Patriots claim Class 7A Area 8 title with win over James Clemens

MADISON – Bob Jones claimed their second straight 7A Area 8 Championship for the first time since 2013 after winning over James Clemens Tuesday. The Patriots clinched the championship with a 7-2 win over James Clemens in game one of a three-game series.

The Patriots will host a playoff series on Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28 (if necessary) versus Sparkman or Gadsden City.

7A #1 Bob Jones (34-7, 4-1) 7, James Clemens (19-16, 1-4) 2:

An early lead helped Bob Jones defeat James Clemens 7-2 on Tuesday. The Jets took a first inning 1-0 lead when Zach Hopkins walked with two outs, RJ Farrell singled, and Connor Cantrell singled home Hopkins. But the Patriots came back quick. Bob Jones scored on a 2-RBI double by John Michael Riley in the bottom of the first inning and a single by Cam Hill in the second inning for a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the second for the Jets, Ben Bolden and Joseph Crosson opened the inning with singles, and Dillon Acosta’s fly ball scored pinch runner Landon Brown. That run proved to be the last for the Jets, as Cam Hill and Sam Maynard shut down Jets hitters over the last five innings,

Hill led the Patriots to victory on the hill as he went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five. Sam Maynard threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen with two strikeouts.

Bob Jones tallied nine hits on the day. Mitchell Daly, Hill, Dylan Ray, and Riley each had two hits for the home team. Daly and Riley had doubles. Michael Strickland added a single. Bob Jones stole seven bases during the game with Ray and Colten Carver swiping two bases each.