Golden opportunity

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
RUSSELLVILLE - Joel Sessions pitched a complete game shutout and Justin Fleming hit a key two-run double on Monday as Muscle Shoals dealt a significant blow to Russellville's playoff hopes, beating the Golden Tigers 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Russellville fell to 2-2 in Class 5A, Area 16 play and will likely need an area sweep of Hartselle to qualify for the postseason.
The Golden Tigers (27-10 overall after losing Monday's second game) were scheduled to play at Hartselle on Tuesday and will host the Tigers next Thursday in the regular season finale.
Provided that Hartselle beats Athens next Tuesday, Russellville will need two area wins over the Tigers to make the playoffs.
The Golden Tigers had their chances against Sessions on Monday. After an error on the infield and a misplayed ball in the outfield helped Muscle Shoals (27-7, 4-1) take a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, Russellville loaded the bases in the bottom half on consecutive singles by Cory Trapp, Torey Baird and Corey Flanagan.
Designated hitter Trey Hooper then hit a line drive right at first baseman Fleming, who stepped on the bag to complete an inning-ending double play.
The Golden Tigers got a walk and two more hits off Sessions in the fifth inning, but they had two runners thrown out at third and again failed to score.
Finally, base hits by Flanagan and Preston Beasley put runners at second and third with just one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Sessions struck out the next two batters to preserve the win.
The tall righthander finished with nine strikeouts, allowing seven hits and three walks.
Jacey Wilson was equally impressive for Russellville, allowing six hits in a complete game. He struck out seven and walked three.
A one-out single by the Trojans' Josh Andrews in the top of the third was the only hit for either side through the first three innings, but Muscle Shoals broke through against Wilson in the fourth.
After Sessions reached on an error with one out, Derrick Green doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third.
Fleming, who has gone 8-for-13 in four games against Russellville this season, followed with a slicing line drive to left that eluded Patrick Hines and went for a two-run double to make it 2-0.
The Golden Tigers threatened repeatedly over their final four at bats but never scored.
Flanagan finished 2-for-3 to lead Russellville, and Trapp, Baird, Beasley, Hines and Jake Ward each added one hit.
Green had two doubles for the Trojans.
In the second game, which would have served as a tiebreaker between the two teams had Russellville won the opener, Muscle Shoals scored six runs in the top of the third to take control.
The first run scored on a throwing error, and a two-run double by Green made it 3-0.
Fleming followed with a two-run homer, and Evan Mansell's solo shot made it 6-0.
Russellville finally broke through with its first two runs of the day in the bottom of the third, but the damage might have been worse. Hines led off with a single but was picked off by Trojan starter Rusty Todd. Jake Ward then singled to right, but Todd picked him off, too.
Flanagan followed with a double to right-center, and Jacob Daniel drew a walk. Trapp's RBI single to center got Russellville on the board, and Daniel came all the way home when the ball got by the centerfielder for an error.
The Golden Tigers added their final run in the sixth when Trapp was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a single by Baird, stole third and then scored on a throwing error.
Trapp started and took the loss for Russellville. Six different pitchers threw in relief. Josh Smith pitched a scoreless sixth inning, striking out two.
Todd went the distance to earn the win for Muscle Shoals, allowing six hits and striking out nine.
Baird led Russellville with two hits.