Baseball Playoffs: Cullman, St. John Paul II, Appalachian advance

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Cullman advanced to semifinal play with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 2-all tie on the way to a 4-2 victory in Game 3 action at Cullman.

Paxton Ponder belted a two-out, two-run homer, his only hit of the game, for the winning runs.

Gardendale had tied the game in the top of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Norris and run-scoring single by Easton Kleyn.

Elijah Hayes added a double for Cullman (23-20) while H Howell had a hit and RBI.

Starter Easton Peed gave up two runs and five hits in five innings for the Bearcats while Cody Jones picked up the win, throwing 2/3 of an inning, and Ponder got the save.

Kleyn was 3-for-3 to lead Gardendale (25-13) while Caiden Combs was 2-for-4 and Connor Hensley had a double.

Cullman plays top-ranked Oxford in semifinal action.

CLASS 7A

Enterprise 3-0, Central-Phenix City 2-1

Carson Gilley’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh allowed reigning Class 7A champion Central-Phenix City to stave off elimination on Friday night.

Enterprise and Central-Phenix City were scoreless going to the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap after the Wildcats won a dramatic 3-2 first game.

Page reached base on an error that allowed him to get to second base. Brent Schneeberger then hit into a fielder’s choice grounder. Page was trapped off base and got in a rundown. Schneeberger took second on the play. Page initially was called out by the third base umpire.

Central coach AJ Kehoe questioned whether Page had been tagged, After a short discussion, the umpires changed the call and placed Page at third base. Enterprise protested to no avail. Central’s Emory Yohn was then intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Gilley then got his game-winning single.

Jax Yoxtheimer got the complete game victory on the mound. He allowed five hits, struck out five and walked three. Brady Richardson started and went 5.2 shutout innings for Enterprise, scattering four hits and striking out eight. Austin Chappell was the hard-luck losing pitcher.

In Game 1, it was Enterprise that came through with a tie-breaking run in the bottom of the eighth when Andrew Shiver walked with the bases loaded. Tyler Martin was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Austin Acreman scattered six hits and allowed two runs in the first seven innings. Brady Cavanaugh got three outs in the eighth for the win. Brantley Rothrock took the loss for Central.

Preston Bedford was 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Red Devils.

Game 3 is set for noon Saturday.

-- Mark Clark

CLASS 4A

St. John Paul II 8, Priceville 6

Brendan Caruso went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as St. John Paul II ousted top-ranked Priceville in Game 3 of their quarterfinal playoff series.

The Falcons (24-10) will play Etowah in the state semifinals next week.

Luke Songy, Nick Songy and Tyler Sottolano each had two hits for St. John Paul II, which scored four runs in the second and three in the third to take command. Caruso picked up the win with 4.2 innings of relief. He allowed five hits and two runs.

Thomas Kerby had two hits for Priceville. Jackson Prickett gave up four runs – only one earned – in two innings and took the loss.

CLASS 3A

Phil Campbell 11, Lauderdale County 5

No. 2 Phil Campbell scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead and cruised into the state semifinals.

The Bobcats (29-7) pounded out 17 hits. They will play top-ranked Gordo next week in a matchup of the top two teams in 3A.

Kyle Pace had two hits and three RBIs. Cody Quinn and Koltin Hester each had three hits and two RBIs. Eli Taylor went the distance for the win. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits and struck out seven. He walked two.

Noah Parker went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Lauderdale County. Jackson Hamm also drove in two.

CLASS 1A

Appalachian 11, Sumiton Christian 4

Top-ranked Appalachian scored six runs in the second inning and went on to defeat No. 7 Sumiton Christian to advances to the state semifinals.

The Eagles (25-4) will play No. 9 Hackleburg next week with the winner earning a trip to the state finals.

Garrett Helms went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored and two RBIs. Preston Martin had two hits and two RBIs and Chris Heekin was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Logan Harvey, the first of three Appalachian pitchers, got the win.

Braden Woodard took the loss for Sumiton Christian. Sumiton actually outhit Appalachian 16-12. Leadoff man Sam Nix went 5-for-5. Austin Scobey, Justin Hicks, Kaden Parrish and Rusty McDonald each had two hits.

AHSAA PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD

CLASS 7A

Enterprise 3-0, Central-Phenix City 2-1 (noon Saturday)

Thompson 9-0, Bob Jones 6-7 (1 p.m. Saturday)

Vestavia Hills 5-13, Spain Park 2-2, Vestavia Hills (30-9) advances

Smiths Station 2, Baker 1 (1 p.m. Saturday)

CLASS 6A

Cullman 4, Gardendale 2, Cullman (23-20) advances

Saraland (27-8) at Spanish Fort (26-15), Game 3 ppd. (3 p.m. Saturday)

CLASS 5A

Boaz 10-0, Arab 3-4 (1 p.m. Saturday)

Headland 12-2, Holtville 11-4 (1 p.m. Saturday)