Sparkman baseball clinches playoff berth
HARVEST — Led by Brenner VanDeWynkel, Sparkman went on the road and earned a lopsided Class 7A, Area 7 win in the final weekend of regular season Thursday.
A lopsided 12-1, five-inning victory didn’t give the Senators the area championship. But while that goal is still in sight, they did reach one target by clinching a playoff berth.
VanDeWynkel homered, singled and drove home five runs to led the offensive attack as Sparkman assured itself at least the No. 2 seed in the area.
The Senators (21-17) will travel to Albertville (19-17) for a doubleheader today, and with a win in the first game they could still win the league title if the Grissom-Huntsville series falls in their favor.
The Tigers defeated the Panthers 9-4 Thursday. If Grissom wins the first game of a doubleheader today, they win the area. If Huntsville wins, Sparkman takes the title with a win over the Aggies and the No. 1 playoff seed that goes with it.
“I told the guys afterwards there’s still more work to do,” Sparkman head coach Ben Stevenson said. “Braxton Williams will pitch for us (today) and he’s been great for us all year. He’s won both area games he’s pitched in and won some other big ones. We’ve got to continue to swing it and stay focused on the task at hand.”
Albertville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
Sparkman went ahead for good at 2-1 in the bottom of the third behind a run-scoring double by Williams and an RBI-groundout by VanDeWynkel.
The Senators tacked on four runs, then scored six more to end the game early in the bottom of the fifth.
Williams finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Catcher and leadoff hitter Will Peccia went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to back VanDeWynkel’s effort. Anthony Pearsall had a hit, RBI and two runs scored, and Jaylon Davis had a hit, RBI and three runs scored.
Tripp Morris pitched all five innings to earn the win. He allowed four hits, struck out four and four walks.
Regardless of what happens today, Williamson said the team is happy its moving on to the first round.
“We’re lucky we get to play another week,” he said.
