By Jonathan Deal
jonathan@athensnews-courier.com
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It all fell apart for West Limestone in the top of the fifth inning Friday in the Wildcats first game against Central. Leading 1-0 through four innings, a series of errors allowed Central to score three runs in the fifth that were enough for a game one win.
Central’s Zach Broadfoot started his team’s scoring with a double that tied the game. Central then took its first lead when Caleb McDonald scored on a wild pitch followed by single that scored Broadfoot.
West did well to keep its shutout through four innings, with good defensive plays from pitcher Kyle Casteel. With the bases loaded and one out, Casteel recovered after the ball was belted back at him for the second out.
The Wildcats only score of the first game came from a Bradley Phillips solo home run in the fourth. Casteel nearly extended the lead, but was called out at the plate to end the inning.
West never recovered from that fifth inning, losing the second game 12-2 as Central advanced to the second round.
Class 1A
Athens Bible 4-19, Decatur Heritage 3-11
Athens Bible advanced to face No. 2 Shoals Christian in the second round of next week’s Class 1A playoffs with a series sweep of Decatur Heritage Friday. ABS fought off a late Decatur Heritage rally in the first game to grind out the win.
The home team led 3-1 most of the game before DHA scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the Trojans earn the first game win. Jacob Hagewood led off the seventh inning with a triple and scored the winning run on a wild pitch two batters later.
It was ABS that did the rallying in the second game, trailing by five runs after one innings and three runs after four innings. DHA held a 9-6 lead going into the fifth inning before ABS scored 13 runs over the fifth and sixth inning to seal the sweep.
Class 2A
Hatton 8-12, Tanner 1-2
Tanner looked like it might force a third game after four innings of Friday’s nightcap against Hatton. The Rattlers had just tied the game 2-2 when Hatton went on 10-0 run to close it out.
Dylan Harkins sac-fly scored Preston Patterson for Tanner’s first run, before Landon Stephens scored on an error later in the fourth inning. Stephens led Tanner with four hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored over the two games.
Hatton won the first game 8-1, scoring all of its runs in the first three innings. Dylan Harkins had two hits and scored a run over the two games while Javin Thatch and Colt Scott each added hits in the loss.
Tanner finished its season with a 22-14 record.
Class 5A
Athens 20-5, East Limestone 5-6
Athens and East split a pair of games Friday night at Sparkman High School in the Class 5A playoffs. Jackson Burgreen led a big five-inning win for Athens in the first game with four doubles, a single and five RBIs. Harrison Nelson added a pair of base hits while Chris Thompkins added a double and a single.
Justin Anderson doubled, singled and drove home three RBIs for Athens in the opening game win.
East tightened up in the second game, securing a 6-5 win and forcing a deciding game Saturday.
Athens won the third game Saturday to advance.
Other playoff scores from around Limestone County:
Class 3A
Lauderdale County 5-15, Elkmont 1-2 (Lauderdale County advances)
Class 4A
Deshler 10-11, Ardmore 7-4 (Deshler advances)
