Red Bay bounces back to advance to second round
The Red Bay Tigers recovered from a game two shutout to win a decisive game three on Friday to advance to the second round of the Class 2A baseball playoffs.
Red Bay won the opening game of its first-round series on Thursday evening, beating Westminster-Oak Mountain 5-2. The Knight shutout the Tigers in the nightcap, 4-0, to force a decisive game three on Friday. Red Bay beat Westminster 5-1 in that game to move to the next round.
Red Bay will travel to Sumiton Christian on Thursday for a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m. Game two will be at 3 p.m. Game three, if necessary, will be on Friday at 2 p.m.
In game one against W e s t m i n s t e r – O a k Mountain, Jeremiah Thorne went 3-for-3 to help lead Red Bay to a 5-2 win. Thorne hit a solo home run to left field in the third inning, singled in the first inning, and singled in the fifth inning.
After falling behind 1-0, Red Bay took the lead after one inning when Carson McGee walked and Ayden Pruitt hit a sacrifice fly.
Red Bay scored two more runs in the third inning to extend its lead to 4-1. Thorne hit a solo home run, and Pruitt grounded out, driving in a run.
McGee earned the win for the Tigers, surrendering seven hits and two runs over seven innings and striking out nine.
Sawyer Humphries, Thorne, and Pruitt each had a RBI for Red Bay. Landyn Lewey went 2-for-3.
There was little action in game two for Red Bay. The Tigers were shut out by the Knights, 4-0.
Thorne pitched well despite the loss. He went six innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out eight.
Riley Carpenter, Pruitt, Davo Colburn and Humphries each got one hit for Red Bay.
With their backs against the wall, Red Bay responded in game three with a 5-1 win to take the series.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and added runs in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to secure the win and the series.
Pruitt went the distance on the mound for Red Bay allowing no earned runs on four hits.
McGee had two hits and a RBI. Thorne had a hit and scored a run. Humphreys had two hits and a RBI.
