Bob Jones to host Elite 8 doubleheader this Friday

MADISON – Playing in front of a friendly crowd certainly doesn’t guarantee success, but it also can’t hurt. Especially when classmates, family and casual followers show up in force. Even on the road.

Bob Jones baseball head coach Jared Smith said fans who came to a Game 3 showdown Saturday in the suburban city of Vestavia Hills, which is just south of Birmingham proper.

According to Smith, the Patriots faithful who traveled for the best-of-three, first-round series finale Saturday against No. 1-ranked homesteading Rebels gave the team a boost. He said the visiting Bob Jones crowd played a part in the 6-1 victory that sent the team into the quarterfinals.

Smith said he “thought we were louder and more intense than (Vestavia fans).’’

He now hopes a pro-Patriot crowd in Madison will give the team a spark when Bob Jones (26-16) hosts No. 9 Thompson (24-17) in a best-of-three series that starts with a doubleheader Friday at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

“No doubt,’’ he said. “I think anytime your fans are definitely into the game, your players feed off that. Our fans brought the noise, no doubt on Saturday, and I think our guys were feeding off that.

“You’ve still got to play well, but I think that energy is always a good thing. And we did everything we could to bring that energy and be ready to play. I thought we did a great job of it.’’

Game 3, if necessary, will be played Saturday at Bob Jones beginning at 1 p.m.

Bob Jones won the series with Vestavia Hills by scores of 4-3, 1-7, 6-1. In the two wins, starting pitchers Josh Wilhide (Game 1) and Hudson Olive both threw complete games against what has been one of the, if not the best, hitting teams in the state.

Now comes Thompson, a familiar playoff opponent. The Patriots have faced the Warriors in each of the last three postseasons. Thompson won a first-round series 2-0 in 2023, and Bob Jones won second-round sets 2-1 in both 2024 and last season.

Bob Jones has also defeated Thompson twice this regular season.

Thompson swept Sparkman 2-0 in a doubleheader last week to advance to the second round, which also serves as the quarterfinals.

The Warriors pitching staff features 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander and Alabama signee Wyatt Williams. They’ve also got “Our staff, our players are all familiar with them,’’ Smith said. “They’re well coached, they play play hard. They’ve got two really, really good arms that we’ve seen the last two years as well.’’

Smith hopes the home crowd will not only show up but show out.

“If you have positive energy,’’ he said, “I think it’s a great, great thing.’’