Vestavia Hills, Gordo grab dramatic Game 1 baseball wins

Gordo’s Brady Jones doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday night to lift Gordo to a 2-1 win over Houston Academy in game one of the AHSAA Class 3A State Baseball Series.

The Green Wave (33-5) took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, which resumes at 10 a.m. Thursday morning at Jacksonville State.

Wednesday’s game was a pitching duel between Gordo’s Will Whitley and Houston Academy’s Adam Boyd. The Raiders (26-8) scored first in the top of the second inning when catcher Cam Dyer singled to start the inning. Jeb Daughtry was inserted as the courtesy runner, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Will Wells and scored on Max Hawker’s double.

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Whitley, who allowed just six hits, was masterful the rest of the way. He finished with three strikeouts and two walks to get the win. He pitched out of a jam in the first and fifth innings, stranding two runners in each frame.

Gordo tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Jones led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Whitley, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a single to right by Baylee Price. Jones drove in designated hitter Brax Garrison, who reached on an error, in the next inning. Price and Landon Fike each had two hits to pace the Green Wave.

Boyd went six innings, yielding eight hits and walking one. Gordo did not have a batter strike out. Wyatt Shelley collected a double and single for the Raiders

CLASS 7A

Vestavia Hills 5, Central-Phenix City 4

The fourth-ranked Rebels took a 1-0 series lead over the reigning champions in dramatic fashion Wednesday night at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.

After Central tied the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, Vestavia’s Mason Perrigo was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom half. Carson Mann came in as a courtesy runner and scored the winning run on Luke Henry Swanzy’s double.

Game 2 is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at Jacksonville State. The Red Devils (33-10) need to win to force a deciding Game 3.

Matthew Ledbetter got the win for Vestavia with an inning of relief for starter Aiden Black. Black allowed four runs on six hits. Brody Stamp took the loss for Central. Hudson Walburn had two RBIs for the Rebels. No player on either had more than one hit.

AHSAA 2023 STATE BASEBALL FINALS

(First game in each series, Oxford, Choccolocco Park; Games 2 and 3, Jacksonville State University)

CLASS 1A

Game 1: Appalachian (30-4) 18, Brantley (20-8) 3

Game 2: Appalachian (31-4) 11, Brantley (20-9) 10 (Appalachian wins series 2-0)

CLASS 2A

Game 1: Ariton (30-12-1) 2, Vincent (30-6) 1

Game 2: Ariton (31-12-1) 5, Vincent (30-7) 4 (Ariton wins series 2-0)

CLASS 6A

Game 1: Oxford (38-6) 6, Spanish Fort (29-18) 5

Game 2: Oxford (39-6) 12, Spanish Fort (29-19) 3 (Oxford (39-6) wins series 2-0)

CLASS 4A

Game 1: Etowah (29-11) 6, UMS-Wright (27-13) 1

Game 2: Etowah (30-11) 5, UMS-Wright (27-14) 1 (Etowah (30-11) wins series 2-0)

CLASS 3A

Game 1: Gordo (33-5) 2, Houston Academy (26-8) 1, Gordo leads series 1-0

Game 2: Houston Academy (26-7) vs. Gordo (32-5), Thur., Jacksonville State U., 10 p.m.

Game 3: Houston Academy (26-7) vs. Gordo (32-5), Thur., Jacksonville State U., if needed

CLASS 7A

Vestavia Hills 5, Central-Phenix City 4, Vestavia Hills leads series 1-0

Central-Phenix City (33-9) vs. Vestavia Hills (32-10), Thur., Jacksonville State U., 4 p.m.

Central-Phenix City (33-9) vs. Vestavia Hills (32-10), Thur., Game 3, Jacksonville State U., if needed

CLASS 5A

Holtville (25-14) vs. Sardis (30-6), Thur., Game 1, Choccolocco Park, Oxford, 7 p.m.

Holtville (25-14) vs. Sardis (30-6), Fri., Game 1,Fri., Jacksonville State U., 10 a.m.

Holtville (25-14) vs. Sardis (30-6), Fri., Game 1,Fri., Jacksonville State U., if needed