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Florala recorded 22 hits and 25 runs en route to a baseball first-round state playoffs sweep at home over county foe Red Level on Friday, April 18.

The Wildcats moved to 17-7 on the season and set their sights on this week’s second-round matchup at home against Fayetteville. The Tigers ended the year with a final record of 10-10.

Game 1: Florala 11, Red Level 5
Florala got on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the second. Ayden Brooks reached on an error and scored Rayshon Coleman with the first run. Easton Walsh delivered a two-out RBI single and plated Brooks and Gage Davis for a 3-0 lead.

Red Level loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth. Grayson Hodges grounded out but brought home Connor Blackwell and cut the deficit to 3-1. Dalton Jackson worked out of the jam and kept the score the same until the home half.

The Wildcats gained some breathing room with a five spot in their half of the frame. Coleman reached on a defensive miscue that brought in Jacob Laura with the fourth run. Brooks pushed the lead to 6-1 with a two-run single and scored Elijah McMeans and Coleman. Walsh capped the scoring with a two-run double to plate Gunner Taylor and Nathan Cook for an 8-1 lead.

The Tigers used a two-out rally for a run in the top of the sixth. Blackwell rolled into a fielder’s choice as Tanner Whatley scored and took the score to 8-2.

Noah Bryan ripped an RBI single in the bottom half and brought home Dalton Jackson. Brooks continued to spark at the plate for Florala and knocked a two-run double that sent Bryan and Coleman to the plate for an 11-2 lead.

Red Level would not go away quietly in the top of the seventh. Buddy Griffin stole home with two outs before a two-run single by Jacob Walden cashed in Jonathan Nolen and Whatley for a final score of 11-5.

Coleman was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, and Jackson also finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Brooks and Walsh were each 2-for-4 with four RBIs each. Jackson earned the win for Florala and threw 5 1/3 innings allowing two earned runs on two hits with 10 strikeouts.

Walden was 1-for-1 with two RBIs, while Nolen had a 1-for-2 showing with a run. Whatley was also 1-for-2 and scored two runs. Griffin threw five innings for Red Level and gave up eight runs (two earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Game 2: Florala 14, Red Level 0
Walsh began the second game with a double and scored on an RBI groundout from Jackson for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

A pair of errors led to the second run in the top of the third. Dawson Reeves laced a two-run single that brought in Bryan and Coleman for a 4-0 lead.

Coleman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth for a 5-0 lead. Brooks picked up where he left off with another two-run single for a 7-0 margin.

Florala pulled away with seven runs in the top of the fifth on four hits, three walks, and two errors. Walden singled for Red Level in the bottom half before a double play ended the game and the series.

Walsh finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBIs. Jackson, Bryan, Brooks, Reeves, Davis, and Greyson West all recorded a hit in the second game. Walsh picked up the complete-game win for the Wildcats and threw five shutout innings striking out seven and allowing just three hits.

Wyatt Simmons, Griffin, and Walden each posted a 1-for-2 showing at the plate for the Tigers. Blackwell threw 3 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Florala will host Fayetteville (20-10) in the second round on Thursday, April 24, beginning at 4:30 p.m. If a third game is needed, it would be played on Friday, April 25, at 3 p.m.