RHS boys tally 2-3 week
By Brannon King / For the FCT
Florence 2, Russellville 1
The Russellville Golden Tigers started a week of games against larger schools that are all ranked in either Class 6A or 7A with a trip to Florence March 20. The No. 3-ranked in 5A RHS team battled the No. 9 in 6A Falcons down to the final out, but FHS took the win.
Russellville managed to score a run to get ahead in the top of the first inning, but Florence scored single runs in the fourth and fifth and held on for the victory – despite being outhit 5-3. The RHS defense struggled at times and committed five errors.
Landon Ezzell got the start and pitched five innings, allowing two unearned runs. Caden Parker pitched an inning of relief and allowed one hit, and he struck out a batter.
Noah Gist, Rudy Fernandez, Houston Kitterman, Brock Malone and Jeff Lloyd all had hits for RHS. Tom Barkley Scott drove in Gist for the Russellville run.
Bob Jones 5, Russellville 0
The 7A No. 5 Patriots shut out the Golden Tigers at Russellville High School Thursday. RHS managed only two hits in the game, while Bob Jones had 9.
Gist and Lloyd had a hit each for the Golden Tigers at the plate. Fernandez pitched the game’s first 4.1 innings, allowing five runs. He struck out nine and walked a batter. Jaret Ward pitched 2.2 innings for RHS, and he allowed no hits or walks and struck out three.
Russellville 3, Hartselle 0
The Hartselle Tigers visited RHS for a Saturday double header, and Russellville was ready for the challenge.
In game one against 6A No. 2 Hartselle, Parker and Ezzell shut down the HHS bats with dominating pitching performances.
Parker worked six innings and got the win. He allowed two hits and a walk. Ezzell came on to close the door in the game’s final inning by striking out two of the three batters he retired.
Devin Buckhalter went two-for-three for RHS, and he scored two runs and stole a base. Parker helped his own cause by smacking a double and by driving in three runs at the plate.
Ezzell also had a double, and Scott helped out with a hit and a stolen base.
Russellville 3, Hartselle 1
Ward and Ezzell combined to pitch a no-hitter against Hartselle in game two of the afternoon.
Ward got the start and baffled the Hartselle batters with his effective side arm delivery. The senior pitched the game’s first six innings. He allowed the one unearned run and threw 81 pitchesm racking up four strike outs, and he walked two.
For the second time in as many games, Ezzell came on in relief as the closer. Just as in game one, the right-hander struck out two in an inning of work.
The Golden Tigers pulled ahead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Buckhalter had two hits and an RBI for RHS, and Fernandez, Malone, Scott and Lloyd all had a hit each.
“I was tickled to death with our performance today,” said Russellville head coach Chris Heaps. “Our pitching was unbelievable, and Hartselle’s a really good team. I thought Parker and Jaret did an outstanding job of keeping those guys off balance and just forcing contact, and our defense made all the plays.”
Hewitt-Trussville 3, Russellville 1
The 2018 Gulf Coast Classic got underway Monday for RHS with a game against the 7A No. 4 Huskies.
Russellville (14-8) made six errors in the field on defense, and star senior pitcher Carson Skipper of Hewitt-Trussville struck out 14 Golden Tigers on his way to a complete game win.
RHS had more hits than the 20-5 Huskies by a 5-3 total. Fernandez, Kitterman, Scott, Buckhalter and Parker all collected singles for Russellville, and Scott drove in the only run.
Fernandez pitched the first five innings, allowing one earned run on two hits. He was relieved by Colten Madden, who came on to pitch two innings, allowing one hit and no runs.
