Patriots advance in state playoffs with double-header win over Gadsden City, will travel to Vestavia Hills on Friday
MADISON – Bob Jones advanced to the quarterfinals Friday after scoring 27 runs over Gadsden City during a double-header in the first round of the 7A baseball playoffs. The Patriots advanced to the quarterfinals for back-to-back years for the first time since 1989.
Friday’s wins also set the school record for the most wins in a season. Bob Jones have won 37 games so far to break the mark set by the 2018 team with 36 wins. The Patriots have now won 30 or more games for three out of the last four seasons for the first time in school history.
Bob Jones will now travel to third-ranked Vestavia Hills for the second round of the state playoffs on Friday, May 3, for a doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and a game on Saturday at 2 p.m., if necessary.
7A #1 Bob Jones (37-8) 19, Gadsden City (10-22) 6:
In game one of the 7A first round playoffs, Bob Jones jumped out to an early 10-0 lead after one inning and cruised to an easy 19-6 victory over the visiting Gadsden City Titans.
John Michael Riley was an RBI machine on Friday, driving in five on two hits. Riley drove in runs on a home run in the third and a single in the fourth. Bob Jones got on the board in the first inning after Mitchell Daly homered on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs.
Cam Hill was the winning pitcher for Bob Jones as he lasted three and a third innings, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out four and walking zero. Nick Brown and Andrew Wright entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Wright pitched two-thirds of an inning and Brown pitched one inning allowing one earned run on two hits with a strikeout. Bob Jones tallied two home runs in the game, as Daly had a homer in the first inning and Riley went yard in the third inning.
The Patriots tallied 13 hits on the day. Dylan Ray, Tyler Jones, and Riley each racked up multiple hits. Ray led Bob Jones with three hits in four at bats. Riley and Jones finished with two hits each with a homer for Riley and a double for Jones.
Daly finished with a homer and Colten Carver and Ryan Crawford added doubles while Logan Hittle, Slate Alford, and Hill chipped in singles. Bob Jones tore up the base paths with ten stolen bases. Tanner Troutt led the way with three.
7A #1 Bob Jones (38-8) 8, Gadsden City (10-23) 0:
In game two, Bob Jones defeated Gadsden City 8-0 to advance to the second round as three pitchers combined to throw a shutout.
The Patriots opened up scoring in the second inning when John Michael Riley homered for the second time of the day.
Bob Jones picked up three insurance runs in the seventh inning as Mitchell Daly hit another long ball for his second of the day.
Dylan Ray led the Patriots to victory on the pitcher’s mound as he lasted five and a third innings, allowing two hits and zero runs while striking out ten. East and Sam Maynard entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. East pitched the final inning with no hits allowed and two strikeouts. Maynard pitched two-thirds of an inning in the 6th to leave two runners stranded for the Titans.
It was deja vu, as Bob Jones socked two home runs in the game by Daly and Riley once again. Daly went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Bob Jones in hits with three RBIs. Colten Carver added a double while Stuart Edge, Cam Hill, and Ray added singles.
