Photo courtesy of Hoover Baseball
Hoover won the Buccaneer Classic on Saturday, March 30, 2019.
Over the course of the year, the Hoover Sun will keep you up to date on the various Hoover and Spain Park high school athletic teams. For previous weekly updates, click here.
BASEBALL
Hoover
The Hoover baseball program hosted the annual Buccaneer Classic last week, with play beginning on Wednesday. In the Bucs’ two games on the first day, they picked up a pair of strong wins to begin the tournament. In the first game, a big third inning propelled Hoover to a 13-5 win over Montgomery Central (Tennessee). Peyton Wilson led off and led the way for the Bucs offense, going 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and three runs batted in. Landon Roe and Daniel Swatek also notched two RBIs apiece.
The Bucs pulled away late in an 11-2 win over Wetumpka in the ensuing contest, as a six-run sixth inning effectively sealed the outcome. Robby Ashford had a big game at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. Lawrence Hammonds doubled and drove home two runs to go along with throwing a complete game. In his seven innings, he allowed two unearned runs on three hits while striking out seven.
Hoover wrapped up pool play with a 3-1 record after splitting two games on Thursday. In the first game, Chelsea notched single runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings to win 3-1. Swatek and Colson Lawrence each had multi-hit games, but the Bucs were only able to scratch one run across. Hoover’s bats woke up in the second game in a wild 13-10 win over Demopolis. Wilson hit two homers in the contest and drove home four runs. Lawrence doubled twice and also racked up four RBIs. Colby Davis registered a triple and two RBIs. Gabe Anderton notched the save, as he pitched the final 3 2/3 innings in scoreless fashion while striking out seven.
The Bucs ran their winning streak to five games after securing four wins over the course of Friday and Saturday to win the Buccaneer Classic. On Friday, they began the day with an 11-1 win over Florence. Roe led the offense with a double and four RBIs in the game, and Lawrence allowed one run on four hits in five innings. Hoover notched another win that day with an 8-4 victory over Bartlett (Tennessee). Ashford and Swatek each knocked in two runs.
In the semifinals on Saturday morning, Hoover ran past Helena 14-6. Evan Radford led the charge offensively, as he went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Lawrence also drove in three. Hoover won the event with another big win, an 11-1 victory over Houston (Tennessee). Ashford, Swatek and Radford all had two RBIs, while Ausstin Cornelius went five innings on the mound, allowing just four hits and one run with seven strikeouts.
Spain Park
Spain Park also played in the Buccaneer Classic last week and picked up a win on the first day of the tournament, as the Jags beat Montgomery Central (Tennessee) 12-2. Colton Ledbetter hit a home run and finished with three RBIs, and Chris Mancill piled up three hits and three RBIs. Matthew Robbins got the win, as he went four innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
The Jags grabbed two more wins on Thursday, beginning with a 10-0 victory over Wetumpka. Jack Poist led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the game. Ledbetter also knocked in two runs. Eli Copenhaver shut down Wetumpka, as he allowed just two hits in six innings. In the second game, Spain Park pulled away late in a 5-1 win over Arlington (Tennessee). Ledbetter tripled, homered and drove in three runs to lead the Jags offense. Linden Samaha pitched well, going the complete seven innings and surrendering just an unearned run on two hits.
On Friday, Spain Park held on for a 10-9 win over Florence after watching an 8-0 lead evaporate over the final three innings. Lane Willis’ three-hit, three-RBI performance jumpstarted the offense, while Carter Sidor and Ledbetter knocked in a pair of runs as well. The Jags fell to Houston (Tennessee) 8-5 on Saturday morning in the semifinals.
SOFTBALL
Hoover
The Hoover softball team traveled to the beach over spring break to compete in Gulf Coast Classic III. The Bucs began play last week on Monday with two games in the event, as they split. In the first game, Hoover took down Dodgeville (Wisconsin) 15-1, led by a 10-run outburst in the first inning. Campbell Hecklinski was the star offensively, going 2-for-3 with a triple, home run and four RBIs. Jordyn Johnson racked up three hits and drove in three as well. Gia Wade pitched the final four innings and surrendered one run on four hits. The Bucs fell to Wicksburg 10-1 in the second game.
Hoover returned to action on Tuesday and won both contests. In a 6-4 win over Slocomb, Jordan Moore hit a home run and Haley Green picked up a pair of hits and drove in two runs. In the second game, the Bucs beat Northview 5-4 in extra time. Northview scored the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth, before Harper Niblett’s single tied the game in the bottom half. Johnson scored the winning run one batter later on an error by the catcher. Brookelyn Cannon earned the win, as she allowed just one hit over the final two innings.
Hoover began bracket play on Wednesday with an 11-3 win over Demopolis. The Bucs pounded out 11 hits, all singles, and were led by Moore’s three hits and four RBIs. Hannah Presley and Sydney Chandler each drove in a pair as well. The Bucs’ run came to an end In a 10-7 loss to Siegel (Tennessee). Hoover held a 7-0 lead in the third inning, before Siegel scored all 10 of its runs in the bottom half of the third and held on. Hecklinski doubled, tripled and drove in three runs for the Bucs.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.
