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.’’

No. 9 Thompson Warriors (24-17)
vs. No. 7 Bob Jones Patriots (26-16)

*What: Class 7A North Sub-State, 2nd round/quarterfinals

*Where: Bob Jones High School, Madison
*When: May 8-9 (source: ahsaa.com, 2026 Baseball Sports Book

*Round 1: Bob Jones defeated top-ranked Vestavia Hills 4-3, 1-7, 6-1; Thompson defeated Sparkman 12-1, 5-1.

*Next: Winner plays either No. 4 Tuscaloosa County (26-11) or No. 2 Hewitt-Trussville (27-7) in the semifinals

*7A finals schedule: Game 1–Thursday, May 21, 2 p.m., Oxford, Choccolocco Park; Game 2 and if needed Game 3, Friday, May 22, 4 p.m., Jacksonville State University

2025: Bob Jones 37-12, lost to eventual state champion Tuscaloosa County; Thompson 27-15, lost to Bob Jones in the second round

*You again? The series marks the fourth straight season Bob Jones and Thompson have met in the playoffs. Thompson won a first-round series in ’23 (2 games to 1), while Bob Jones won a second-round series in ’24 (2-1) and a first-round clash in ’25 (2-1).

*Playoffs all-time: Bob Jones 1974-current (28-25); Thompson 1979-current (22-21)

*State semifinals: Bob Jones (5)–’01, ’18, ’19, ’24, ’25; Thompson (1)–1992 (Class 3A)

*State championships: Bob Jones (1): 2024; Thompson (0)

*State runner-up: Bob Jones (2)–’19, ’01; Thompson (0)

Notes: The Patriots have won 17 area championships since their first season (1974), including four straight (2021-25) before finishing as Area 8 runner-up this season. … Thompson, which opened in 1922, has won 11 area championships since 1980 and entered the playoffs as Area 5 runner-up. The Warriors’ last two area titles were in 2024 and 2015. … Bob Jones senior shortstop Kamrin Jenkins signed with Missouri. … Thompson 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior right-handed pitcher Wyatt Williams signed with Alabama.

*Sources–Rankings by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA), Alabama High School Athletic Association ahsaa.com, Alabama High School Football Historical Society ahsfhs.org