Alabama Christian (10-12) opened Area play this week against PCA. ACA split with the Panthers although PCA won the tie-breaker game. Monday’s game against Tallassee was cancelled which meant it had been six days between games as the series started at PCA on Thursday. The umpiring school that the home fans must go to before each season really paid off as the crowd was able to loudly critique each perceived missed call by the umpires. The importance of the pitch, the score, the situation, did not matter, they gladly offered their expertise to the men in blue. Another thing that stood out was the glacier-like pace the Panther pitchers implemented, especially during games two and three. It was a mild surprise the ACA batters didn’t cramp up waiting for the pitch to be thrown.
Game one was dominated by PCA’s staff ace. The senior controlled the game from the outset. The highlight of the game was a sixth inning single by Mason Henry which broke up a no-hit bid by the PCA hurler. Dee Howze followed with another knock for the only two hits of the game for the Eagles. The game went the full seven innings in a 9-0 win for PCA.
PCA might have come in a little over confident to Friday’s doubleheader. The dominant performance the previous day and the recent results the past few years had the visitors feeling loose. The Panthers decided not to throw their number two starter in Friday’s opener but went with a pitcher ACA was very familiar with. The Eagles rocked their old friend for seven runs over 2 1/3 innings forcing an early exit. After three innings, ACA led 7-1. Bryson Dabney and Alex Heilman both delivered two-out singles in the first for ACA’s first two runs. In the second, Ethan Dabney doubled on a deep ball to center to drive in Dee Howze. After PCA scored in the top of the third, the home team took the momentum right back with four runs in the bottom half. Mason Henry, David Johnson, and Ethan Dabney all contributed run scoring hits in the frame. PCA scored three in the top of the fifth to close the gap to 7-4, but Alabama Christian responded again with two runs of their own to make it 9-4. ACA tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth to win the game 11-5 and split the series with PCA. Ethan Dabney was a force offensively with a 5 for 5 effort including a double and five RBI’s. Bryson Dabney and Alex Heilman both had three hits and drove in a run. David Johnson picked up the win controlling a very good lineup with three strikeouts over five innings. Cam Sutton pitched the last two innings in relief for the save.
The number two pitcher PCA saved for the tie-breaker game proved be just a little more than the ACA offense could handle with the exception of Ethan Dabney. After going 5 for 5 in game one the sophomore racked up two more hits in his first two at-bats of game two for seven straight hits over the two games. Dabney did all of this while catching all three games of the series. ACA was able to cut the lead to one run after four innings on a beautiful squeeze bunt by Alex Heilman but could not score again. In the seventh, trailing 5-1, the Eagles mounted a two-out rally and brought the tying run to the plate but was unable to score. PCA won the tie-breaker 5-1.
Season Leaders
Batting Average - Teilan Long - .407, Ethan Dabney - .391, David Johnson - .312 On-base % - Teilan Long - .556, Ethan Dabney - .488, David Johnson - .477 RBI’s - Beau Gainey - 15, David Johnson - 13, Ethan Dabney and Jeremiah Johnson - 12 Runs Scored - Teilan Long - 20, David Johnson and Bryson Dabney - 15
Wins - Mason Henry - 4, Beau Gainey - 3, David Johnson - 2 Strikeouts - Mason Henry and Beau Gainey - 27, Cam Sutton - 26 ERA - Mason Henry - 2.15, Cam Sutton - 2.60, Beau Gainey - 3.99