Madison Academy earns sweep, advances in Class 5A baseball playoffs
HUNTSVILLE – Seniors on Madison Academy’s baseball team understand the assignment. It’s the final act, there’ll be no encore. Restore what they believe is their heritage or move on to the college level with business unfinished.
On a mission to move past the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs for the first time in three seasons, and with another goal of moving beyond the semifinal appearance they made as freshmen, the host and third-ranked Mustangs were laser focused as the postseason began Friday night.
Madison Academy dispatched Douglas with two shutouts in a bestof- three, first-round series 8-0 and 5-0 to advance behind stellar pitching and timely hitting, a prescription that has carried the Mustangs throughout 2025.
Now comes a series on the road at Leeds in the second round, a playoff stage that has proved a hurdle too high for the Mustangs in the last two seasons. The players are well aware while playing in a program with a rich history.
“We kind of have a chip on our shoulder because it’s not gonna happen again,” said senior pitcher/ position player Myles Johnson, an Eastern Kentucky signee who is one of the team’s top hitters. “Especially because we’re not really playing for ourselves. We’re playing for each other because we know that it’s the last ride together. We’ve mostly been together since sixth grade.’’
The closing act on high school careers will continue in college for at least eight Mustangs seniors who have signed with eight different programs. They’ll soon scatter. Class reunions, impromptu get togethers will happen but this band of seniors will never get back together with the same goal in mind.
“All eight of us are going to different schools,’’ said Doyle, a UAH signee. “I think that kind of adds to like the companionship and the tight knit bond that we have. We won’t play together again.’’
Friday, the pitching lines were mostly pristine for Madison Academy (31-6) against Douglas (13-13).
Senior starter Jack Doyle tossed six innings in Game 1, allowing one hit while striking out eight and walking one. Senior Tee Foster struck out three around a harmless single in the seventh to finish. Senior starter Myles Hubbard also went six in Game 2, allowing two hits while striking out nine and walking two. Senior Shane Duke struck out three in the final inning to cap the sweep.
In the opener, Hubbard hit a tworun home run, Gabe Evers and Noah Jarrell both had doubles with two RBIs. In the nightcap, Duke had a double among two hits with an RBI, Walker Sellers had two hits with an RBI and Davis Parker a double.
Now comes Round 2, Mount Everest for Madison Academy the past two seasons. The Mustangs visit Leeds (24-12) for a doubleheader Friday. If needed, Game 3 will be Saturday. The Greenwave advanced with a 1-0 win over Moody in a deciding
The winner will play either Lawrence County or Springville in the third round “The game gets tougher, and it just makes it all the more worth it when you make the right plays,’’ Doyle said. “It just makes it so much more rewarding. It just gets more fun as you keep going. The stakes are higher, but that makes it much more fun.’’
