Haleyville Lions advance

The Hokes Bluff Eagles faced the Haleyville Lions in the first round of Alabama’s class 4A state baseball tournament, and the Lions sent the six-time state champ’s home with a loss in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Haleyville Lions won the opening game with solid pitching from Drew Bachelor, while timely base hits and two big shots from Jud Sherrill gave the Lions a 7-3 win over the Eagles in the opener.

Sherrill went 4-of-5 with one home run and four RBI’s in the first game. The Eagles made a decision to keep Sherrill from hitting the remainder of the three game series’, which seemed to pay off in game two.

Game two had an entirely different feel as the Eagles bats warmed up, and the Lions defense broke down. The Eagles blasted Haleyville 10-0 in five innings.

The story of the series’ was pitcher Ryan Forrester of Haleyville. Forrester allowed only one hit in game three, and three base runners. Forrester struck out 13 batters and walked one. The third base runner reached on an error.

Austin Hulsey had an RBI single in the third inning and a fielder’s choice grounder in the fifth to help the Lions to a two-point lead. Kameron McCreless also had an RBI single in the fifth to give the Lions a 3-0 victory. Haleyville will travel to Alexandria to take on the Valley Cubs in the second round of the state playoffs.