ACA (4-4) wrapped a very busy week of baseball with two games at Verbena. The fans and teams were treated to a beautiful day to enjoy. The Eagles defeated the host team in the first game 14-1, but dropped the second game of the day against Westminster-Oak Mountain, 2-14.
Game one - Verbena
The Alabama Christian offense had its best perfromance of the year against Verbena as they set season bests for runs (14) and hits (16). Jackson Burton and Teilan Long both delivered four hits which was the first time since 2007 two players had four hits in the same game. Long also tied the school record with four runs scored in the contest.
Mac Moorer singled on the second pitch of the game and the offense was off and running. Jackson Burton and Alex Heilman both had run scoring hits in the frame as ACA led 4-0 after one. Moorer led off the second with another single to start a five-run inning. Teilan Long drove in two with a single to left and Kade Brannen drove in another as the lead increased to nine runs. All three Alabama Christian runs in the third were tied to Verbena errors as the score was 12-1 after three. The last two runs of the game were scored from another Long RBI hit and an infield out by Levi Summers. Neither team scored in the fifth as ACA won by a score of 14-1.
Jackson Mcguire, who was back after missing two games due to illness, pitched a complete game gem as he held the Red Devils to one run over five innings with nine strikeouts and just one walk. Teilan Long was 4 for 5 with four RBIs and four runs scored while Jackson Burton went 4 for 5 with a double and three runs scored. Jackson McGuire, Mac Moorer, and Alex Heilman each finished with two hits.
Game two - Westminster-Oak Mountain
Alabama Christian showcased some of its younger talent on the mound in game two as Mason Henry took the hill in his first varsity game. The young pitcher held the Knights scoreless in the first with just a two-out walk allowed. The offense put two on the board in the bottom half to give ACA an early lead. Jackson Burton singled Jackson McGuire in and later scored on a wild pitch to gain the two-run advantage. After a walk and hit batter, the Westminster coach had a quick hook for his starter and brought in a relief pitcher. The righty struck out the next two Eagles to restore order for the Knights. In the second, a two-out walk was all Henry gave up again as ACA maintained a 2-0 lead after two.
With one out in the third, Westminster got on a hot streak that ACA could not stop. Seven consecutive batters reached base, including six straight hits, before Henry was pulled trailing 2-7. Mason Roosendaal came in to relieve Henry and gave up three more hits before Westminster could be retired. The Knights scored ten runs in all in the at-bat to take control of the game. The Eagles had a couple of chances to try and get back in it, but could not deliver the clutch hit when needed. In the third, ACA had runners on first and second with no outs, but two infield fly pop ups killed the rally. In the fourth, the first two runners again reached base, but a double play ball up the middle put a stop to the scoring chance. Westminster scored four in the top of the fifth to make the score 14-2. ACA ended the game by hitting into another double play for the run-rule defeat.
Jackson Burton finished 2 for 2 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. Beau Gainey also had two hits in two at-bats while Kade Brannen had the team’s other hit.