Patriots end amazing season with close loss in title game
MONTGOMERY – The Bob Jones Patriots were just two runs shy of winning the state baseball title Saturday afternoon. After an amazing season and a thrilling three-game series for the Class 7A state championship, the Patriots ended their season today as the state runner-up after a very close 7-6 loss to McGill-Toolen.
The Patriots played two games today after losing to McGill-Toolen last night to open the best-of-three championship series in Montgomery. The second game of the series this morning went in favor of Bob Jones, 11-7, after the Patriots took the lead late in the game.
The game was tied at six with Bob Jones batting in the top of the sixth when Colten Carver singled on a 2-2 count, scoring two runs.
Carver led the Patriots to victory by driving in four runs. He went 2-for-4 at the plate. Carver drove in runs on a groundout in the first, a single in the sixth, and a single in the seventh.
Bob Jones opened up an early lead in the second inning when an error scored one run. McGill-Toolen then scored three runs in the third inning. Spencer Hadley and Martino all drove in runs in the frame.
The Patriots evened things up at six in the top of the fifth inning. Michael Strickland’s sac fly scored one run for Bob Jones.
Sam Maynard took the win for the Patriots. He went five innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out two and walking zero.
Dylan Ray started the game for Bob Jones. He surrendered six runs on five hits over two innings, striking out two
The Patriots tallied 16 hits. Slate Alford, Cam Hill, Caden Rose, Carver, Ray, and John Michael Riley all collected multiple hits. Rose, Hill, and Alford all had three hits to lead Bob Jones.
The win for the Patriots threw the series into requiring a third game this afternoon to decide the title.
In the third game, Bob Jones lost the lead late in the 7-6 defeat to McGill-Toolen. The game was tied at three with McGill-Toolen batting in the top of the fifth when Matthew Glover grounded out, scoring two runs.
The Patriots collected 12 hits and McGill-Toolen had eight in the high-scoring affair.
In the second inning, McGill-Toolen got their offense started when Martino singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run.
After McGill-Toolen scored two runs in the top of the sixth, Bob Jones answered with two of their own. McGill-Toolen scored when Nathan Larue doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs. The Patriots then answered when Colten Carver homered on a 2-2 count, scoring two runs.
Andrew Wright took the loss for Bob Jones. He surrendered two runs on zero hits over one-third of an inning, striking out one.
The Patriots socked two home runs on the day. Slate Alford had a four bagger in the second inning. Carver put one out in the sixth inning.
Bob Jones racked up 12 hits in the game. John Michael Riley, Mitchell Daly, Stuart Edge, and Dylan Ray all managed multiple hits. Riley led with three hits in four at bats.
The championship series was the first time Bob Jones had competed in the state title game since 2001. They were ranked No. 1 in Class 7A through most of the season.
