Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

In its first game since winning the 2023 Chilton County Baseball Tournament, Chilton County High School took advantage of four Marbury High School errors to win 3-0 on March 14 at Jack Hayes Field.

Senior Cannon Miller got the start on the mound for the Tigers and hurled a complete game of seven innings. He surrendered four hits, no runs, no walks and struck out nine hitters. Miller led the way at the plate for CCHS as well, going 2-for-3, picking up two of the Tigers’ five hits in the game and their only RBI.

“I do not think the process (of moving to pitcher) was very hard for Cannon, and anywhere on the field he gets a chance to play he is ready to do it,” CCHS coach Ryan Ellison said. “He has not had to pitch for us that much the past few years being such a key component behind the plate. This year, he has been lights out in all of his outings.”

Marbury’s errors plagued them early when the Tigers’ Parker Willis reached on an error, and Logan Bice reached on a dropped third strike to load the bases after Aiden Bee’s earlier walk. Eli Dale sent a ground ball to shortstop where another error was committed, this one leading to two CCHS runs to put them up 2-0. Bee collected two walks in the game.

Pitching on both sides made quick work of the opposing lineups in the third and fourth innings. CCHS was threatening again in the bottom of the fifth inning after singles from Brody Pierce and Colton Brock put two on with one out. Miller stepped to the plate and helped his own cause, knocking a ball to left field that scored Pierce from second base to make it 3-0.

“When you face adversity, how you react to it is very important,” Ellison said. “When you are in big-time games, area games, playoff games, those are going to be situations where you need a little experience and belief in what you do. Being tried in those situations throughout the year … is a good thing for us, and I believe it helps us grow and learn from each situation.”

Marbury got a runner to third base in the sixth inning, but a groundout got Miller out of the inning. Marbury had runners on first and second base with two outs in the seventh inning, and Miller struck out his ninth hitter to end the game.

“They are very excited for the upcoming area games,” Ellison said. “We call (the area games) our second season, and so far, our first season is going well. We are hoping to peak at the right time in area play next week, and play hard to get to our third season in playoffs.”

CCHS travels to Montevallo High School on March 16 and to Charles Henderson High School on March 17 before hosting Calera High School on March 21 for the Tigers first AHSAA Class 6A Area 5 matchup of the season.