PREP SPRING ROUNDUP: Catholic wins Brew Tech softball tourney
The Catholic Knights pose with their trophy from the Brew Tech Tournament held at Lagoon Park on Saturday (Photo contributed)
COMBINED REPORTS
Catholic captured the championship of the Brew Tech Tournament at Lagoon Park Softball Complex on Saturday, beating the Rams 9-1 in the championship game.
Twenty teams participated in the tournament and were divided into three different brackets after pool play – gold, silver and bronze. Catholic won its three games in pool play and advanced to the gold bracket where the Knights defeated 5A Charles Henderson, area rival LAMP and 5A Brewbaker Tech on the way to the title.
The Knights outscored their six opponents 66-6, including an impressive 38-3 in gold bracket play.
Catholic started the tournament in pool play defeating Valley, Holtville and Greenville to advance to the gold bracket.
In a 9-0 win over Valley, winning pitcher Carissa Gilbert teamed with Alanna Aiken to allow just one hit while striking out six on Friday. McKenzie Norton went 2 for 2 with a three-run, inside-the-park home run and Nikki Walker added a two-run homer to spark the Catholic offense. In addition, Chloe Walden had two hits and a pair of stolen bases and Mallory Hildebrand had two hits for the Lady Knights.
In a 10-2 win over Holtville, Hannah Parrish had two hits and drove in a run and Aiken had a triple and scored a pair of runs on Friday night. Gilbert and Auburn Wilcoxson each drove in a pair of runs to help the Catholic offense. Gilbert picked up the win in the circle, striking out nine in four innings of work.
In a 14-1 win over Greenville, Aiken allowed just two hits and struck out seven in the first game on Saturday. Aiken and Walden each had two hits and drove in a pair of runs and Norton scored three runs.
In the Knights’ first game in bracket play, Gilbert allowed just three hits and struck out five as Catholic rolled into the semifinals with a 12-2 win over Charles Henderson. At the plate, Aiken had a pair of hits, scored three times and drove in four runs to lead the offense. Gilbert also had four RBIs. Walker, Norton and Walden scored two runs each in the win.
In the semifinals, Catholic met Area 4 rival LAMP and shut out the Golden Tigers 12-0 as Gilbert and Aiken combined on a two-hitter while striking out six. At the plate, Norton, Walker, Mallory Hildebrand, Nona Johnson, Parrish and Wilcoxson had multiple hits. Walker, Johnson and Parrish each drove in a pair of runs.
In the championship game, Gilbert earned her fifth win in the tournament, allowing just two hits while striking out five. At the plate, Norton, Aiken, Gilbert and Parrish had two hits each. Norton drove in three runs and Johnson scored twice.
BASEBALL
Bessemer Academy 11, Macon East Academy 1
ELMORE – Landon Dial shut down the Macon East bats, holding the Knights to one hit while striking out eight over 4.1 innings as the Rebels defeated Macon East to win the championship game of the Edgewood Tournament on Saturday.
Bradley Ward took the loss for Macon East, pitching 1.2 innings of no-hit ball before falling behind 2-0 to the Rebels. Colby Cox and Parker Whittle each collected one hit to lead the Macon East offense.
Macon East (2-3) returns home to play Fort Dale on Monday at 4 p.m.
Macon East Academy 9, Northside Methodist Academy 5
ELMORE – Nick Marshall went 2 for 3 and Zach Kitchens slammed the door on Northside with five strikeouts and no hits over three innings as the Knights advanced to the championship game of the Edgewood Tournament with a 9-5 win over Northside on Saturday evening.
Luke Andrews took the loss for Northside Methodist Academy, allowing six hits and four runs over three innings.
Macon East improved to 2-2 with the win.
Macon East Academy 5, Escambia Academy 0
ELMORE – Clay Slagle pitched four innings of two-hit ball and delivered a hit at the plate to lead the Knights to a 5-0 win over Escambia in the Edgewood Tournament on Saturday.
Slagle allowed just two hits over four innings while striking out five and walking one. Bryant Quimby allowed just two hits as well – one to Slagle and the other to Logan Hines – but lasted just two-thirds of an inning as Escambia pitchers either walked or hit 11 Macon East batters.
Hines threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.
Macon East (1-2) was scheduled to face the Northside Methodist-Lee-Scott winner later on Saturday afternoon in the tournament.
Chilton County 5-13, St. James 0-6
Chilton County ace Pico Kahn pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 13 Trojans to give the 6A Tigers the win in the opener on Saturday. Zac Russell and Alex Whisenhunt had the only two hits for St. James. Adam Garnett was tagged with the loss on the mound.
In the second game, both teams managed 12 hits each but seven errors proved costly for St. James. Ethan Beard and Wilson Carter each drove in a pair of runs for the Trojans. Brock Woodham took the loss for St. James.
Thorsby 7-7, Catholic 5-6
THORSBY – Christian Ivey had a pair of hits in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, but the Knights dropped both to Thorsby.
In the opener, Ivey went 2 for 4 with a run scored, drove in a run and stole three bases. Nate Downes also went 2 for 4 and stole a pair of bases. Dean Johnson, who took the loss on the mound, aided his cause with a three-run home run.
Tanner Jones led Thorsby with a pair of home runs.
In the second game, Ivey went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs, scored a pair of runs and stole a pair of bases. On the mound, he struck out five and walked two while allowing no runs.
Hudson Parrish went 1 for 1 for the Knights, drawing a pair of walks and scoring twice.
Morris Carmichael took the loss, allowing six runs, all unearned, in two innings of work while striking out four and walking four. Five Catholic errors played a huge role in the loss.
Thorsby’s Jones kept up his pace at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a home run and a pair of runs scored.
Catholic (1-3) plays Covington (La.) High on Monday at Auburn University Montgomery at 11 a.m.
Northside Methodist Academy 2, Macon East Academy 1
ELMORE – Macon East suffered its second loss on Friday afternoon, losing to Northside Methodist in the Edgewood Tournament.
Derrick Hooks was the hard-luck loser on the mound for the Knights, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six and walking one in three innings of work.
Jacob Baker earned the win for Northside, allowing one run on three hits over five innings while striking out four and walking one.
Hooks, Colby Cox and Coleby Jordan all had one hit to lead the Knights’ offense.
Macon East (0-2) will face Escambia on Saturday.
Edgewood Academy 7, Macon East Academy 4
ELMORE – Colton Jones scattered five hits and lasted just 1.1 innings, but it was enough to pick up the win as Edgewood defeated Mason East in the Edgewood Tournament on Friday morning.
Jones allowed three hits and two runs but the Wildcats got on top early in the season opener for the Knights. Colby Cox took the loss for Macon East, allowing four hits and five runs while striking out four in 3.1 innings of work.
Cox, Logan Hines, Clay Slagle, Parker Whittle and Coleby Jordan all had one hit to lead the Macon East offense. The Knights (0-1)( returned to action later in the day against Northside Methodist.
SOFTBALL
LAMP 3, Prattville Christian 2
Landyn McAnnally took the loss in the circle despite seven strikeouts as the Panthers made a pair of costly errors on defense to drop a close game with the Golden Tigers on Saturday in the Brew Tech Tournament at Lagoon Park.
Jersee Carter led the PCA offense, going 2 for 3.
Prattville Christian 11, Reeltown 2
Jersee Carter was 2 for 3 to lead the PCA offense as the Panthers rolled past Reeltown 11-2 in the Brew Tech Tournament at Lagoon Park Softball Complex on Saturday. Alivia Messick picked up the win in the circle for the Panthers.
Prattville Christian 1, Opp 0
The Panthers won a pitching duel in the Brew Tech tournament on Saturday as Landyn McAnnally surrendered just one hit, struck out 13 and picked up the win in a 1-0 shutout at Lagoon Park.
McKenzie Montgomery was 1 for 2 for PCA.
Elmore County 4, Prattville Christian 3
The Panthers closed out play in the Brew Tech tournament with a loss, falling to Elmore County 4-3 on Saturday night.
Landyn McAnnally had eight strikeouts but took the loss in the circle for PCA. Chloe Hinely had 2 hits, including a two-run home run.
PCA (4-3) travels to Billingsley on Tuesday.
Trinity 4, Robert E. Lee 2
The Wildcats opened the season by participating in the Brew Tech tournament, winning its opener over the Class 7A Generals 4-2 before losing its next four contests in the tournament.
Trinity (1-4) battled Pike Road to the wire before falling, then followed that with losses to Chilton County, Lincoln and Reeltown in the tournament at Lagoon Park Softball Complex.
Trinity will travel to Ozark Monday to play Carroll.
Prattville Christian 4, Tallassee 3
TALLASSEE -- Landyn McAnnally struck out 12 to lead PCA to a 4-3 win over the host Tigers in the Purple and Gold Tournament on Feb. 15.
Jersee Carter went 3 for 3 to lead the offense and Chloe Hollon scored twice for PCA (2-1).
Beauregard 16, Prattville Christian 12
TALLASSEE – Prattville Christian had plenty of offense but couldn’t score enough runs to overtake Beauregard in the Purple and Gold Tournament on Feb. 15.
Alivia Messick took the loss in the circle for PCA (1-1) The Panthers’ offense was led by Jersee Carter, who went 3 for 4, Sally Swindall, who went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and Madison Hanson, who went 1 for 3 with three RBIs.
Prattville Christian 10, Benjamin Russell 4
TALLASSEE -- Landyn McAnnally struck out 12 to lead the Panthers past 6A Benjamin Russell 10-4 in the Purple and Gold Tournament on Feb. 15.
Jersee Carter, Chloe Hollon and Chloe Hinely each went 2 for 3 to lead the PCA offense. McKenzie Montgomery was 2 for 4 for the Panthers.
BOYS SOCCER
Trinity 4, Andalusia 0
Luke Adams scored a pair of goals as the Wildcats shut out Andalusia 4-0.
Adams’ goals were assisted by Jon Portis and Jackson Champion. Garrett Pemberton added a third goal with an assist by Jake Hufham and Hufham scored the Wildcats’ final goal.
Prattville Christian 2, Brew Tech 2
John David Meadows scored a pair of goals but PCA’s season opener ended in a draw as the Panthers and Brew Tech fought to a 2-2 draw at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex on Friday.
Carson Roberson had an assist on one of the goals. Grant Scott collected four saves in goal and Adam Grier collected three saves for PCA (0-0-1).
Montgomery Academy 6, LAMP 2
Lucas Rizzo scored a pair of goals and Femi Adediji assisted on three to lead the Eagles to a season opening win over LAMP on Tuesday night at Montgomery Academy.
Rizzo scored the season’s first goal with an assist from Adediji, Braxton Welch added another on an assist from Adediji and Rizzo scored again with an assist from Adediji. Clisby Berry added a goal on a header from the corner and Ben Thakston added another goal with an assist from Lucas Yi.
“MA controlled most of the game possessing and countering LAMP with great runs by Lucas, Thomas, and Bobby,” MA coach Gabi De Queiroz said. “Femi is leading the team with assists and Lucas on goals.”
Montgomery Academy is scheduled to play in the Island Cup Tournament at Gulf Shores Sports Complex this weekend.
In junior varsity action, the Montgomery Academy boys defeated Pike Road 7-2 at home on Monday in their season opener. Will Ray scored a pair of goals, John Allen scored on a penalty kick, Win Berry added a goal, Connor scored a pair of goals and Owen closed the night with a great shot from outside the 18-yard line.
GIRLS SOCCER
Prattville Christian 2, Brew Tech 0
Avery Rogers and Emily Branch each scored a goal to lead the Lady Panthers to a season opening win over Brew Tech at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex on Friday.
Kathleen Cary assisted on both goals while Sydney West recorded the shutout in goal for PCA (1-0).
BOYS TENNIS
Montgomery Academy 9, Catholic 0
The Eagles opened defense of their 4A-5A state title with a shutout of Catholic in a section match on Feb. 12.
Singles winners for Montgomery Academy were William Robertson, Hamilton Chapman, Alec Chandler, Whit Davis, Guy Hughes and John Alford, while the doubles teams of Robertson-Chandler, Gaines Freeman-Easton Strickler and Ron Sharma-Henry Lawson also posted wins.
St. James 9, Pike Road 0
St. James opened the season with a shutout of Pike Road on Feb. 12 at the O’Connor Tennis Center.
Singles winners were Toba Rios at No. 1, Patrick Whetstone at No. 2, Jarrett Simpson at No. 3, Josh Harvey at No. 4, Danny Trock at No. 5 and Ryan Barranco at No. 6. Doubles winners were Rios-Whetstone at No. 1, Simpson-Harvey at No. 2 and Barranco-Andrew Sadie at No. 3.
“It was nice to get our season off to a good start against a well-coached team like Pike Road,” St. James coach Ben Bradshaw said.
St. James (1-0) will travel to Opelika for a match on Monday.