Russellville works to improve after challenging start to baseball season
The Russellville varsity baseball boys had a busy week on the field with their home-opener followed by a trip to Hoover for the Perfect Game High School Showdown.
Florence 5, Russellville 4
The Golden Tigers opened the home portion of the regular season with a game against the Florence Falcons.
A late rally from FHS was too much for Russellville to overcome, as the Falcons battled back from trailing 3-0 after five innings of play with a run in the sixth and four more in the seventh to get the win.
A last at-bat double off of the outfield fence by Canyon Pace drove in a run, but the Golden Tigers couldn’t tie the score or win in the seventh.
Pace was two-for-four in the game with two RBIs.
Grayson Thorpe added two hits, an RBI and a run, and Nathan Brockway hit a fourth-inning home run for Russellville.
Reed Hill pitched an inning before leaving with an injury. He was followed in relief by Logan White, who worked four scoreless frames. and Emitt Green.
“I thought we did a really good job for a majority of the game, but the key to winning a baseball game is doing it consistently for seven innings,” said Russellville head coach Chris Heaps. “I’m disappointed with how we’ve played with consistency on defense. We’ve played well for most of the game, but you don’t win by winning most of the game.”
Russellville 2, DeSoto Central 1
The Perfect Game Showdown began with a walk-off extra-inning win for RHS against Mississippi’s DeSoto Central, on a hit by Andrew Hatton.
Banks Langston started on the mound and went six innings. The right-hander allowed five hits and one unearned run. He struck out five and walked none.
Brayden Spurgeon worked the final three innings and gave up one hit.
Future Mississippi State Bulldog pitcher Bradley Loftin pitched for DeSoto Central and went five innings. He allowed no hits or runs and struck out 11 batters.
RHS got two hits each from Brockway and Pace. Casen Heaps and Shayden Romans also hit safely, with Romans picking up a double.
Loganville 8, Russellville 1
Day two of the PG Showdown started with a Loganville, Georgia, win over RHS.
Thorpe had two hits for the Golden Tigers. Eli Gipson, Ethan Oliver and Hatton also had singles. Samuel Pace and Oliver did the pitching for Russellville.
Oxford 4, Russellville 2
The first of two games for Russellville March 5 went the way of the Yellow Jackets.
Casen Heaps, Oliver and Pace all doubled for RHS. Heaps had two RBIs and also walked once. Romans and Hill also hit safely for the Golden Tigers. Logan White pitched six innings and threw 88 pitches.
Mount Paran 10, Russellville 2
Mount Paran, Georgia, needed five innings to get the win over Russellville (3-6). The Golden Tigers got two hits apiece from Casen Heaps and Hatton. Gipson singled, walked and drove in a run. Green, Spurgeon and Brayden Heaps all pitched for RHS.
