Hillcrest prevents Hartselle from a storybook ending in 6A baseball:
GDW Analysis:
JACKSONVILLE: Two AHSAA baseball teams took their 6A state championship series into the tiebreaker on Friday afternoon.
Hartselle Tigers shook off getting romped in the opener by Hillcrest Tuscaloosa, defeating the Patriots Friday morning at Rudy Abbott Field/Jacksonville State by the score of 10 to 3.
Sending the series into the 3rd game was great, but the difference for Hillcrest was a grand slam by Jackson Henderson, that earned the Patriots a 6 to 5 decision and 2 to 1 in the series of ball clubs that have rich tradition in getting this deep into the postseason.
Hartselle moved to a 3 to 0 lead early in Game 2. Hillcrest tallied a run then the Tigers put four on the scoreboard in their half of the 5th to make it 7 to 1.
Insurance runs for the Tigers came with a pair scoring in the 6th and a run in the 7th to create breathing room with the Patriots.
Nick Chumley threw a complete game to earn victory for Hartselle. He allowed 3 runs on 11 hits, 0 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Hillcrest completes the season with 32 victories in 44 games.
Hartselle, No. 1 going into the postseason, compiled a record of 33 & 11.
The final two series for the Tigers had to be decided in a 3rd game.
Last week, Hartselle prevailed against Oxford, winning two in a row after the Yellow Jackets run ruled the Tigers in the opener.
Heavy hearts have been felt all week for Hartselle baseball.
Long time coach William Booth passed away in his sleep Wednesday at his home at the age of 79.
The Tigers have won 9 AHSAA championships under Booth's command with Booth the winningest coach in state prep baseball.
Jake Miles handled the duties for the Tigers in 2024, with Booth unable to be in the dugout for a majority of the assignments.
Booth passed away from a bout with cancer.
No funeral arrangements have been set.
Photo of Hartselle scoring a run in Game 2 of AHSAA 6A series
vs. Hillcrest Tuscaloosa Friday at Jacksonville State.
Photo courtesy of the AHSAA.
