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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Chilton County area high school baseball and softball teams had their final tune ups before the 2023 Chilton County baseball and softball tournaments on March 9-11.

 

Isabella High School

 Both of Isabella High School’s teams got their first wins of the season during this past week’s action. The Mustangs baseball team took down Maplesville High School 10-1 on Feb. 28 to avenge an earlier season loss to the Red Devils. Tyler Mims threw seven innings and gave up eight hits, one run and struck out 12 batters. Braxton Mims led the way at the plate for Isabella going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, and Zac Chapman and Dawson Edwards each had two hits.

“When you start the season off with a bad game on opening day, you start to lose confidence way too early in the season,” Isabella baseball coach Dustin Green said. “Getting a win like that, and playing as well as they did, I think it reminds them how good they can be and what they are capable of. I think they gained a lot of confidence just from that one win.”

Maplesville was led by Bradlee Padgett going 2-for-3 with a double, and Troy McMillan had an RBI.

Isabella’s March 3 game against Verbena High School and Maplesville’s March 2 game against Vincent High School were both rained out.

The Mustangs softball team opened their 2023 season with an 8-5 win over B.B. Comer High School at home on Feb. 28. Auburn Bassett controlled the circle, throwing seven innings of four-hit ball, allowing five runs, three of which were earned, and four strikeouts. Bassett was 3-for-3 at the plate, and Eliza Lovett launched a home run in the win.

An inter-county matchup on March 6 saw Isabella face off with Maplesville, and the Red Devils came out on top 13-4. Kelsey Cox was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Isabella, and Jaden McGee was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs for Maplesville.

“We had a really good game against Comer … Auburn did a great job on the mound and it was a really good way to open the season,” Isabella softball coach Kacie Adams said. “Against Maplesville, we struggled at the plate starting off … Overall, I think the girls will have a good season this year, it is just early on for them.”

 

Maplesville High School

 Maplesville’s softball team traveled to Holtville High School on Feb. 28 and fell 11-2. Hayden Carter was 2-for-3 and McGee had an RBI. The Red Devil’s March 2 game against Jemison High School was rained out, but they did travel to the Calhoun County Sports Complex for a tournament on March 4 and played four games going 2-1-1.

Maplesville won its first game of the tournament 5-2 over Hokes Bluff High School with Lexi Smith and Karlee Cummings recorded doubles, and Mollie Kayte Smith, Lexi Smith, Carter and Cummings all had RBIs. Lexi Smith pitched five innings and surrendered five hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out four hitters.

Maplesville tied Kate Duncan Smith DAR School 3-3 in their second game. Kamylia Talley had a triple, Cummings had a double and Grace Williams and Talley both had an RBI. Mollie Kayte Smith threw five innings and gave up two hits, three runs (all unearned) and struck out four hitters.

The Red Devils best game of the tournament was a 17-1 win over Saks High School. Talley was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and McGee and Carter each had three RBIs. Mollie Kayte Smith was back in the circle and threw three innings giving up three hits, one unearned run and struck out six hitters.

Maplesville’s last game was a 6-0 loss to Ohatchee High School where Talley went 2-for-3 and McGee and Cummings each had a hit.

 

Chilton County High School

Chilton County High School’s baseball team picked up three more wins during last week’s action to continue their stellar start to the 2023 season. The Tigers won 10-6 on Feb. 28 over Marbury High School led by Aiden Bee going 3-for-4 with a home run. Logan Bice also launched a long ball for the Tigers in the win.

The Tigers picked up another win over Pelham High School 11-1 on March 2 before hosting a doubleheader at Jack Hayes Field on March 4. CCHS lost game one against McAdory High School 5-1. Parker Willis went 2-for-3 and Brody Pierce went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

The Tigers bounced back in game two against West Blocton High School winning 10-0. Pierce went 2-for-3, as did Colton Brock with a triple and three RBIs. Bee was 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. J.D. Terrell was great on the mound throwing three innings and surrendering two hits while striking out six hitters. Kepler Lively took over hurling two innings of no-hit baseball and three strikeouts.

The Tigers softball team started its week of action last week with an 11-1 win over Jemison on Feb. 28, and then traveled to Wetumpka for a weekend tournament from March 3-4. The Tigers suffered three losses in their three games, but Macey Pierce was 2-for-2 in game one and launched a home run and had two RBIs in game three. Chloe Shiers, Maecie Driskell and Gracie Brewer all had RBIs in the tournament.

CCHS finished their week of games on March 6 against Oak Mountain falling 7-4. Driskell was 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Tigers, and Mallie Harrison collected two hits.

 

Jemison High School

Jemison’s baseball team suffered two late-game losses earlier in the season, and coach Jason Easterling’s message was clear.

“We need to learn how to finish,” Easterling said after the close losses.

The Panthers faced off with Prattville Christian Academy on March 3 and fell 8-5. Daniel Flores was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Tucker Bean was 2-for-4 with a double. Trent Gaines added a 2-for-3 day at the plate and Guyton Pace had an RBI for the Panthers.

Jemison got its first chance to take the message from Easterling to heart on March 4 in a matchup with Montevallo High School. Holding a late 4-1 lead, the Panthers were able to hold on for the win. Lane Pate, Cooper Smitherman and Gaines all had a hit with Gaines’ going for a double. Sammy Delgado, Pate and Gaines all had RBIs. Hunter Scott threw seven innings for Jemison and gave up four hits, one run and struck out five hitters.

Jemison’s softball team had one game week, the 11-1 loss to CCHS, after its March 2 game with Maplesville was rained out.

 

Thorsby High School

Thorsby High School’s baseball team lost both of its games during last week’s action, first 10-0 to Shelby County High School on March 3. Aiden Seeley and Payton Cole each had a hit in the game for the Rebels.

Thorsby lost to Vincent 17-0 on March 4 that saw both J.T. Green and Malachi Allgood record hits for the Rebels.

Thorsby’s softball team picked up a 4-3 win over West Blocton on Feb. 28. Makinley Turner threw four innings of three-hit ball and gave up three runs while striking out 11 hitters. Brooklyn Reeser had a double, Turner had a triple and Brinley Giambrone had a single in the win.

The Rebels had both of its games on March 3 rained out, but did have a doubleheader with Holtville and Marbury high schools on March 6 at home. The Rebels lost game one to Holtville 11-8 with B Whitefield going 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the way. Four other Rebels’ hitters had a multi-hit game, but they could not hold on late.

In game two against Marbury, Thorsby fell 14-0 and was no-hit by the Bulldogs.

 

Verbena High School

Verbena’s softball team had its March 2 game with Billingsley High School rained out, and its only other action was a 12-2 defeat on the road against Shelby County on March 6.

Jaycee Quinn and Jasmin Moates each hit solo home runs for Verbena and Abbegail Vazques had a double.

“I think we have played pretty well, and there are still some areas we need to clean up, but it is still early in the season,” Verbena softball coach Geoffery Lockhart said. “Our 1-7 (batters) can be very heavy hitters, and that is definitely going to help out a lot.”

The Red Devils baseball team’s March 3 against Isabella was rained out, but won 5-4 in game one of a doubleheader against Victory Christian Academy on March 4. Jarod Quinn was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Dustin Davis had an RBI for Verbena. Versain Guzman got the start on the mound and went three and two-thirds innings giving up one hit and striking out five hitters.

Verbena tied game two with Victory Christian 6-6. Quinn had a home run and three RBIs, and Johnathan Marino and Guzman each had a hit as well.

The Red Devils bounced back in a big way on March 6 against Central of Coosa County High School with a 21-6 win.

 

Billingsley High School

Billingsley’s baseball team won 11-0 over Indian Springs on Feb. 28 behind Mason Truesdale’s perfect game. In a doubleheader with Dallas County High School on March 3, the Bears split it 1-1 losing game one 4-3. Landon Jones threw five innings and gave up five hits and three runs while striking out 14 hitters. Jones was 2-for-4 with two doubles, Brady Caver was 2-for-3 with a double and Jason Smith was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

In game two, Billingsley bounced back big with a 16-0 win. Kyle Boice was 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and he pitched two innings striking out all six hitters he faced. Eli Manning had two RBIs for the Bears.

Billingsley’s softball team’s only game last week on March 2 against Verbena was canceled due to rain.