By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

With fans packing the stands and even standing at the fence surrounding the field at Jack Hayes Field, the Chilton County High School baseball team was unable to defend its home turf Saturday and was knocked out of the Class 5A state playoffs in consecutive games, 15-5 and 6-3.

Both teams started the first inning of game one scoreless, but a four-run inning by Briarwood (16-15) put CCHS (23-12) in a big hole to start the game.

Garret Deavers reached base for Chilton on an infield error and was later driven in by Tyler Crowson to make the score 4-1 after two innings of play.

The visiting Lions added two more runs in the top half of the third inning, while a Cameron Cummings lead-off single would amount to no runs for the home team.

The Tiger defense was able to retire the Lions in order in the top half of the fourth inning. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ first five batters reached base in the bottom half: Deavers with a single to left, Garren Minor with a walk and Tyler Crowson with a bunt would load the bases for Chilton County. A Joe Mosley walk would

bring across one run for the the Tigers, and a Cummings single added another.

After four innings of play, the Tigers trailed by one.

Both teams again went scoreless through the fifth inning, but the Lions add three more runs in the top half of the sixth while setting the Tigers down in order in the bottom half.

Five walks to Lions batters in the top of the seventh inning would lead in part to six runs for the visitors, putting the Tigers down 10 runs and three outs away from losing Game 1.

Two walks by Bishop and Ramsey wouldn’t be enough in the home half of the seventh inning, and the Tigers would drop the first game of the series.

After dropping Game 1, the Tigers got started off on the right foot in Game 2 with a Cummings lead-off single to start the game. A Headley double to right field scored Cummings, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.

Blake Teel and the Tiger defense retired the Lions in order in the bottom half of the first inning.

The Tigers put two on with two out in the top of the second, but a fly ball by Cummings to right field would be hauled in for the third out.

Briarwood drew even with the Tigers in the bottom of the second inning, knotting the score at 1-all.

The Tigers put another run on the board in the top of the third when Teel reached on an infield error and was later driven in by Bishop to give the Tigers the lead by one.

To keep pace, the Lions added a run of their own in the bottom of the third, again tying the score.

The Tigers picked up one more run in the top of the fourth inning, when Joe Mosley reached base on an infield error by the Lions, to be later driven in on a Teel single on yet another Lions error.

In a back-and-forth game, the Lions came right back and added a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 3-all.

The Tigers went down in order in the top of the fifth inning. With two on and one out, the Tigers called on Cummings to come in and pitch in relief of Teel, but a shot to right field scored two runs for the Lions and leave one on. A blooper over first base scored another run for the Lions, putting the Tigers in a three-run hole, 6-3.

The Tigers managed one base runner in the bottom of the sixth when Beau Waid took a pitch off his back, but the Tigers couldn’t manage to push him around the bases.

Cummings and the Tiger defense set the Lions down in order in the bottom half of the sixth inning and would go to the seventh inning down, 6-3.

Teel started things off for the Tigers with a single to left field, but a Headley shot up the middle would be gathered in by the Lions short stop, leading to the 6-4-3 double play.

A J.D. Minor line drive to second base would be hauled in, and the out would end the game and the season for the Tigers.

In Game 1, Cummings got the start for Chilton County, pitching two innings with three strikeouts, seven hits and six runs.

Crowson led the way for the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a bunt, double and RBI.

In Game 2, Teel started the game on the mound for the Tigers and pitched 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts, 11 hits, three walks and four runs.

Cummings led the way for the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles.