UPDATED: Tigers one of four teams left
Published 3:31 pm Saturday, May 5, 2012
A 6-0 win over Briarwood on Saturday gave Chilton County a berth in the state semifinals, the baseball program’s deepest playoff run in 20 years.
Sawyer Cahalane and Cameron Cummings combined to hold Briarwood’s bats quiet, and the CCHS offense managed nine hits.
“The guys at the top of the order set the tone for us,” Chilton coach Josey Shannon said. “When they come out and hit the ball hard, I know it’s going to be tough to beat us.”
Kipp Moore singled and scored in the bottom of the first inning. That run would be all CCHS would need, but the Tigers (35-7) added five more just in case.
Cummings, Moore, Craig Headley and Trevor Thomas started off the fifth inning with three singles and a double. Thomas came around to score to make it 5-0.
Tyler Crowson singled and scored in the sixth to conclude the scoring.
Moore and Thomas each had two hits. Thomas drove in three runs.
Cahalane pitched admirably in his second consecutive start in a pivotal Game 3. This time, he allowed two hits and walked one in three innings of work while striking out two.
Cummings allowed three hits and two walks in four innings to earn the win.
The Tigers next will visit two-time defending state 5A champion Spanish Fort for a best-of-three series beginning Friday. Game times are 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with the third game scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday if necessary.
Spanish Fort eliminated Chilton from last year’s playoff but not before the Tigers handed the Toros their only postseason loss during their two-year run.