Verbena advanced in the Class 1A baseball playoffs with two wins at Loachapoka on Friday, 23-4 and 11-1.

Christian Coston pitched the first game and struck out 10 batters while allowing four hits. He was charged with four runs allowed, but only one of those runs was earned.

The Red Devils cut out the mistakes in the second game, coach Chris David said.

“I think we played well. We didn’t have any defensive miscues,” he said. “That’s always what you want to see.”

In the first game, Jeremy Creger went 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs batted in. Phillip Hensley went 3-for-3 with one RBI.

Both Coston and Jared Mims went 2-for-4. Coston had four RBI.

“I can’t say enough about the attitude we came out here with tonight–more focused than I had seen previously,” David said. “Everybody was in the game, including the bench.”

Bay Lucas was the winning pitcher in the second game. He struck out eight batters and allowed three hits.

Creger went 3-for-4 with four RBI; and Coston, Mims and Jacob Montgomery all went 2-for-3. Montgomery stole three bases in the game.

VHS will play Maplesville in the second round of the state playoffs, beginning on April 27. Maplesville won two of the three regular season games the rivals played against each other.