Bob Jones starts area play with sweep of Hazel Green
Matt Bolger (left) congratulates Matt Sanders after a home run against Hazel Green
(CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON- When the Bob Jones baseball team started the season few believed the Patriots when they said this team could contend for an area title. Now halfway through the season the wins are starting to pile up after a 1-5 start.
After sweeping ninth-ranked Hazel Green in two area games the Patriots are 13-6 and 2-0 in Class 6A, Area 15 play.
Bob Jones baseball coach Jeff Bell has found new roles for familiar faces and had some new players step up.
“We were real young starting early in the season and we needed several games to get that experience you need at this level,” Bell said. “The guys have worked hard and played hard and gotten better as the season progressed.”
Thursday night, Austin May pitched all eight innings as Bob Jones scored three runs in an extra inning to top Hazel Green 5-2. Friday night, lefty Matt Bowen pitched a complete game 4-hit shutout as Bob Jones won 6-0.
The infield duo of Matt Bolger and Matt Sanders both homered to provide all the run support Bowen would need.
“That is two huge wins for us, big wins. The guys were ready to play this weekend,” Bell said.
Bolger’s batting average hovers near .500 but he had not connected for a home run until the bottom of the third against Hazel Green’s Will Stewart. His two run blast put Bob Jones up 2-0. The senior shortstop is already signed to play in college at South Alabama.
Two batters later Grant Chandler singled in Matt Sanders who had doubled.
Connor Smith relieved Stewart. He issued Bolger an intentional walk in the fifth inning. Second baseman Matt Sanders followed with a three-run blast. Sanders is hitting over .500 and has 18 RBI’s to lead the team.
Bowen picked up his fourth win of the season as he struck out seven, walked three, and allowed only four hits.
“Bolger is our primary leader. He has started since his tenth-grade season. Matt Sanders is a great player, Collin Dupree behind the plate is doing a great job,” Bell said.
Some seniors that did not play much last year have contributed to the success this season also. Seth Parker in centerfield and Chris Flowers have given Bell valuable options off the bench. Grant Chandler has filled the void at first base and is hitting .333.
Meanwhile, it appears Buckhorn will be a factor in how Area 15 plays out this season. The Bucks took two games from Sparkman on Thursday to win their first season series. Kyle Wright got one of the wins. Wright went 13-0 last year as a sophomore and is even better this season. He was an ASWA all-state selected after last season.
Bob Jones will host Buckhorn in an area game on Friday night, April 5. The series will conclude at Buckhorn the next day.
