The Chilton County baseball team went 3-1 in the Lake Martin Classic this week, and coach Josey Shannon hopes his team can carry the momentum into area play next week.

The Tigers lost their first game in the event, to host Benjamin Russell, but then won three straight, including Thursday’s 18-2 decision over Coosa-Central.

“We had 52 hits in four games,” Shannon said. “Any time you can do that, you have a pretty good chance of winning.”

Every player on the team recorded a hit Thursday. Adam Minor (2-for-3 with a home run and a double) and Tanner Powell (2-for-2 with two doubles) did much of the damage.

Pitching was a team effort, also. Cameron Cummings started and went two innings, Nathan Hudson came on in relief and threw two innings, and T.J. Henley closed it out.

Shannon said he thinks the offensive explosion was simply a young team—four freshmen and a sophomore are regular starters—finding its footing.

“It takes a couple of weeks to get your feet wet and say, ‘OK, I can do this,’” Shannon said. “I just think we finally settled in.”

Another reason Shannon gave was that improved pitching and defense allowed the batters to relax more at the plate.

The Tigers have worked overtime in an effort to get better. Shannon said he stayed in Alexander City after Tuesday’s win over Smiths Station to scout some future opponents.

Shannon received a phone call that several players had returned to Clanton after the game and went straight to Jack Hayes Field to spend time taking ground balls and batting practice—during spring break, no less.

“They just took it upon themselves to go out and try to get better,” Shannon said. “It makes you feel good as a coach, like maybe something I’m doing is making a difference.”

CCHS visits Selma on March 26 in its first region game of the season.