Blue Devils win area title

By Staff
Andrews hoping for homecoming
Charles Prince, Hartselle Enquirer
Falkville baseball coach Jeff Andrews is hoping for a home coming this May.
Andrews, who was a catcher during his college days at Auburn-Montgomery, hopes to take his Blue Devils to the field he played on.
Auburn-Montgomery is the host site for the 1A, 2A and 3A state baseball championship series.
The Blue Devils qualified for the post season by winning the 2A-Area 15 championship.
Andrews is not surprised that Falkville is playing in the post season.
"I thought we had a good chance at the area title when the season begin," Andrews said.
"I'm glad we won it outright because now we can host a playoff game."
Falkville will host Oakman April 21 at 4:30 p.m. in a single elimination sub-state playoff game.
After the opening two rounds the playoffs become a two-of-three format. Andrews thinks that favors his Blue Devils.
"I like our chances if we get to the double elimination round," Andrews said. "We play Monday and Tuesday for our area schedule. That helped us to develop our pitching."
"We have two really good starters in Kevin Russell and Brad Vest," Andrews said. "Some areas play Monday and Friday, so those teams can win their area with just one good starting pitcher."
Andrews-a minor league player in the Cincinnati Reds farm system-feels there is still more depth on the mound at Falkville.
"Ross and Ryan Summerford are actually throwing the best (of the four pitchers) right now," Andrews said. "I think their arms are fresh because Russell and Vest threw so many innings. Either one of the Summerfords could start game three if we needed them."
Andrews has scouted the Blue Devils first round opponent and came away impressed with the Wildcats.
"Oakman has a pretty good baseball team," Andrews said. "They have lots of speed and they run the bases aggressively. We'll have to control their base stealing to beat them."
Should the Blue Devils win, they would host a second round game April 24.
Falkville advances to the post season
Start printing playoff tickets– the Blue Devils are post season bound.
The Falkville Blue Devils clinched a spot in the state playoffs with a 19-9 rout of the Tanner Rattlers. The win wrapped up the 2A-Area 15 title for the Blue Devils with a 6-2 record. Falkville will host the Oakman Wildcats on April 21 at 4:30 in the opening round of the sub-state playoffs.
Falkville 19, Tanner 9
Kevin Russell picked up the win with five innings on the mound while Ryan Summerford picked up the save with two innings of no-hit ball. Russell allowed eight hits and nine runs while striking out one. Summerford recorded four strikeouts.
Bobby Holladay went 5-for-5 including two doubles with four runs scored and four RBIs to lead the Falkville attack.
Ross Summerford had a solo home run and scored three times while Brad Vest had two hits including a triple while driving in three runs and scoring one. Jeff Grandstaff drove in three more runs for the Blue Devils and scored three times. Todd Russell had a pair of doubles. Jeff Grandstaff had two hits and a walk, scored three times and drove in three more. Zack Ferrell walked and scored once. Kevin Russell had two hits and scored once.
The win gave the Blue Devils a 6-2 area record and assured Falkville of 2A-Area 15 championship. For Russell, it was his third area win of the season with no defeats, while Brad Vest finished 2-1 and Ryan Summerford 1-1 in area games.
Danville 11, Falkville 7
The Blue Devils slipped to 12-9 overall with the loss. Jeff Grandstaff fell to 0-2 on the mound as he threw five innings allowing eight hits and 11 runs. Todd Russell led the Falkville hitters with a 2-for-4 day with two runs and two RBIs.
Ross Summerford went 3-for-4 including a double with one RBI while brother Ryan had one hit and scored once. Bobby Holladay and Kevin Russell had one hit and scored one run each. Stevie Morgan went 1-for-1 and Jeff Grandstaff scored a run for Falkville.
Falkville 13, West Morgan 0
Kevin Russell improved to 5-2 on the mound with a two-hit performance. Russell threw four innings and struck out one. Brad Vest pitched the fifth inning and allowed no hits.
Ryan Summerford went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI double. Jonathan Lacey was 2-for-2 with five RBIs and scored twice including a solo homer and a two-run double.
Jeff Grandstaff was 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI. Bobby Holladay had a two-run homer while Zack Ferrell went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Brad Vest had a hit and a RBI while Kevin Russell had a hit and scored once. Ross Summerford walked and scored.
Falkville is now 13-9 on the season.