Post 6 team makes state tournament

Published 3:55 pm Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Coming together: The American Legion Post 6 baseball team includes players from Chilton County, Isabella, Jemison, Thorsby, Verbena, Billingsley, Autauga Academy and Marbury. The team is pictured with Post 6 Commander Jerry Grooms (far right).

The local American Legion baseball team has qualified for the state tournament, beginning July 15 at Troy University.

The Douglas Glass Post 6 team—composed of players from Chilton County, Isabella, Jemison, Thorsby, Verbena, Billingsley, Autauga Academy and Marbury high schools—finished third in a double-elimination district tournament July 7-10 in Tuscaloosa.

After losing its first game, 9-5, Post 6 won four games in two days thanks in large part to a pitching staff that allowed only five hits in those wins combined.

Jemison’s Alex Campbell held a Thorsby American Legion team to two hits and struck out nine batters in an 18-2 win.

Next up was Thorsby’s Jason Price, who yielded two hits and struck out six in an 8-3 win over a Demopolis team.

Trevor Thomas, who plays for CCHS, pitched a no-hitter with three walks and six strikeouts in a 17-0 win over Tuscaloosa Post 34 White. That win qualified Post 6 for the state tournament.

The last day of the district tournament brought a 2-0 loss to Post 34 Red.

“We were out of gas on Sunday,” coach Tim Cahalane said. “We didn’t hit. Our guys were tired.

“But our No. 1 goal going into it was to qualify for the state tournament, and we did that.”

Top hitters in the tournament were Thomas (12 hits, home run and five doubles), Sawyer Cahalane of Isabella (five hits and two doubles), Garrett Price of Billingsley (five hits and one double) and Campbell (four hits and one home run).

Post 6 will play in the first game of the state tournament, taking on Post 49 West at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Also participating are Hartselle Post 52, Tuscaloosa Post 34 Red, Dothan Post 12, West Limestone Post 49, Tuscaloosa Tide Post 34 and Huntsville Post 237.

Pool play will last through Sunday, and the championship game will be played July 18.

Post 6 includes: Thomas and Kipp Moore of Chilton County; Cahalane; Campbell, Brannon Johnson, Cruz Martinez and Trahe Smith of Jemison; Price and Brantly Maddox of Thorsby; Christian Coston and Jacob Montgomery of Verbena; Garrett Price and Preston Wallace of Billingsley; Stuart Dawson, Forrest Ousley and Will Shackelford of Autauga Academy; and Trey Davis, Mason Gilmore and Matt Hand of Marbury.

Helping Tim Cahalane coach is Billy Coston.

Cahalane thanked the local American Legion post, CCHS coach Josey Shannon and the city of Clanton for accommodating the baseball team.