MONTGOMERY — Defending state champion Sweet Water edged Spring Garden 6-4 in game two of the AHSAA Class 1A State Baseball Championship Series at Riverwalk Stadium Thursday morning to claim the Bulldogs’ second straight state title. The sweep of the Panthers didn’t come easily, however. Coach John Gluschick’s Bulldogs (29-9) won game on Wednesday on the strength senior Jonah Smith’s two-hit 8-0 shutout. Thursday’s game had much more suspense, however. Sweet Water scored an unearned run in the top of the third inning Shamar Lewis singled, stole second, moved to third on a scoring error and scored when Trenton Sams grounded out.
The Bulldogs post five more runs, all unearned, in the top of the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. Jonah Smith, named the Class 1A tourney MVP, and J.T. Etheridge opened the rally with back-to-back singles. Braiden Broussard reached on a fielder’s choice but Smith was thrown out at the plate. Reed Joiner loaded the bases reaching on an error and Luke Davis followed with a double down the left-field line to clear the bases for the big hit of the inning. Coach Barrett Ragsdale’s Panthers, scoreless in the first 11 innings of the series, finally came to life in the bottom of the fourth scoring four runs of Sweet Water starter Sasha Smith.
Riley Austin opened the inning with a single and scored on an infield error three batters later. Luke Welsh then delivered a bases-loaded double down the right-field line to cut the Sweet Water led to 6-4. Sweet Water opened the sixth inning with back-to-back singles by Austin Slayton and Weston Kirk. The rally was snuffed out two batters later when Sweet Water turned a double play. Sasha Smith (7-0), the younger brother of Jonah Smith, pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed two hits and struck out three to get the win. Chance Broussard hurled the final 2 1/3 innings allowing two hits and no runs to get the save. Kirk went the distance for the Panthers, scattering nine hits and six unearned runs. He walked none and struck out none. Sams finished with one hit and two RBIs. He also had one stolen base — giving him 34 on the season.
He broke the school record with his 33rd steal Wedneday night. Davis had two hits and three RBIs, and Chastain Washington had two hits and scored two runs. Welsh’s double and three RBIs paced Spring Garden. Kirk finished with one hit and an RBI, Slayton and Austin had a single each and score a run. Sweet Water’s title was the 10th in school history, moving the Bulldogs to second all-time behind G.W. Long, which won its 15th state crown Tuesday.
Vestavia Hills and Hokes Bluff now rank third with nine state championships each. Mobile Christian (28-9) and Lauderdale County (22-15-1) play game two of the Class 3A championship series today at 4 p.m. The Class 5A series, featuring Russellville (30-14) and Faith Academy (34-4) in a rematch from 2017, begins at 4 p.m. Thursday at Paterson Field. The Class 6A series between Helena (26-14) and Hazel Green (30-12) plays game one at 7 p.m. Both series shift to Riverwalk Stadium Friday with 5A at 10 a.m., and 6A at 4 p.m. The third game in each series will follow 30 minutes later if needed.
The Class 7A championship series opens Friday at 6 p.m. at Paterson Field with Hewitt-Trussville (32-9) facing Auburn (35-7). The 7A series close the AHSAA Championships Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium with game two at 10 a.m. All championship series games are being live-streamed over the NFHS Network. The AHSAA Softball Championships is underway at Lagoon Park today through Saturday.
