Russellville wins two of three over Leeds to advance in baseball playoffs
RHS traveled to Leeds for the series and won the first game on Friday by a 12-4 final score. Leeds came back in game two of the night and defeated Russellville 6-3, forcing a series-deciding third game on Saturday, also at LHS. The Golden Tigers took the series with an 8-3 win to end Leeds’ season in the playoffs for the third-straight season.
During game one, Russellville trailed 4-3 going into the top of the sixth inning. The Golden Tigers pounced for seven runs in the frame and added two more insurance runs in the seventh to get the victory.
Gunner Sappington had three hits and three RBI to lead RHS. Brayden Entrekin, Neyland Baker, Brandt Cummings, Michael Scofield and Brodie Vandiver all had two hits each for Russellville. Devin Green and Cayden Johns also added singles to the hit total of the Golden Tigers. Baker, Cummings, Scofield and Johns had two RBI each.
The Russellville defense committed seven errors and the Greenwave had two. Cayden Johns got the start on the mound and went 2.1 innings, allowing three runs before Ty Engelthaler came on in relief. Engelthaler got the win by pitching 4.2 innings. The right-hander allowed no earned runs and allowed four hits. Phillips and Thomas pitched for LHS.
Leeds outhit RHS 11-7 in game two and got the win. Russellville trailed 6-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and tried for a late rally with three runs but lost 6-3. Cummings and Johns had two hits apiece. Daniel Askew, Scofield and Sappington also had hits. The hit by Scofield was a triple. Johns had the only Russellville RBI. Brandt Cummings pitched the first five innings and struck out 11 batters. Engelthaler pitched two innings of relief.
Game three saw Russellville jump out to a 7-0 lead going into the bottom half of the third inning. Leeds scored twice in the third and once in the fourth.
Russellville eighth-grader Brayden Entrekin started the game on the mound and got the win. Entrekin went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits with only one run being earned. Eli Boutwell finished the game in relief. Boutwell allowed two hits and struck out one batter.
Daniel Askew and Brandt Cummings had three hits apiece. Entrekin, Baker, Scofield, Green, Sappington, Johns and Boutwell all added one hit each. Cummings had three RBI, Askew and Sappington added two each and Boutwell drove-in one run.
Up next for the Golden Tigers will be a playoff series versus the Springville Tigers. Russellville (27-10) will host Springville (27-9) with games one and two scheduled for May 2. If a third game is needed, it is scheduled for May 3. Springville swept Ardmore in round one and won both games versus Southside in round two to advance to the quarterfinals.
