BLOUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Vinemont Eagles took a road trip to J.B. Pennington Thursday afternoon, and they jumped out to a quick lead on their way to a 12-4 win over the Tigers.
Vinemont 12 – J.B. Pennington 4 (Baseball)
Hayden Robinson led off the game for Vinemont with an infield single, then Michael Foust sacrificed Robinson over to second. Jake Hale reached on a Tiger error and that allowed Robinson to score to put the Eagles on the scoreboard first, but the Tigers tied the game on an RBI single in their half. Rush Sandlin drew a one-out walk in the second inning, then Joshua Rhodes hit a double to center field to put runners on second and third with still one out. Robinson reached on another J.B. Pennington error and Sandlin would end up scoring on the play to give Vinemont a 2-1 lead.
Foust reached on a bunt single to load the bases for Hale, who hit a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-1. Foust scored on a fielder’s choice, then an RBI groundout by Zeke Olinger pushed the Vinemont lead to 6-1. The Tigers, though, would respond in their half as a two-run double, followed by an RBI single, cut it to 6-4. Owen McKinney led off the Eagle third with a single, then after a Sandlin single, Rhodes lined an RBI single to left field to bring home McKinney as that made it a 7-4 game.
Vinemont would break the game wide open in the fifth. Sandlin led off the inning with a double to left field, then Rhodes got hit by the pitch. Robinson reached on a bunt single and a throwing error by the Tigers allowed Sandlin to cross the plate to stretch their lead to 8-4. Foust reached on a bunt single to load the bases, then a sacrifice fly by Hale made it 9-4. Vinemont pulled off a double steal and that allowed Robinson to steal home as their lead was now at six at 10-4. The Eagles would add two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-run single by McKinney and Vinemont would go on to knock off J.B. Pennington, 12-4.
Hale led the way for Vinemont (6-5) with a hit and three RBIs. McKinney added a hit and a pair of RBIs. Robinson, Thomason, and Rhodes each finished with a pair of hits and an RBI in the contest. Olinger added a hit and an RBI, while Foust and Sandlin each chipped in with a pair of hits of their own. Olinger went 3 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and seven hits, walking two, and striking out two. Rylan McRae went the final 3 1/3 innings without giving up a hit or a run and collected a pair of strikeout as well.
Vinemont will travel to take on Fairview Saturday morning.
Arab 4 – West Point 2 (Baseball)
Arab got on the scoreboard first in their half as a leadoff walk by Brody McCain would later led to a one-out RBI single by Dakota Nesmith as that gave the Knights the early 1-0 lead. Arab added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning on a one-out solo home run by Nesmith. Knight starter Aidan Cox allowed just one West Point base runner through the first three innings and that was when Gus McKenney drew a one-out walk. The Warriors got their first hit of the game on a two-out single in the fourth by J.D. Cochran, but Cox struck out Colton McCoy to quickly end the inning.
Arab put up another run in their half of the fourth. Weslee Slaton hit a leadoff single, then he stole second and would later score on an RBI ground out by Jackson Wilks to make it 3-0. Lane Stewart drew a one-out walk in the top of the fifth for the Warriors, then after a strikeout, Sylar Philyaw hit a single to right field to put runners on the corners. Cox, though, got Boston Freeman looking to end the inning. Nesmith would continue to have a big day at the plate in his next at-bat as he hit his second home run of the game in their half to give the Knights a 4-0 lead.
After a scoreless sixth inning by both teams, West Point looked to get on the scoreboard and make things interesting. Andrew Putman, Stewart, and Bryson Phillips each singled to load the bases, then back-to-back RBI groundouts by Philyaw and Boston Freeman cut it to 4-2. Knight pitcher Luke Martin would then strike out Brody Freeman to end the game as Arab ended up getting a 4-2 win over West Point.
Nesmith finished with three hits and three RBIs for Arab. Wilks added an RBI, while McCain, Blake Moon, Owen Garrison, and Slaton each collected a hit in the game. Cox went six innings and allowed just six hits and two RBIs while striking out five. Martin struck out one in his inning of work. For West Point (5-7), Philyaw finished with a hit and an RBI. Boston Freeman added an RBI. Brody Freeman, Cochran, Putman, Stewart, and Phillips all chipped in with a hit of their own in the contest.
West Point will host Hanceville Friday night.
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