PREP UPDATE: Catholic shuts out St. James in FCA Tourney; Park Crossing's run for second straight title falls short
St. James’ Mason Craig is tagged out at the plate by Catholic catcher Sal Barranco in Saturday’s FCA Classic game at Paterson Field. (Tim Gayle)
COMBINED REPORTS
St. James dug itself a hole early, couldn’t find the momentum late and fell 2-0 to Catholic in the final game for both teams in the 33rd annual Jason Armstrong Memorial FCA Tournament at Riverwalk Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s kind of how it’s been so far this season,” St. James coach Keith Lucky said. “I’ve got a talented bunch but something’s not clicking right now. We’re snakebit. When we do seem to get something going, we’ll have a call that might go against us. We put ourselves in a situation where it was an uphill climb the whole game. And that’s how it’s been all year long.”
The game featured a pitching duel between the two teams with only one earned run between starters Jimmy Dickens and Will Blackwell.
Blackwell, the son of Catholic football coach Aubrey Blackwell, was at St. James last year before transferring to Spanish Fort and then Catholic. On Saturday, he allowed just five singles, striking out nine and walking none in seven innings of work.
“Will Blackwell did a great job, no doubt about it,” Lucky said. “I was kind of hoping to count on him over here. He just got on the mound and threw strikes. He battled and wore us out.”
Blackwell hit one batter in the first inning and pitched flawlessly in the first five innings before finally running into trouble in the sixth.
“It all starts on the mound,” first-year Catholic coach Allen Ponder said. “A lot of our momentum comes with how we pitch the baseball, how we play defense. Will came out and gave us a great performance today. He pounded the zone all day long, was able to throw two pitches for strikes and we played good behind him.”
The only threat by the Trojans came in the sixth inning when Mason Craig led off with a single to left, advancing to second on a groundout and taking off for home on a single to left field by Dickens. Fred Lewis threw a strike to catcher Sal Barranco, who tagged out Craig as he slid into home.
The play drew a protest from Lucky, who thought Craig beat the tag at the plate.
“I was getting my frustration out,” he said. “I really thought he was in there. That’s just kind of how the season has gone. Every time we think we’re going to get something going, something turns the tables on us. Most of it is our own doing.”
Blackwell retired the next batter on a groundout, then struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.
The Knights got on the scoreboard with a Will Vicovich single in the first after Barranco reached on an error, Blackwell was walked and Christian Alvarez was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Catholic added a run in the second after Aiden Fleet hit a one-out single and Barranco walked, Ethan Levanda was hit by a pitch and Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk.
After that shaky start, Dickens allowed just two hits over the next three innings. Luke Catchings pitched the final two innings of no-hit ball.
“I think Jimmy settled in for them and started pounding the zone a lot more,” Ponder said. “On the flip side, we’re still young. We’ve had a tendency to score and then go flat offensively.”
St. James (3-7) will travel to Andalusia on Tuesday.
“I’ve still got faith in these guys,” Lucky said. “I know what they’re capable of. Just for whatever reason, it’s not clicking right now. Hopefully, it will soon.”
Catholic (7-3) won all three games in the tournament and will play Montgomery Academy on Monday.
Montgomery Academy 6, Trinity 1
Vincent Desautels struck out six in a no-hit performance over three innings as the Eagles defeated Trinity 6-1 in the 33rd annual Jason Armstrong Memorial FCA Tournament at Paterson Field on Saturday afternoon.
Finley Haigler pitched the remainder of the game, allowing just one run in four innings of work.
The game was originally scheduled for Friday, but was moved to Saturday to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Eagles’ basketball team, which was playing for a state championship in Birmingham.
Saturday’s games against LAMP and Trinity were the first for MA to field a full roster as they welcomed several additions from the basketball team.
William Marks led the Montgomery Academy offense, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored. Desautels drove in a pair of runs and Finley Haigler, Reid Mcbride and Hays Marks all had RBIs as well.
Montgomery Academy 10, LAMP 2
Reid McBride struck out 12 and allowed just one hit over six innings as the Eagles defeated LAMP on Saturday morning in the 33rd annual Jason Armstrong Memorial FCA Tournament at Paterson Field.
McBride allowed no earned runs in his outing and also drove in a pair of runs at the plate. Chapman Baker added three RBIs and Kingston Nelson was 2 for 3 with a run scored. William Marks, Paxton Haigler, Hays Marks and Finley Haigler all scored two runs each.
Catholic 8, Marbury 3
Will Blackwell went 3 for 4 , including a home run to left field in the second inning, to lead the Knights to an 8-3 win over Marbury in the 33rd annual Jason Armstrong Memorial FCA Tournament at Riverwalk Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Catholic took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Ethan Levanda reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring a run, and Will Vucovich grounded out to drive in another.
Sal Barranco scored on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning and Blackwell added a three-run homer to make it 6-0.
Jordan Jackson picked up the win, pitching a no-hitter over 5.2 innings while striking out three and walking four, allowing one run. Colt Wilson pitched the final 1.1 innings.
SOFTBALL
Orange Beach 4, St. James 3
St. James took an early 3-0 lead, but the Makos scored two runs in the third inning and another in the bottom of the fifth to force extra innings, then scored a run in the sixth for a 4-3 win in the Trojan Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Lagoon Park Softball Complex.
Emily Needham took the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs, two earned, in 5.1 innings pitched. The senior walked two and struck out three.
Needham, Mary Olive Maddox and Addi Brunson all had RBI hits for the Trojans in the first inning.
Kathryn King went 2 for 4, scored a run and drove in a run to lead the Makos, who were aided by five errors on the St. James defense.
St. James (2-1) travels to Smiths Station on Monday to play Glenwood School at 4:30 p.m.
St. James 5, Benjamin Russell 0
Aleigha Davis pitched a one-hit shutout over five innings to help the Trojans to a 5-0 win over Benjamin Russell in the Trojan Invitational on Saturday at Lagoon Park Softball Complex.
Kaitlyn Hudson and Sydney Johnston had RBI singles for the Trojans. Emily Darby, Camryn Caldwell and Koriah Cannon added hits for St. James.
St. James (2-0) returns to action in the tournament against Orange Beach.
St. James 5, Maplesville 2
The Trojans won their season opener on Friday in a 5-2 victory over Maplesville in the opening round of the Trojan Invitational at Lagoon Park Softball Complex.
Emily Needham went the distance, allowing two hits and two runs, none earned, in five innings of work. The senior walked three and struck out 12.
St. James erupted for five runs in the third inning to break a scoreless tie.
Addi Brunson, Mia Zukowski and Aleigha Davis all had RBI hits for the Trojans. Mary Olive Maddox went 2 for 3 with a double to lead the St. James offense.
Kamylia Talley went 1 for 2 and drove in both of the Red Devils’ runs in the fourth inning.
St. James (1-0) returns to action in the tournament against Benjamin Russell.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class 6A Finals: Hazel Green 67, Park Crossing 47
BIRMINGHAM — Hazel Green High School’s girls’ basketball team completed its “revenge tour” by beating the team that ended its championship streak in 2025.
The Trojans earned a 67-47 victory over defending champ Park Crossing in Saturday’s Class 6A girls’ championship game at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena, avenging last year’s state semifinal overtime loss to the Thunderbirds. The 2025 setback ended the Trojans’ AHSAA-record streak of seven straight state titles from 2018-24.
Tournament MVP Madison Eddings led the Trojans with 17 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, and Johnson added 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Jurnee Moore contributed 12 points, three steals and three assists, and Zamiah Garth had 10 points. Hazel Green had 12 assists.
Tariah Magee led Park Crossing (31-4) with 12 points, and Kamryn Kelly added 10 points and nine rebounds.
“The ball didn’t quite fall the way we wanted to it fall today, but I am very proud of these girls,” Park Crossing coach Freeah Smith said.
The all-tournament team included Madison Eddings, Hazel Green (MVP); Kristen Johnson, Hazel Green; Jurnee Moore, Hazel Green; Maliyah Meeks, Park Crossing; Tariah McGee, Park Crossing; Zirri Craig, Fort Payne.