There is nothing quite like a baseball season opening day. Alabama Christian opened the year with its oldest in-town rival. ACA first played Catholic in 1970 and the series continued Tuesday night in a tightly contested game. The Eagles fell 12-13 to the Knights but provided plenty of highlights in the back-and-forth affair. Senior Preston Hicks homered in his first two at-bats and was never given a chance for a third as the Catholic coaching staff intentionally walked him in his next three plate appearances. Hayes Hunt went 4 for 4 with a triple from the leadoff spot and scored three times.
After giving up three runs in the top of the first, ACA responded with three themselves to draw even. Preston Hicks delivered two of the runs with a laser shot over the center field fence. With two outs in the second, Hicks struck again with a three-run shot to right center to help the Eagles take a 7-3 lead after two frames. Catholic scored two runs in the fourth, but Hunter Barfoot answered the call after a Hicks intentional pass by putting the ball in play and plating two runs.
Hayes Hunt reached his pitch limit after four innings and it was up to the bullpen to hold the lead. Catholic tied the game in the fifth and scored four more in the sixth to take a 13-9 lead to the seventh. ACA did not go away without a fight as they cut the lead to one run. Judson Graham scored the first run on a bases-loaded wild pitch, Grant Cornette scored on a bases-loaded intentional walk to Hicks, and Mac Moorer scored on a Hunter Barfoot walk to cut the lead to 12-13. Catholic was able to record the last out and hold on for the win.
Preston Hicks finished the night with six RBIs while going 2 for 2 with three walks. Landon Nelson was 2 for 5 while Ati Bowman scored three runs and Hunter Barfoot drove in three.
The Eagles continue play with a doubleheader at Tallassee Thursday, February 23rd.