Jemison baseball defeats Central, secures playoff berth
Published 5:26 pm Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Jemison High School seniors William Lenoir, Mathew Ramsey, Phillip Lenoir, Tremon Bryant, Trae Sanders, Christopher Cunningham, Logan Ray and Banks Woodley share a moment with coach Jason Easterling prior to the game on Tuesday. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall)
By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser
The Jemison Panthers varsity baseball team on Tuesday clinched a spot in the upcoming AHSAA Class 5A state baseball playoffs with an 8-0 win over Central Tuscaloosa on senior night.
A dropped third strike and a leadoff single by Will Lenoir was all of the offense for both teams through the first inning, but after a three-up, three-down inning by the Falcons, the Panthers put three runs on the board in the home half of the second.
Walks to Trae Sanders and Hunter Hood along with a single by Will Johns loaded the bases for the Panthers with only one out.
A Falcons’ error on a ground ball by Lenoir scored one run, and a two-run double by Banks Woodley gave the Panthers an early 3-0 lead.
Another three-up, three-down inning by the Falcons along with a pair of singles by the Panthers resulted in no changes to the score through the third inning.
With Central again going in order through the top of the fourth inning, the Panthers tacked on three more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Walks to Mathew Ramsey and Lenoir gave the Panthers two aboard with one out.
A steal attempt by Ramsey resulted in a wild throw from the Central catcher that allowed Ramsey to score while an RBI single by Woodley scored Lenoir.
An RBI double by Logan Ray plated Woodley to give Jemison a 6-0 lead after four innings of play.
The fifth inning came and went quietly for both teams and the contest moved to the sixth with Jemison leading 6-0.
A one out single for the Falcons did little to help their cause while the Panthers added two more runs in the home half of the sixth.
A single by Lenoir got the inning started, and a two-out double by Ray brought Lenoir home.
Chase Deason followed Ray’s double with one of his own that extended the Jemison lead to eight.
The Jemison defense shut down the Falcons in order through the top of the seventh inning to bring the game to a close while punching their ticket to the playoffs.
Ray led the Panthers at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance with two doubles and two RBIs.
Woodley handled the pitching for Jemison and pitched a complete game shutout with only one hit, no walks and 16 strikeouts.
