Southside rallies to clinch playoff spot

ALEXANDRIA — Southside clinched a berth in the high school baseball playoffs by coming back to defeating Alexandria 9-8 in Class 5A, Area 12 play Thursday. The result also locked up a playoff berth for No. 5 Etowah.

The Panthers trailed 8-7 going into the top of the seventh before scoring twice, then sitting the Valley Cubs down three-up and three-down in the bottom of the seventh.

Tyler Roberts’ single tied it at 7, then a ground out by Toren Snow brought home the game’s final run.

Roberts had a big day for Southside, in addition to his seventh-inning exploits. He had two hits, including a double, and four RBI. Mason McGlaughn tallied two hits and two RBI. Sam Raines drove a pair of hits. Snow amassed a double and an RBI. Brock Ford finished with one hit and one RBI. Andrew Dunston plated one run.

Roberts also was the winning pitching, going 4.1 innings in relief. He yielded one earned run and five hits while striking out four.

Hokes Bluff 6, Alexandria 4

JACKSONVILLE — Class 4A, No. 1 Hokes Bluff came back to defeat Area 10 Jacksonville 6-4 in high school baseball Thursday.

The Eagles trailed 4-3 after three innings, but they got two in the fourth and one in the sixth to go up.

Houston Edwards led the Hokes Bluff offense with two hits, including a home run, and three RBI. Caleb McGinnis totaled two hits and one RBI. Carson Eubanks finished with two hits. Drake Rainey had one hit and one RBI. Dylan Teague drove a double. Clay Rainey and Jackson Fielding each chipped in one hit.

Payton Lemons pitched four innings, giving up two earned runs and one hit while walking five and fanning five. McGinnis finished it off, tossing three innings with no runs and one hit allowed with five strikeouts.

West End 9-11, Cleveland 1-9

West End swept a doubleheader from Cleveland on Wednesday, 9-1 and 11-9, to push its high school baseball record to 10-4.

Jacob Jones tossed a complete game for the Patriots in the opener, only needing 70 pitches. He allowed four hits and struck out three. Eli Pierce had two hits, including a triple, scored three runs and drove in one. Jackson Tidmore and Levi Armstrong also had two hits, Jacob Chamblee had a triple and drove in four runs and Jones contributed a hit and an RBI.

Austin Mitchell picked up the win in the nightcap with three innings of relief. He struck out three and allowed three hits. Tidmore, Jones, Armstrong, A.J. Traylor, Kaleb Arledge and Zack Rubio paced West End’s hitting attack.

The Patriots host Cold Springs on Monday.

Coosa Christian 7, Donoho 6

Coosa Christian picked up a Class 1A, Area 11 high school baseball victory over Donoho 7-6 Wednesday.

Masaki Nakamura pitched six innings to get the win and Connor Belyeu relieved him in the seventh for the save.

Chase Burger drove in the winning run in the sixth with a double. He totaled three hits and four RBI. Connor Belyeu, Karter Roberts, and Reece Myrick each scored twice.

Sardis 10, Douglas 2

SARDIS CITY — Sardis cruised over Class 5A, Area 13 foe Douglas 10-2 in high school baseball Wednesday.

Brody Samples had two hits and two RBI for the Lions. Braxton Brooks drove a double and plated one run. Jackson Greer, Connor Morris and Trey Hubbard each amassed one hit and one RBI. Reece Lee, Chase Williams and Brayden Bridges chipped in one hit each.

Samples went 5.1 innings on the mound to get the win, allowing two runs and three hits while fanning nine. Bridges went the final 1.2 innings, giving up three hits with one strikeout.

SOFTBALL

West End 10, Gaston 0

WALNUT GROVE — West End beat Gaston 10-0 in six innings Thursday in high school softball.

Jayleigh Kirby earned the win and struck out 12 for the Patriots (11-4-1). She added two hits at the plate.

Brianne Jordan was 4-for-4 and a triple away from the cycle. She finished with three RBI. Kayley Dobbins had three hits and two RBI. Montanna Mashburn tallied two hits and two RBI.

The Patriots led the Bulldogs 5-0 through two innings before the game was called because of rain.

West End will play the winner of Sardis and Glencoe at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sardis in the Etowah County tournament.

Sardis 15, Glencoe 2

SARDIS CITY — Sardis beat Etowah County foe Glencoe 15-2 in five innings in high school softball Wednesday.

Jade Bonds finished with two hits, including a double, and two RBI for the Lions. Jade Knight collected two hits. Jaylyn Minshew ripped a triple and plated two runs. Emily Cook, Val Owens and Jayda Lacks each had one hit and one RBI. Analee Dilbeck drove in two runs and Harlee Vincent plated one.

Dilbeck pitched five innings, giving up six hits and one earned run with one walk and two strikeouts.

GIRLS GOLF

Glencoe's Cole finishes as low medalist

GLENCOE — Glencoe’s Lauren Cole finished as the low medalist in the Links at Briarmeade Invitational boys high school golf tourney.

Oak Mountain had the lowest team score with a 259.

Glencoe finished with a total of 289 to finish in fifth place. Hokes Bluff, Southside, Cedar Bluff and Geraldine also had players competing in the event.

Low medalist: Cole (G) 79

Other low scores: Abby Powell (G) 104; Camryn Blackwell (G) 106; Kaylee Miller (CB) 107; Abby McBurnett (CB) 107; Mallory Brooks (S) 113; Molly Pearce (S) 113; Asia Dennis (G) 118; Ashley Bigelow (H) 131.

BOYS GOLF

Glencoe wins tourney

GLENCOE — Glencoe won the Links at Briarmeade Invitational boys high school golf tourney Thursday.

The Yellow Jackets (19-11) carded a 339, ahead of second place Hokes Bluff’s 357.

Also competing were Sardis, Southside, West End and Pleasant Valley, with Cedar Bluff having two individuals in the field.

Low medalist: Nick Sawyer (CB) 69

Other low scores: Mark Sawyer (CB) 71; Brock McNeely (G) 76; Justin Graham (G) 84; Hunter Fordham (G) 84; Brock Lawley (So) 84; Braxton Scott (Sa) 84; Tommy Simmons (So) 85; Matthew Jones (HB) 86; Dylan Boatner (HB) 88; Hunter Tucker (WE) 90; Kaleb Morgan (Sa) 90; Josh Jones (HB) 90; Tucker Marsh (HB) 90.

Next match: Glencoe plays in the Gadsden Area Golf Tournament at Twin Bridges Golf Club on Monday.