Apr. 19—MOULTON — First-round playoff baseball returned to H.A. Alexander Park for the first time since 2009 on Friday, and Lawrence County didn’t disappoint, taking the series sweep over Fairview.
The Red Devils rallied to win the first of the playoff doubleheader 6-3, riding that energy to a 12-3 win in the second game. They took a playoff series win at home for the first time since 2008 and now advance to the second round for consecutive years, earning their first 23-plus win season since 2003.
Just as they’ve done all season long, Lawrence County’s seniors led the way. They collected a combined 12 RBIs, three home runs — two from Wyatt Knight — and two doubles in the two-game series.
Senior Tripp Engle played center field and had three RBIs in the second game, all with a broken middle finger on his throwing hand.
“That momentum really helped us stay in it,” Engle said. “Even when we got down in the first game, we stayed up the whole time and came right back.”
Lawrence County jumped out on Fairview early during the second game, scoring five runs in the top of the first to go into the second inning up 5-2. They held Fairview scoreless the rest of the game while racking up runs.
After the win, Lawrence County moves on to the second round to face the winner of No. 1 Springville versus Northside. If Springville wins, the Red Devils will host Class 5A’s top-ranked team. If Northside wins, Lawrence County will travel for the second round.
In Game 2, Engle led Lawrence County with three RBIs on a triple. Caden Norwood and Parker Frost had a pair of RBIs each. Wyatt Knight had a solo home run. Sutton Philips and Kade Taylor each had an RBI in the win. Jake Weathersby pitched five innings of one-run ball, striking out five and securing the win on the mound.
Lawrence County rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take Game 1 against Fairview 6-3 in a first-round playoff doubleheader at home Friday.
Lawrence County senior Frost put the Red Devils on his back, accounting for almost half their runs while pitching two perfect innings to close out the game.
He took the lead from the Aggies with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 5-3. The senior then took the mound at the top of the sixth and was perfect, allowing no hits, no walks, and no errors, to earn the win.
“They haven’t thrown me many fastballs, so I knew what to expect coming into the game.” Frost said. “He (the pitcher) just hung a curveball right down the middle and that’s what you do to those balls.
Despite the offensive burst, it was the fourth inning with a 3-0 deficit before the Red Devils picked up their first hit. But once they did, Lawrence County locked out Fairview for the rest of the game.
In Game 1, Frost led Lawrence County with a pair of RBIs on a two-run home run and two walks. Lawrence County’s Wyatt Knight hit a solo home run. Ryder McGregory and Jake Weathersby both picked up an RBI on a base hit each. Lawrence County’s Elijah Tuckier pitched five innings, allowing three runs and striking out the same number of batters.