Saints dominate CHHS Trojans
Published 12:09 am Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The No. 8 Charles Henderson Trojans season came to a jarring end Tuesday night in Mobile. The host St. Paul’s Saints showed the Trojans early what they were made of and never let up all night.
AJ McCarron pitched a three-hit 7-0 shutout in game one and the No. 3 Saints mercy-ruled the Trojans 17-5 in game two of the state quarterfinals.
The Trojans (28-12) threatened in the first inning of game one with runners on the corners, but McCarron forced a ground out and was never tested again.
The Saints (31-4) scored four runs on five hits on Trojan starting pitcher David Fleming in the second inning after Fleming escaped a bases loaded jam in the first inning. The inning included three consecutive bunt singles.
St. Paul’s tacked on two runs in the fourth and one to chase Fleming from the game. Fleming went 3.1 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out two.
Dario Rouse, Jake Smith and Barron each had one hit in the game.
CHHS charged out to an early lead in game two with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Parker Sanders walked, scored on a Rouse single.
The Saints bounced back with six runs on four Trojan errors and three hits in the top of the second on starter Mitch McLeod. St. Paul’s chased McLeod in the third inning with three runs scored.
McLeod allowed nine runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work. He walked seven and struck out one.
Jake Smith relieved McLeod and allowed five runs on four hits, walked four and struck out two.
The Trojans cut the lead to 9-4 in the third. Rouse doubled, Daniel Hartley walked, Quay Lawson doubled to bring Rouse home and Barron doubled to plate Hartley and Lawson.
St. Paul’s added one run in the fifth inning and Lawson walked and scored on a fielder’s choice for the Trojans’ final run. The Saints ended the game in the sixth with seven runs.