HOOVER, Ala. Cullman wrapped up its games in the Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover Saturday afternoon with a 14-6 win over Loganville. The lead traded hands several times in the first few innings but the Bearcats put up seven runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for the Red Devils. The win brought Cullman’s record to 2-2 at the High School Showdown after falling to Avant Garde Academy and Buford and defeating DeSoto Central.
Cooper Beck led off the top of the top of the first with a single and Peyton Colvard put the ‘Cats up 2-0 with a homerun to left field. Loganville tacked on two runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game, but a bases-loaded walk put Cullman back up 3-2 in the top of the second.
The Red Devils added another pair of runs in the bottom half of the second to go ahead 4-3 but an RBI single from Ben Hollis tied things up at 4 in the top of the third. Colvard drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to put the ‘Cats up by one.
Loganville tied things up at 5 with an infield single in the bottom of the fourth and took a 6-5 lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth. Colvard tied the game at 6 with an infield single that scored a run and Dylon Wallace added an RBI single to gave Cullman a 7-6 lead. Ben Hollis kept the big inning going with a 2-run single that made it a 9-6 game. Niklas Fondren tacked on an RBI single of his own to make it 10-6 and AJ Miller was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 11-6. The ‘Cats brought in one more run on a fielder’s choice to give them a 12-6 lead going into the bottom of the sixth.
Cooper Bowen drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the seventh to make it 13-6 and a sacrifice fly from Beck gave Cullman a comfortable, 14-6 lead going into the final frame. Brennen Norton shut things down for the final frame and the Bearcats pulled away to win it 14-6.
Colvard racked up four RBIs in the win and was followed closely by Hollis who finished with three. Beck (two RBIs) and Fondren each posted two hits as well.
‘Cats Head Coach Brent Patterson is glad that his team was able to participate in the event and knows that facing that level of competition will help them prepare for some big games in front of them.
“I think we are very fortunate to have been a part of it to tell you the truth because we faced four extremely good teams,” Patterson said. “You do that because you want to make yourself better for down the road and we won a very close game against DeSoto Friday and our very next game, we faced an extremely good Buford team and it was another great game. A bounce here or there either way could’ve changed the outcome in either direction.”
The thing that Patterson has been most excited to see in the first month of the season is the number of young arms that have stepped on the mound.
“I think what has probably been the most encouraging is that we’ve had guys step up on the mound and even though we got beat twice yesterday, 2-1 and 3-2, we gave up just five runs in two games which means our pitchers are giving us a chance,” Patterson said. “One guy after another is getting in there and giving us a chance to go win a game and the more guys we have that can contribute on the mound, the better off we’ll be.”
The heightened atmosphere of the Perfect Game event was just one more thing that Patterson thinks his team can learn from going forward.
“It felt like a playoff atmosphere and it was just a good experience for our guys to get,” Patterson said. “If we can be in that environment as many times as possible before we play meaningful games in the standings, we’ll be better because of it. That was a big-time environment and a big-time atmosphere.”
Umpire’s Tournament –
Good Hope 3 – Falkville 2 (championship game)
Like they had done all day, the Lady Raiders struck early in the game with an RBI triple from Skylar Tucker and a sacrifice fly from Bailey Swann. After a scoreless second inning, Good Hope stretched its lead to 3-0 when Jacqueline Hays came home to score on a bunt from Swann.
Falkville trimmed the lead to 3-2 with an RBI double and a fielder’s choice but Sidnie English shut the Lady Blue Devils down the rest of the way and the Lady Raiders held on to win this year’s Umpire’s Tournament Championship 3-2.
Tucker went two for two at the plate with an RBI and Swann led Good Hope with two RBIs in the win. Morgan Goodwin, Angelina Flanagan and Rebecca also collected hits for the Lady Raiders.
Good Hope 6 – Cold Springs 1
The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 start with an RBI triple from Bailey Swann. Swann was able to come around to score on the throw. An RBI triple off the bat of Kailee Shikle and an RBI single from Morgan Goodwin made it 4-0 Good Hope in the bottom of the second.
A 2-run double from Angelina Flanagan stretched the lead to 6-0 in the third but Lacey Rice drove in a run for the Lady Eagles in the top of the fourth to trim the lead to five. That score held the rest of the way and the Lady Raiders pulled away to win it.
Goodwin went three for three at the plate for Good Hope and Swann and Flanagan each collected two RBIs. Rice, Kylon Hamby, Kyla Aaron and Freeman each posted a hit for Cold Springs.
Good Hope 5 – Curry 4
Good Hope built an early lead in this one when Morgan Goodwin scored on a fielder’s choice and an RBI double from Angelina Flanagan gave the Lady Raiders a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Jacquline Hays drove in a run in the bottom of the second to make it a 3-0 game but Curry scored four in the bottom of the third to take a 1-run lead. Skylar Tucker put Good Hope up for good in the top of the fourth with a two-run double and Sidnie English held the Lady Yellow Jackets scoreless the rest of the way.
Goodwin finished the game three for three at the plate and Tucker led the Lady Raiders with two RBIs. Hays, English and Flanagan posted RBIs in the win as well.
Holly Pond 9 – Vinemont 2
Lexi Smith led the Lady Broncos at the plate, going two for three with three RBIs and Ciera James finished just behind her with two hits and two RBIs. Maddie Oliver drove in both runs for the Lady Eagles with an inside-the-park homerun.
Hanceville 5 – Fairview 4
Brittney Dearing and Destiny Short both led the way for the Lady Bulldogs in their win over Fairview, going two for three with two RBIs. Cassidy Campbell got the start on the mound for Hanceville, but it was eighth-grader Peyton Embry that closed out the final two innings and secured the 5-4 win.
Katie Ball (one RBI) and Rebekah Deblanc each went two for two at the plate for Fairview.
Falkville 10 – Hanceville 5
Peyton Embry went the distance on the mound for the Lady Bulldogs in this one. With the game tied at 5 in the final inning, defensive miscues and some big hits allowed Falkville to pull away and win it 10-5.
Brittney Dearing, Destiny Short, Hannah Flanigan and Embry each collected a hit for Hanceville.
Falkville 3 – Meek 0
Game stats unavailable
Shamrock Invitational –
Cullman 1 – Enterprise 1
One goal from Abby Branham was the only score for the Lady Bearcats in their tie with Enterprise.
Cullman 4 – Hazel Green 0
Cullman shut out Hazel Green in their second matchup of the tournament. Abby Branham racked up three goals and Jeta Falcon added another score on a penalty kick.
Cullman 2 – Daphne 1
The Lady Bearcats took down Daphne in their Saturday morning matchup thanks to a pair of goals from Abby Branham.
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