PHOTOS: Phil Campbell wins baseball county championship
“It was great to win the county tournament again this year,” said Phil Campbell coach Jonathan Raper. “It’s one of our goals to win this tournament every year. I’m happy for the players because of all the hard work they’ve put in at practice and in the weight room.”
The Bobcats, winners of 19 of their past 20 games, waltzed through the Franklin County Tournament, beating Vina 10-0, Tharptown 14-0 and Red Bay 11-3.
“We have played some pretty good baseball over the past few weeks,” added Raper. “I think we have done a good job with throwing strikes and playing good defense. I have been surprised with our hitting; it has come a long way from the start of the season.”
Red Bay took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Phil Campbell responded by tying the game 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning. Phil Campbell broke the tie in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs to take a 4-2 lead. The Bobcats put the game away in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring six runs to take a 10-2 lead.
Nate Owens got the win for Phil Campbell, pitching six innings and giving up two hits and three runs and striking out 11 Red Bay batters.
The Bobcats got a lot of production from the top of their lineup, with lead-off batter Luke Barnwell getting two hits, including a double, and scoring three runs. Austen Baker had two hits, including a double, two RBIs and two runs. Ridge Raper had two hits and two RBIs and scored two runs. Owens also scored two runs. Levi Crittenden had an RBI-triple.
Phil Campbell 14, Tharptown 0
Baker hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the second inning to solidify the Phil Campbell Bobcats’ lead and send them to the finals of the Franklin County Tournament, beating Tharptown 14-0.
Brett Saint pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out four. Ty Leindecker had a double and three RBIs. Rilan Garrison had a double and two RBIs. Cole Motes had a triple and scored two runs. Luke Barnwell, Nate Owens and Mason Swinney all scored two runs each.
Red Bay 11, Belgreen 0
Peyton Green pitched a no-hitter to lead the Red Bay Tigers past the Belgreen Bulldogs in game two of the Franklin County Tournament. Cade McKinney led the Tigers at the plate with two hits and three RBIs and scored a run.
Green also had two RBIs and scored two runs. Lucas Glover had two RBIs for the Tigers. Kolby Bragwell scored three runs. Chase Allen scored two runs.
Phil Campbell 10, Vina 0
Swinney pitched a no-hitter to give the Phil Campbell Bobcats the opening win of the Franklin County Tournament.
Baker had three RBIs and a double to lead the Bobcats at the plate. Motes had two RBIs. Raper had a triple and scored two runs. Barnwell scored two runs and had an RBI. Ty Leindecker scored two runs.
Phil Campbell would advance to play Tharptown later in the day, while the loss eliminated Vina.
