Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Two pitchers’ duels took center stage and told the tale as Florala split a baseball second-round state playoffs doubleheader against Fayetteville at home on Thursday, April 24.

The Wildcats went to 18-8 for the year, while the Wolves stood at 21-11. There were only eight runs and 15 hits combined in the two games with both contests decided by one run.

Game 1: Florala 3, Fayetteville 2
Brenton Cantrell walked and Eli Burns singled in the top of the first. Carter Goins reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs as courtesy runner Colton Hardy scored the first run and gave Fayetteville an early 1-0 lead.

Jacob Laura took a one-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball in the bottom half. Starting pitcher Dalton Jackson helped himself with an RBI single as Laura scored and tied the game at 1-1. Noah Bryan then singled and Rayshon Coleman walked to load the bases with one out. Ayden Brooks knocked a go-ahead single that brought home courtesy runner Elijah McMeans and Bryan and gave Florala a 3-1 lead after one inning.

Blake McDaniel struck out but reached on a wild pitch in the visiting second. McDaniel stole second and cut the deficit to 3-2 when Connor Crumpton delivered an RBI double. Following a sacrifice bunt, Jackson stranded the potential tying run at third and ended the threat. Easton Walsh singled in the home half but was thrown out attempting to steal second and left the score 3-2 after two innings.

Both teams were retired in order in the third inning as Jackson picked up two strikeouts in the top half.

The Wolves were poised for a two-out rally in the fourth with back-to-back walks. However, it was not in the cards as Jackson maintained the lead with a clutch strikeout of Adan Hernandez. Dawson Reeves walked with one out in the bottom of the frame, but the Wildcats could not solve Ethan Jones who struck out the side.

Burns reached on an error in the fifth and stole second but was stranded there and kept the score 3-2. Laura and Jackson each singled in the home half before back-to-back strikeouts sent the game to the sixth inning.

Wood and Crumpton took a pair of two-out walks in the visiting sixth. Bryan took over on the mound and extinguished the rally attempt with a fly out. Jones worked an eight-pitch 1-2-3 frame in the bottom half.

Walsh went to the mound in the top of the seventh and did not allow a base runner as Florala grabbed an early lead in the series.

Jackson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and earned the win in 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits and striking out seven. Lara finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Walsh, Bryan, and Brooks all went 1-for-3.

Game 2: Florala 1, Fayetteville 2
Carter Goins struck out two in the top of the first of the second game. Cantrell had a leadoff bunt single as Hardy stole second with two outs. Goins reached on a defensive miscue and went to third, while Hardy crossed the plate and gave Fayetteville a 1-0 lead after one inning.

Coleman and Brooks earned consecutive walks in the top of the second. Both moved up on a passed ball before Reeves laid down a perfect squeeze. Coleman slid into home plate just ahead of the tag and drew Florala even at 1-1. Walsh worked around a runner in scoring position and struck out two to keep the game tied after two innings.

The Wildcats were unable to take advantage of an error in the top of the third. Burns took a one-out walk in the bottom half and scored the go-ahead run when Jones lined an RBI double and sent Burns to the plate. The Wolves then loaded the bases with two outs, but Walsh stood tall and caught Brayden Wood looking to end the frame and keep the score 2-1 after three innings.

Strong pitching the rest of the way kept both teams at bay. Florala did not go quietly in the top of the seventh as Coleman reached on an error and stole second. Brooks nearly missed a go-ahead homer by inches down the left field line but flew out. Sawyer Braswell came on for the last batter and struck out Gage Davis as Fayetteville evened the series and forced a winner-take-all contest.

Coleman was 1-for-2 with a run scored, and Bryan went 1-for-3 as the only Wildcats to record hits in the second game. Walsh suffered the hard-fought loss despite a strong pitching line of two runs (one earned) on five hits and eight strikeouts in all six innings.

Results from the third game of the series played on Friday, April 25, will be available on andalusiastarnews.com as well as the Wednesday, April 30, print edition.