The Chilton County Tigers won a roller coaster game 11-9 at home against Greenville on March 6.

It was a game of momentum swings, as the Tigers built an 8-0 lead after three innings and appeared in complete control.

“You’ve got to get guys on base and execute the offense,” CCHS head coach Ryan Ellison said. “The innings that we scored, we did a lot of that.”

However, Greenville batted around in the order and scored eight runs of its own in the top half of the fourth to quickly erase CCHS’ cushion.

The Tigers regrouped and leaped back in front 11-8 with two runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth.

“When we needed a score right there, they came out and did it,” Ellison said. “We’ve got a good team that battles well, but I’d like for us to learn how to put teams away when you get up on them.”

CCHS batters showed patience at the plate and drew seven walks in the game, including one by Griffin Green with the bases loaded to bring in a run.

Senior Landon Simmons put an exclamation point on a five-run first inning with a three-run shot that sailed over the left field wall.

Simmons also started the game on the mound and followed up the home run by striking out the side in the top of the second inning.

He had the opposing batters fooled to start the game, as he struck out seven of the nine Greenville batters their first time through the lineup.

“He’s got good stuff [on the mound] for us and a lot of out pitches,” Ellison said. “It’s not if he can go out there and throw, but can he do it consistently?”

According to Ellison, it was only his second outing of the season, due to some elbow soreness after his first start.

Other extra base hits for the Tigers included an RBI double by Jarrett Ricks and an RBI triple to the wall in left from Gabe Gray.

Gray came in and fought through some adversity to close out the game in the seventh inning.

Having already surrendered a run and with a pair of Greenville runners standing in scoring position with no outs, Gray recorded three straight outs to silence the threat for good.

“It started out rough, but I was able to bounce back,” Gray said. “The boys made some plays behind me.”