Top-ranked Tigers sweep Homewood to advance in 6A state playoffs

The top-ranked Hartselle Tigers swept the visiting No. 10 Homewood Patriots to advance to the second round of the AHSAA 6A state playoffs. The Tigers will hit the road for a second round matchup with Pell City, who defeated Minor in the first round.

“I am so proud of our guys and this team,” coach Jake Miles said. Homewood was a good team and is a class program. Coach Hall is one of the good guys in AHSAA baseball.”

Game One: Hartselle 6, Homewood 2

Peyton Steele’s fifth-inning three-run home run propelled the Tigers to a 6-2 victory over Homewood in game one of their three-game playoff series. Steele ended the game with two hits and three RBIs, while Cam Palahach added two hits and two RBIs.

Jace Meadows earned the win with a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out nine.

Game Two: Hartselle 3, Homewood 0

Nic Chumley dominated Homewood batters in Hartselle’s 3-0 win to clinch the series. He worked around two late-inning situations when the Patriots had two runners on in each inning. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing six hits while striking out five. Cole Miles earned the save with a scoreless inning of relief, allowing one hit while striking out one.

Jo Williamson had two hits and two RBIs, giving the Tigers all the runs they needed to back up Chumley’s pitching performance. Lawson Williams added a hit and an RBI, while Asher Doepel had two hits and two runs scored. Brody Leathers finished with three hits.

“We have had to find different ways to win all year and to do it with different guys again, and this series was no different,” Miles said. “On a night where our hitting was not as productive, it was timely, but our pitching and defense was outstanding! What Jace and Nick did to give our team a chance to win was unbelievable.”