VESTAVIA HILLS — It's the first day of the AHSAA North Central Regional Tournament at Liberty Park, and all five local teams are still in the running. Mortimer Jordan is unbeaten, while Hayden, Corner and Gardendale each won their first game but lost their second in the double-elimination tournament. Fultondale begins play at 5 p.m.
FIRST ROUND
Corner 9, Munford 0: Jordan Entrekin smashed a three-run homer, as the Yellow Jackets ran over Lions in the first round of the Class 4A North Central Regional at Liberty Park. Munford threatened in the fourth inning, but Corner center fielder Abby Deason turned a routine sacrifice fly into a double play with a spot-on throw 15 feet up the third base line.
Mortimer Jordan 12, Wenonah 1 (5 inn.): The Blue Devils made it look easy in their first round Class 5A contest. Haylie McCleney bunted her way to first in the second inning, stole two bases cleanly on the same play, then scored on a throwing error.
Gardendale 3, Northridge 2: The Jaguars had runners on first and third with one out in the top of the seventh, but couldn't score as the Rockets advance in Class 6A.
Hayden 13, John Carroll Catholic 0 (5 inn.): In Class 5A, Katie Parr pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings, and also cracked a two-run homer as the Wildcats took advantage of the Cavaliers’ fielding miscues to score seven runs in the first inning, as Hayden won its first-ever regional game.
SECOND ROUND
No. 2 Cherokee County 5, Corner 0: The Warriors scored twice in the first and three times in the sixth, taking advantage of a controversial call that allowed a Warrior runner to reach first on a hit-by-pitch; Yellow Jackets coach Aaron James argued that the runner swung at what should have been called a strike. Molly Brewer then hit a double to bring in two runs for Cherokee.
Mortimer Jordan 3, No. 10 Albertville 1: Bailey Murphy strikes out 14 Aggies as the Blue Devils move into the winner's bracket finals in Class 5A. MJ scores all three runs in the first inning.
No. 2 Moody 2, Hayden 0: A pitchers battle stays scoreless through the sixth, when the Blue Devils score two in the seventh, thanks in part to a Wildcat error that allowed runners on first and third with no outs.
No. 2 Vestavia Hills 8, Gardendale 1: Rebels get a 2-run homer from Riane Estes in the first. Sierra Geer's hit drives in Rockets' only run.
Later today: Fultondale plays Lamar County in class 2A.
Next games for Saturday: Mortimer Jordan vs. No. 2 Moody, 8 a.m.; Hayden vs. Pinson Valley, 8; No. 10 Corner vs. No. 9 Alexandria, 8; Gardendale vs. No. 4 Pelham, 9:30.
NOTE: AHSAA officials anticipate storms tomorrow, so schedule changes may be made to try to get everything in before bad weather arrives.
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