PREP UPDATE: Macon East baseball moves to semifinals; MA boys soccer advances

By TIM GAYLE

After sweeping South Choctaw Academy 6-5 and 11-1 on Tuesday night, the Macon East Knights find themselves back in the state tournament semifinals at Paterson Field next week.

 “Before the season starts, we always talk about how we want to play our best baseball at the end of April and the beginning of May to give ourselves an opportunity to play at Paterson Field,” Macon East Academy coach Christian Coston said. “That is the goal of our program and the standard we’ve set. It’s something we take pride in doing.”

Macon East (26-15) will play the winner of Thursday’s game between Coosa Valley Academy and Edgewood Academy in the Alabama Independent School Association Class A semifinals next Wednesday at 3 p.m.

“We’re going to have a quality opponent in either Edgewood or Coosa Valley, so it isn’t going to be easy,” Coston said. “It’s not easy but it’s becoming a regular thing. We’re blessed to be able to make back-to-back final four appearances.”

In the first game on Tuesday, the Knights rolled out to a 6-1 lead, then had to hold off the Rebels late for a 6-5 victory. Jackson Todd 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Cole Streetman went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Bryant Grimes pitched a complete game, allowing five runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out six.

“He walked a little more than he usually does,” Coston said. “He wasn’t as sharp but when he’s not as sharp he still finds ways to win. He gave us a good outing and we were able to win the game. That’s the most important thing.”

Gage Adams and Zack Tyson drove in four of the Rebels’ five runs.

In the second game, Grimes went 2 for 3, scored twice and drove in three runs in an 11-1 victory. Sam Wallace and J.D. Spires each had a pair of RBIs, while Parker Ruskin and Cole Dozier each had a pair of hits and a pair of walks as South Choctaw pitchers issued 13 walks.

Todd pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 13 in six innings of work.

“Huge, because nobody wants to go to a game three,” Coston said. “No coach feels as confident as they do with one of their best arms on the mound. That was a huge, huge thing Jackson was able to do. He was impressive.”

Last year, the Knights reached the semifinals of the state tournament before falling to Clarke Prep. This year, Coston hopes his players can use last year’s experience as a motivational tool.

“Most of our kids are returning from that team,” he said, “and that’s been a sour taste in their mouths. Hopefully, that will motivate them to play as well as they can so maybe we can get over that hump.”

BOYS SOCCER

Montgomery Academy 3, Opelika 1

It took two nights and three goals, but the defending Class 7A state champions advanced to the quarterfinals of the state soccer playoffs with a 3-1 win over Opelika at McLemore Field.

Montgomery Academy (11-8-2) will advance to the second round at Fairhope (15-6) on Friday night.

The match got under way on Tuesday with early momentum going the Eagles’ way. Hayes Lachney opened the scoring with a goal off an assist from Grady Ming, giving MA the early edge.

Play was later halted due to a lightning delay, with the game resuming Wednesday at the 18:48 mark. The Eagles didn’t miss a beat coming out of the break.

Hampton Welch added to the lead, followed by a goal from Jacob Stubblefield to secure the win and put the match out of reach.

In goal, Grady Ming recorded six saves, anchoring a strong defensive performance.

SOFTBALL
Trinity 16, BTW Magnet 0

Emma Rose Medlrum and Kayleigh Creel each collected three hits in four at bats as Trinity defeated BTW Magnet 16-0 on Monday.

Lyla Goldberg and Marley Sharpless each added two hits at the plate.

Marley Sharpless earned the win for Trinity, giving up two hits and no runs over four innings while striking out seven and walking none.

Trinity closes out the regular season on Tuesday at Andalusia at 3:30 p.m., then opens play in the 3A Area 5 tournament against Alabama Christian in an opening round game on Monday at noon, advancing to a game at either 2 p.m. or 4 p.m.

Catholic 3, Smiths Station 0

Rylee Wilcoxson hit a two-run home run and Hannah Smith added a solo blast to account for all the runs as the Knights defeated Smiths Station in the final regular season game at Catholic on Monday.

Catholic was held to three hits in the contest but made the most of it with home runs by Wilcoxson and Smith. Haley Ishman had Catholic’s other hit, going 1 for 1 with a pair of walks.

Gabby Eady won the game in the circle with a complete-game performance that included six walks and one strikeout while holding Smiths Station to five hits over seven innings.

Catholic will return to action on Friday in the 4A Area 5 tournament at 17 Springs, facing Tallassee in an opening round game at 9 a.m., advancing to the second round of the double-elimination tournament at 11:30 a.m.

Montgomery Academy 17, JAG 1

Rhianna Carstarphen went 3 for 3 to help Montgomery Academy to a 17-1 win over JAG in a three-inning game on Monday.

Carstarphen singled in the first inning, singled again in the second inning and hit a third single in the third inning as the Eagles built an 8-0 lead in the first inning and a 10-1 lead in the second before adding seven more runs in the third inning.

The Eagles jumped on top quickly as E.G. Hines singled in a run and scored on a sacrifice fly, Lucy Nelson drew a bases-loaded walk, Carstarphen singled in a run and Layla Stovall, Frances Fitzpatrick and Hines all forced in runs with bases-loaded walks.

Carstarphen added a two-run single and Hines followed with a two-run double in a seven-run third inning.

Hines pitched a no hitter in three innings of work, striking out four and walking four.

After a Tuesday game with Lee-Scott, the Eagles will return to action at St. James in the opening round of the 3A Area 5 tournament against Trinity.

St. James 10, Pike Road 2

TALLASSEE -- Kaitlyn Hudson went 3 for 4 and Emily Needham went 3 for 4 to lead a 15-hit attack in a 10-2 win over the Patriots in the Tallassee Round Robin on Saturday.

Emily Darby went 2 for 2 with a pair of solo home runs to lead the Trojans. Aleigha Davis also drove in a pair of runs with a double. Koriah Cannon went 1 for 3 and drove in a pair of runs as well.

Needham allowed just three hits and two runs, one earned, over six innings.

Kennedy Cuthbert drove in both of the Patriots’ runs with a home run.

St. James 12, Tallassee 2

TALLASSEE -- Sydney Johnston went 3 for 4, driving in four runs with a pair of doubles, as the Trojans defeated Tallassee 12-2 in the Tallassee Round Robin on Saturday.

Emily Darby went 2 for 2 and drove in three runs with a double. Lily Stanford went 2 for 3 as well.

Aleigha Davis picked up the win in the circle, giving up five hits and two runs, one earned, with two walks and four strikeouts in four innings.

Cheyann Easterling had three of the five hits, going 3 for 3 with an RBI.