 2-11, McAdory (14-12) 0-1 (Pike Road wins series 2-0)
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (24-10) 12-5, Faith Academy (21-7) 5-2 (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa wins series 2-0)
Spanish Fort (23-10) 4-7, Calera (14-13) 2-3 (Spanish Fort wins series 2-0)
Northridge (18-9) 4-2, Saraland (25-8) 3-8, Game 3, 10 a.m. Saturday
Benjamin Russell (17-10) 7-6, Briarwood Christian (14-12) 6-0 (Benjamin Russell wins series (2-0)
Wetumpka (22-13) 6-6, Brookwood (10-20) 2-0 (Wetumpka wins series 2-0)
NORTH
Buckhorn (20-12) 13-12, Huffman (12-9) 0-0 (Buckhorn wins series 2-0)
Oxford (27-9) 17-17, Parker (17-14) 0-0 (Oxford wins series 2-0)
Mortimer Jordan (20-15) 17-15, Columbia (4-15) 0-0 (Mortimer Jordan wins series 2-0)
Muscle Shoals (15-11) 9-3, Mountain Brook (26-5) 5-10 (Game 3, Saturday, 1 p.m)
Pell City (18-10) 19-10, Minor (9-11) 0-0 (Pell City wins series 2-0)
Hartselle (26-7) 6-3, Homewood (20-12) 2-0) (Hartselle wins series 2-0)
Athens (23-11) 11-9, Pinson Valley (5-25) 1-1 (Athens wins series 2-0)
Gardendale (25-8) 4-5, Hazel Green (13-25) 0-2 (Gardendale wins series 2-0)
This post will be updated