MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Faith Academy made the most of its second chance Wednesday afternoon to claim the school’s first AHSAA Class 6A state baseball championship – scoring seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to down Hartselle 14-7.
The Tigers (43-20) scored what they thought was game and championship-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a bases loaded sacrifice fly with the game tied at 7-7. However, as the team stormed the infield in celebration, Faith Academy Coach Matt Seymour appealed the runner leaving third too soon and the runner was called out to end the inning.
The Rams (34-6) took full advantage of the momentum swing with the big rally in the top of the eighth highlighted by Parker Carlson’s grand-slam home run. Carlson, who pitched and got the loss in game two Wednesday, earned MVP honors finishing with two hits and the four RBIs.
His heroics overshadowed a clutch effort by Hartselle’s Brodie Morrow, who helped the Tigers win game two Wednesday 8-3 with a bases-loaded triple that drove in three runs. He followed that effort in the final game with three hits, including a three-run homer and finished with five RBIs – giving him eight on the day.
Gabe Broadus also had a double and single and two RBIs for Faith, Cole Berry had three hits with a double and three RBIs. Drew Druckenmiller, who started game three, came back in relief to get the win. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowed nine hits, four runs and struck out six.
Peyton Steele had three hits, Andrew Cartee had two hits and Coleman Mizell had two hits and two RBIs for the Tigers of Coach William Booth in game three. Coby Widner got the loss in relief.
Hartselle finished with 12 hits and Faith had 10.