Champions at last!
By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
PHIL CAMPBELL - The Phil Campbell Bobcats had been waiting for years to enjoy a scene like the one that unfolded in the aftermath of Tuesday's 13-0 victory over Red Bay.
Players congratulated one another and then gathered to pose for a team picture. A special announcement was made over the public address system. One brave soul even sprayed head coach Michael Beck with a water hose (apparently no Gatorade bucket could be found).
What was the cause for such celebration?
For the first time in Beck's six-year tenure, the Phil Campbell Bobcats are area champions.
"We haven't won an area championship in I don't know how long," said junior lefthander Griffin Harris, who tossed his second career no-hitter and also had a three-run double as Phil Campbell clinched the Class 2A, Area 16 crown. "We really wanted to win one this year for our seniors."
And how did the Bobcats' four seniors thank Harris for pitching them to the area title?
"Wedgie!," yelled Todd Carter, as he and fellow seniors Matt Thomas, Eric Glasgow and Aaron Voyles attempted to wresle Harris to the ground after the game.
"Be careful," cautioned Beck, taking it all in from a few feet away. "Don't hurt him."
Forgive Beck for being a little concerned about the well-being of his ace hurler. Winning his first area championship is nice, but Beck has bigger things in mind.
"We set a goal before the season every year to win the county tournament and to win the area," said Beck, who has guided the Bobcats to six county titles and four playoff appearances in his six seasons. "But ultimately, you want to win the whole thing. It's like I told our guys right after the game. They have the ability to go deep [in the playoffs]. We've probably had better hitting teams, but as far as pitching, speed and defense, this is the best team we've had since I've been here."
All three elements were on display Tuesday as the Bobcats (19-7, 7-1 area) extended their season-best winning streak to seven games.
After hitting Kurt Kennedy to open the game, Harris retired the next 13 batters he faced before issuing a one-out walk in the fifth.
The hard-throwing lefty finished with seven strikeouts and just two walks in five innings.
"I spent a lot of time this past summer working on my mechanics, and that has really helped my control," said Harris, whose first career no-hitter also came against Red Bay, in the Franklin County tournament his freshman year.
When the Tigers (4-15, 2-6) did put the bat on the ball on Monday, the Bobcats were there to make the plays.
Third baseman Kevin Lacey snared a line drive by Kennedy in the top of the third, and first baseman Tate Canida snagged a liner off the bat of Bradley Long in the fourth.
Adam Mitchell made a nice play at third on a hard-hit grounder by Morgan Stanfield in the fifth.
The Bobcats also swiped eight bases, getting the most out of their 10 hits.
For Phil Campbell's four seniors, Tuesday's celebration was a long time coming.
"I've been trying to win [an area championship] since 10th grade," said Thomas, a three-year starter who scored three runs on Tuesday.
"This is something we've been talking about all season," said Voyles, who finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. "We really wanted to host a first-round [playoff] game."
"We worked our tails off for this," added Glasgow, who was 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and two runs scored.
Carter also had two hits for Phil Campbell, which dropped down from Class 3A prior to this year.
The Bobcats made the 3A playoffs three times in five years under Beck, but they always fell just short of
winning the Area 9 championship.
"This group has worked extremely hard," Beck said. "I know they probably got a little tired of practicing all the time. It gets pretty monotonous working on the same stuff over and over again. But when you win area championships like this, it makes it all worthwhile."
The Bobcats are now assured of hosting a first-round playoff game against the Area 10 runner-up, which most likely will be Oakman or Cordova.
"We've never gotten to do that before, so maybe playing at home will calm our nerves a little bit," Beck said. "Hopefully, facing a second-place team instead of an area champion will make a difference."
The Bobcats gave Harris all the support he would need with two runs in the first inning Tuesday off Long. Thomas walked and eventually scored on an error, and Carter singled home Chase White for a 2-0 lead.
Phil Campbell scored four runs with two outs in the second. Jonathan Dill sparked the rally with a single, and Thomas was hit by a pitch.
After Voyles reached on an infield hit, Harris cleared the bases with a line drive to center for a 5-0 lead.
Randy Cochran followed with an RBI single to make it 6-0.
Dill and Voyles both had two-run singles in a six-run third inning.
Dill finished 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. Cochran drove in two runs, and Kevin Lacey and Steven Lacey each stole a base and scored a run.
