BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

All five County teams in the first round of the playoffs were sent home after a rough weekend on the diamond.  Red Level and Straughn didn't make it to Saturday as both were knocked out after two games.  Defending Champ Leroy took care of the Tigers 10-0; 17-7 as Red Level tried to end the 2A title reign from the Bears.

The young Straughn squad faced Clarke County and also ran up against a hot team igniting the Tigers for 31 runs in two games (13-3; 18-1).

Andalusia, Opp and Pleasant Home made it to Saturday and forced a decisive game three, but no team made it out of the first round matchups.

Jackson took care of the Bulldogs and 4A Elmore County travelled to Opp and ended the Bobcats season.  Pleasant Home saw their season end for the second straight year in Dothan as 1A Private School Providence Christian took care of the Eagles in game three.  

Baseball Varsity Boys
Red Level 8 Opp 5

The Opp (11-10) Bobcat baseball team opened its final week of regular season games last Monday at Red Level. With both schools out for spring break the game would be played at nine in the morning. Opp would not threaten in the top of the first as Red Level drew first blood in the bottom half of the inning. The Tigers got a single and a double to put runners on first and second with one out. A walk loaded the bases followed by a single to left field that would bring in two giving Red Level an early 2-0 lead after one. Opp responded in the top of the second with a pair of singles by Zack Sasser and Joe Kyser followed by two hit batters in a row including one to Garrett Blair with the bases loaded to bring home Opp's first run of the game. Nicky Archie reached on a Tiger error to bring home another run. A single by Josh Dunn to left field would bring in the third run of the inning as Opp took a 3-2 after two innings. In the top of the third inning Opp would extend their lead on back to back homeruns by Mark Linton and Cody Hall giving the Bobcats a 5-2 and putting them in control of the game. The Tigers had been threatening to make a comeback for three innings as they got two runners on base in the third and fourth innings and loaded the bases in the fifth. Opp would manage to turn them away each inning until the bottom of the sixth. With one out Red Level got a single followed by two walks to load the bases. This time the Tigers would rally as they got a two run single with the bases loaded to pull them to within one run at 5-4. Four batters later Red Level had mounted an 8-5 lead with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With only three outs to work with Opp looked to rally in the top of the seventh. Joe Kyser would reach on an error and Josh Thompson would walk bringing up the potential tying run with two outs. The game however would end as a grounder back to the pitcher for the final out gave Red Level the comeback win 8-5. The Bobcats were led by Mark Linton who went 2 for 3 at the plate reaching base every time at bat. Linton walked and reached on an error to along with a single, home run, an RBI, and a run scored. On the mound Cody Hall started the game going 4 strong innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits with only 1 walk and 7 strikeouts. Gavin Free went an inning and a 1/3 giving up 5 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Britt Wilson closed the game going 2/3 of an inning giving up 1 run and 2 hits.