Red Bay wins junior high title

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
RED BAY - Chase Lindsey drove in three runs and Nathan Hopkins struck out eight in five strong innings on Thursday as Red Bay defeated Vina 4-2 to win its first junior high Franklin County Tournament championship since 2001.
The Tigers (12-3) beat four-time defending champion Phil Campbell 6-1 in Thursday's first round, getting 10 strikeouts from Cody Armstrong in a complete game one-hitter.
Hopkins allowed just two runs on four hits in the championship game, escaping a first-and-third, one-out jam in the top of the fourth after Vina had scored twice to trim the lead to 3-2.
Kevin Hastings provided an insurance run with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth, and Hopkins retired the side in order in the fifth to clinch the title.
Red Bay jumped out to an early lead with a run off Vina starter Morgan McCarley in the first inning.
Hastings drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. A single by Armstrong and a hit batter loaded the bases for Lindsey, who beat out an infield hit to make it 1-0.
The Tigers added two more runs in the third. Ely Cox singled with one out, and Andy Thorn drew a walk. Lindsey followed with a two-run double to left to give Red Bay a 3-0 lead.
Vina broke through against Hopkins in the top of the fourth. Channing Haithcock stroked a one-out double and scored on a triple to deep right by Collin Cochran to make it 3-1.
Cochran scored when McCarley reached on a fielder's choice, bringing the Red Devils within one.
After Matthew Hester singled to put runners at first and third, Hopkins struck out the next two batters to preserve the lead.
Armstrong finished 3-for-3 with a stolen base, and Lindsey was 2-for-2. Ely Cox added one hit for Red Bay.
Cass White, Haithcock, Cochran and Hester each had one hit for Vina.
In previous action at the tournament:
Red Bay 6 Phil Campbell 1
Cody Armstrong struck out 10 and allowed just one hit in five innings.
Ely Cox was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI for the Tigers, who scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Hastings also had two hits, and Chase Lindsey was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Armstrong, Dillon Massey and Blake Brumett each added a hit and a run scored. Nathan Hopkins was 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Andy Thorn scored a run.
Korey Pounders had Phil Campbell's only hit.
Vina 19 Belgreen 0
Collin Cochran had three hits and three runs scored, and Anthony McCarley added two doubles and a single as the Red Devils rolled into the championship game.
Cass White finished with a double, a single and three runs scored, and Brent Townsend also scored three times. Morgan McCarley had two hits, including a double, and scored twice.
Channing Haithcock scored two runs, and Aaron Gray and Patrick White each had a triple and a run scored. Judd Childers doubled and scored, and Matthew Hester scored a run.
Vina led 11-0 after a seven-run second inning.
Townsend earned the win, striking out seven and allowing three hits in five innings.
Brandon Hester led Belgreen with a single and a double, and Trent Edwards had one hit.