By Brian Millican | Special to the Advertiser

After Chilton County split a pair of games against Park Crossing at historic Paterson Field on Friday, the Tigers headed back to Montgomery for the third and final game of the series.

Despite his team losing in Game 2, Noah McGhar pitched well in three innings of work on Friday.

With that and a few other things in mind, head coach Ryan Ellison decided to give McGhar the start in the decisive Game 3.

It turned out to be a brilliant decision.

By rule, McGhar was only allowed to pitch four innings, but he made the best of it.

McGhar did not surrender an earned run and he struck out three in four innings of work. In fact, McGhar did not allow an earned run in any of his seven innings pitched during the series.

While the Thunderbirds were baffled at the plate, the Tigers racked up 12 hits and plated 13 runs.

The pressure of Game 3 did not phase Chilton County, as they defeated Park Crossing 13-1 and advanced to the second-round of the state playoffs.

The Tigers won the coin toss on Friday night and served as the home team in Game 3 and wasted no time as they took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Already 4-for-7 in the series, Bennett drove in the first run of Saturday’s game with a double and Giquon Lane later doubled as well, to drive in two more runs.

Park Crossing scored an unearned run in the top of the 2nd, but the Tigers’ onslaught continued in the bottom half.

Hatch singled and drove in Gilliland, while Bennett hit is fourth triple of the series to score Eiland Cleckler and Hatch.

An eventual wild pitch plated Bennett and a Thunderbird error scored Griffin Green (courtesy runner for Dustin Cleckler) from third.

At the end of two, the Tigers led 8-1.

Five more runs crossed the plate for Chilton County in the bottom of the third.

Hatch hit a sacrifice fly that scored Gabe Gray (pinch runner for Tolliver Gilliland). Dustin Cleckler then doubled in Eiland Cleckler and Corbin Bice.

Lane eventually singled in Bennett and after three innings, Chilton County held a commanding 12-run lead.

McGhar continued his solid work on mound and held the Thunderbirds scoreless yet again in the top of the fourth. Bice doubled in the bottom of the inning to score Hatch and increase the lead to 13-1.

Gilliland collected his ninth win of the season in Game one on Friday and was available for two more innings on Saturday.

With his team needing only three outs to win the game via the 10-run rule, Ellison called Gilliland’s number once again.

It was a wise decision, as Gilliland and the Tigers’ defense shut the door on Park Crossing and the celebration began.

Bennett and Lane each had three RBIs on the day while Hatch and Dustin Cleckler added two apiece. Bennett finished the series 7-for-11 with four triples and 10 RBIs.

As a team, the Tigers batted .377 in the series, collecting 30 RBIs on 29 hits and outscoring Park Crossing 34-11.

Chilton County is now 21- 13 on the season. They will travel to Tuscaloosa on Friday to play Hillcrest in round-two of the playoffs.

The games are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. If needed, Game 3 will be played at 2 p.m. on Saturday.