Sparkman claims Class 7A, Area 7 championship, top seed

ALBERTVILLE — Sparkman needed a win, plus a little help, to win the Class 7A, Area 7 championship.

On an overcast Friday on Sand Mountain, the Senators handled their end with a 3-1 win over Albertville. Meanwhile, in an equally cloudy Tennessee Valley, they needed a Grissom loss against Huntsville.

Alas, it wouldn’t happen as the Tigers took a 9-8 victory for the championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming state playoffs. However, it wasn’t a lost weekend for Senators since they had already clinched a playoff berth albeit as a second seed.

The Senators enter the postseason on a four-game winning streak and have won eight of their last 10.

“I think we’re in good shape,’’ Sparkman head coach Ben Stevenson said. “(Against Albertville) we were able to see a few more things. And we’ve told our guys for the last three weeks through areas the goal is just to keep getting better each week.’’

Before playing Albertville, the Senators played Huntsville in a pivotal area series and took two one-run games, 8-7 and 4-3. The opener was practically a doubleheader in itself, and the following clash was settled by an 11th-hour, two-run double.

“We had an intense weekend last week with Huntsville and that marathon 14-inning game,’’ Stevenson said. “And then a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh. Then coming in here to Albertville, I mean Coach (Jeff) Wood is always gonna have those guys go out and compete.’’

Sparkman (23-17) will travel to Area 5 champion and ninth-ranked Thompson (22-17) in the first round of the 7A playoffs. The best-of-three series is Friday and Saturday with game times TBA.

Friday, Sparkman also defeated the Aggies 6-4 in the third game of the series that only counts in area play as a tiebreaker.

“In Game 3 it was nice that we were able to play some (different) guys and see some things,’’ Stevenson said. “So I like where we’re at moving forward, and we just need to have another good week of practice and get after it.’’

Sparkman 3, Albertville 1: Braxton Williams allowed just one hit and one unearned run in five innings to earn the win. He struck out six, walked two and improved to 3-0 in area starts. Tyler Barrett allowed one hit in two scoreless innings to earn the save.

The pair out-dueled Ayden Foster (four innings) and Bradyn Shankles (three). Both allowed four hits, one earned run and struck out three with three total walks.

Williams also doubled among two hits, and Anthony Pearson had two. Will Peccia doubled home one run, and Brenner VanDeWynkel singled home another that put Sparkman ahead 2-1 in the top of the fifth.

Sparkman 6, Albertville 4: Charlie Mason went 4.1 innings to get the win, and Rowdy Castor tossed two scoreless innings for the save. Vincent Randolph had two hits and VanDeWynkle.