By Bart Moss for the FCT

The Phil Campbell Bobcats had a relatively easy opening round of the playoffs, sweeping Billingsley (Autauga County) in two games 6-3 and 16-4. The Bobcats will travel to Mars Hill next week for the second round of the playoffs.

Game One: Phil Campbell 6, Billingsley 3

Phil Campbell didn’t play their best game in game one, of the series but Bobcat coach Jonathan Raper knew his team would find a way to eke out a win.

“We had to grind that one out,” said Raper. “We left too many runners on base. We had chances to put the game away but never did.

“We finally broke through in fourth,” he said. “That’s the thing about this team. Even when we aren’t at our best, we still keep fighting and find a way to win. We have got to cut out the errors, though, as we advance and play better teams.”

Phil Campbell picked up their first run when Hayden Copeland scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the first inning. The Bobcats scored again in the bottom of the second inning on a Copeland RBI-double to left field, scoring Ridge Raper.

Billingsley scored a run in the top of the fourth inning to cut Phil Campbell’s lead in half 2-1.

The Bobcats broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs. Nick Taylor scored on a fielder’s choice to give Phil Campbell a 3-1 lead. The next batter up, Brodie Nix, hit a line drive double into left field scoring Roberson. Copeland also scored on the play after an error by the Billingsley catcher to give Phil Campbell a 5-1 lead. The Bobcats added their sixth run on a Joe Hardy double scoring Nix.

Hayden Copeland went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Gage Roberson had two RBIs for the Bobcats. Copeland, Joe Hardy, Brodie Nix and Peyton Thomas all had doubles. Thomas got the win from the mound, striking out nine batters.

Game Two: Phil Campbell 16, Billingsley 4

Phil Campbell didn’t waste much time putting game two away. Leading Billingsley 4-3 after the first inning, the Bobcats scored seven runs in the second inning, one in the third and four in the fifth to run away with the game and win the series. Every batter in the lineup for the Bobcats got a hit and RBI in the game.

Copeland and Thomas both reached base five times for the Bobcats. Copeland had three hits and two RBIs and scored two runs. Thomas had three hits and an RBI and scored three runs. Hardy reached base three times and had two hits, two RBIs, and he scored two runs. Colby Baker had two RBIs and scored two runs. Ridge Raper had three RBIs and scored a run. Gage Roberson scored two runs in the game.

Copeland got the win for the Bobcats, striking out seven batters.

Vina gets swept by Spring Garden

Vina lost both games to Spring Garden, 12-2 and 12-0. The Red Devils were eliminated from playoff competition.