Baseball playoffs set to start

Six baseball teams from the area qualified for the AHSAA playoffs across three different classes.

Two first-round matchups will pit familiar foes against each other when Billingsley (7-15) hosts Isabella (4-13) and Maplesville (8-13-1) welcomes in Verbena (5-15) in class 1A.

Thorsby and Chilton County High School look to carry on their success into the postseason in Class 2A and 5A respectively.

The Rebels (21-3) will host Horseshoe Bend (9-11) while CCHS (21-7) faces Demopolis (9-12).

Thorsby and CCHS have been the dominant county teams throughout the year and are viable candidates to make a state title run.

The records for Maplesville and Billingsley may not pop off the page like other teams in Class 1A, but they have shown potential.

In many ways the playoffs are like a new season, and every team has the capability of getting hot and stringing wins and series victories together.

Chilton County High School heads into the postseason with a stellar pitching staff that includes Pico “de gallo” Kohn. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Special)

One of the defining characteristics for the Tigers and Rebels this season is the depth of the pitching staffs.

Pico “de gallo” Kohn has been a strikeout artist for CCHS, while Riley Thornton has also done his share of fooling opposing batters.

Trent Jones, Tucker Patterson and Tanner Jones pose a three-pronged attack of arms that will prove a potent combination during the best-of-three series format used in the playoffs.

Despite the pitching prowess, both teams also pose a lineup chalked full of timely hitters.

Severe weather is expected to roll in April 18, which may force the Billingsley v. Isabella and Thorsby v. Horseshoe Bend series to be pushed back from its original start time at 4:30 p.m. that day.

Maplesville v. Verbena will play April 19 at 11 a.m. and CCHS at 4:30 p.m. later that night.

All Game 3s will be played if necessary the day following the start of the series.

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