RHS boys get big win over Bob Jones
By Brannon King for the FCT
Russellville 4, Bob Jones 2
The Golden Tigers traveled to Madison March 23 and won a battle of two Auburn University pitching signees. Russellville’s Cody Greenhill outdueled Ford Luttrell of Bob Jones on a windy day at the ballpark.
Greenhill pitched five innings and allowed four hits while striking out seven and walking two batters. He allowed both runs but only one earned run before being relieved by Skylar Holland, who worked the final two innings. Holland gave up one hit and struck out four Patriots. Luttrell pitched six innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits, and he struck out eight and walked four Russellville hitters.
“That was a big win,” Russellville head coach Chris Heaps said. “It was a good matchup. I talked with Coach Thompson from Auburn today, and I told him that it was an Auburn signee versus an Auburn signee tonight, and it should be a great game – and sure enough, it was.”
The strong winds that persisted throughout the game were a challenge for both teams. “The wind in your face while you’re pitching is a unique situation,” Heaps said. “Both pitchers got their pitch count up to a point where it was in the best interest of both teams to get them out, and I was proud of how our guys competed.”
Russellville scored two runs in an unusual way during the game against the 7A Patriots. Landon Ezzell got home a run with a safety squeeze bunt that worked to perfection, and he later scored on a balk by the Bob Jones pitcher.
Judd Ward ripped a triple down the right field line for a big hit, and Cody Greenhill picked up a double during the game. Colin Garrison and Skylar Holland also had hits in the contest, with Holland collecting an RBI.
Helena 8, Russellville 1
The Golden Tigers went to Helena to take on the Huskies March 25 and dropped the first game of a double header to the No. 4-ranked team in 6A.
Helena outhit RHS 9-2 and jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Russellville scored a run in the top of the fifth inning. Russellville’s Chad Wray got the start on the mound and pitched four innings before being relieved by Houston Kitterman.
Russellville’s hits came from Colin Garrison and a double by Russ Carpenter. Judd Ward reached base twice by being hit by pitches. Garrison had the lone RHS RBI.
Russellville 8, Helena 2
The Golden Tigers took the second game of the double header against the Huskies with strong pitching and hitting.
Russellville got a three-run home run by Holland, and Ezzell picked up three doubles with the bat to lead the way. Ezzell went 3-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Holland drove in four runs and also scored a run for RHS.
Russ Carpenter (2), Tom Barkley Scott (1) and Colin Garrison also had hits for Russellville. Scott had one RBI. Holland got the start on the mound and pitched three innings before giving way to Rudy Fernandez, who pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Russellville 6, Springville 1
Russellville began play in Loxley March 27 against the Springville Tigers and came away with a win. Fernandez pitched all seven innings for RHS to get the win. He allowed five hits, struck out four and walked two Springville batters. Holland went 3-3 at the plate with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Judd Ward, Ezzell and Greenhill all had one hit each for RHS. Ezzell and Jeff Lloyd added RBIs for Russellville.
McGill-Toolen 1, Russellville 0
It took 11 innings, but the No. 3 in class 7A McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets won on a walk-off single by Peyton Caron that scored Nathan LaRue. It was Russellville’s second game of the day in Loxley as the Golden Tigers (13-7) play in south Alabama over Spring Break.
Greenhill got the start on the mound for RHS and pitched eight innings. He allowed only four hits, and the right-hander struck out ten batters while walking one.
Holland pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for Russellville.
RHS had only three hits in the contest, and they were by Judd Ward, Fernandez and Scott.
