Phil Campbell pitcher Colton Vickery throws a strike against Red Bay on Monday. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter and Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Red Bay varsity boys put together a two-run sixth inning to take a 4-3 win over area rival Phil Campbell last Monday.

Sophomore Troy Borden hit his seventh home run of the season in the 6^th inning off Phil Campbell pitcher Colton Vickery to put Red Bay out front.

Red Bay’s Chandler Allen had a one-out double that put the tying run on second when Borden came to the plate. Borden’s long drive, which sailed over the fence, also scored Allen. Jade pounds had an RBI triple.

Red Bay and Phil Campbell tied at one run each at the end of the first, but the Bobcats came back and scored two runs in the fourth while Red Bay answered with only one.

Vickery took the loss for the Bobcats while Borden picked up the win.

Borden had five strikeouts, while giving up seven hits and three runs.

Vickery had 10 strikeouts and allowed only six hits.

Hardy had two hits for Phil Campbell, while Scott, Baker, Jones, Motes, and Vickery had one each.

Allen, Pounds, Thorn, and Knoblock had one hit for Red Bay.

Borden had two hits, including the home run RBI.

After the Tigers’ win in game one of the series, the Bobcats answered by defeating the Tigers in game two 9-8 and game three 8-4.

Phil Campbell coach Jonathan Raper said even though his team was young, he was confident in their abilities as they head into area play.

“I think we are playing much better defense right now than we were earlier in the season,” Raper said.

“We are making fewer errors, our pitchers are walking less batters and throwing more strikes.

“One area we really need to improve upon if we are going to compete in the area is our hitting. I also think we understand our roles better. That just comes with experience. We are a more fundamentally sound team but we still have a long way to go.”