HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The West Point Warriors and host Hanceville Bulldogs faced off in the first game of the 2026 Cullman County Baseball Tournament on Friday afternoon with a spot in the semifinals on the line. While the game was close early, a wild third inning gave West Point a sizable lead that they’d hold onto for the rest of the game to seal a 7-4 win.
Starting on the mound for West Point, Logan Campbell gave up just four hits, one earned run and fanned six batters in five innings, eventually earning the win. For the Bulldogs, Cody Belcher pitched a complete six innings, allowing seven runs and striking out three Warriors.
The Bulldogs struck first in the top half of the second inning. Christian Whatley and Jackson Sellers, the first two batters of the inning, made it on base by way of an error and a single. Next up, Eder Herrera drilled a ball to center field for a single, but an errant throw allowed both Whatley and Sellers to score to make it a 2-0 Hanceville lead. It wouldn’t last long, however, as West Point also got two on due to a walk and single to start their half of the inning. After walking then stealing second, Carter McAfee was driven home on a ground out by Skylar Echols that also moved Campbell to third. Next up, a sac-fly by Cooper Howard drove Campbell in to make it a 2-2 tie.
In the bottom of the third, West Point jolted out and took the lead. Charlie Ashley drew a leadoff walk, then Thornton cranked a liner to left field and made it to second, with Ashley stopping at third. He wouldn’t be there for long, as Cleghorn popped out to right field, allowing him to tag up and grab West Point’s third run, with Thornton moving on to third base as well. The Warriors momentum continued, as Dawson Crow doubled on the next play to score Thornton, then after a hit-by-pitch, Logan Campbell’s triple emptied the bases to score two more. One more Warrior point went up on a sac-fly, and when Belcher finally got the third out and the dust settled, West Point led 7-2.
Hanceville wasn’t done just yet. In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs finally found home plate again. After Hunter Weeks and Hunter Black got on to start the frame, a sac-bunt by Whatley advanced both into scoring position. Sellers then drove in Weeks on a ground out, and Black scored on the next play due to a dropped throw by West Point’s catcher. Hanceville still trailed 7-4, but it looked like the game could’ve been headed for an exciting finish.
Instead, Thornton and Echols would come in to close the game out in the sixth and seventh innings, sealing a 7-4 win for West Point, who will play the winner of Good Hope vs. Holly Pond tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. for a spot in the tournament championship.
Leading the Warriors at the plate was Campbell, who went 2-3 and recorded two RBIs on his triple. For the Bulldogs, Sellers and Ely Stinson both came away with two hits.
