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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Chilton County High School missed the AHSAA Class 6A state baseball playoffs in 2022, but they will not miss it in 2023. The Tigers throttled Helena High School 12-2 on April 12 to earn a 2-2 record in the area and earn the area runner-up spot in the state playoffs. Helena wins the area championship with a 3-1 area record.

“The playoffs are always a goal for us at the beginning of the year,” CCHS coach Ryan Ellison said. “We are ecstatic about it and getting into the playoffs.”

The Tigers jumped on Helena early and often, starting in the first inning with an RBI double from Tre Fulmer followed by an RBI single by Cannon Miller to go up 2-0. Miller was 3-for-3 with four RBIs in the biggest game of the season for CCHS. Fulmer had two RBIs.

CCHS capitalized on some fielding blunders by Helena in the second inning including two runs off an error and a run from a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. J.D. Terrell had a sacrifice fly to left field, and Miller an RBI single to bring the score to 7-0 after two innings.

Terrell was efficient on the mound for the Tigers throwing five innings of four-hit baseball and surrendering just two runs with three strikeouts.

“It is a big stage for a sophomore to come into when your back is against the wall, and it is pretty much a must-win game to get into the playoffs,” Ellison said of Terrell. “To have the performance he did … He was commanding all his pitches for strikes, and he battled all night long.”

While Helena inched close with two runs in top half of the third inning, the Tigers slammed the door on any comeback bid with five more runs in the bottom half. A bases loaded walk set up Miller for his second two-RBI double of the game to make it 10-2.

Aiden Bee ended the inning legging out a two-RBI triple to put two more runs on the board. Seven of the nine hitters in the CCHS lineup recorded a hit, and Brody Pierce earned three walks in the leadoff spot.

“Last year, we missed out on the playoffs,” Ellison said. “To have Helena at home, and be able to take care of that game and play probably our best baseball collectively as a team this year to secure a spot. It was a great night for us.”

CCHS will host Montevallo High School on April 17 at 5:30 p.m. in their last regular season game of the season.