On Friday, April 18, both the Charles Henderson Trojans and Zion Chapel Rebels saw their 2025 baseball seasons come to a close in the first round of the state playoffs.

The Trojans (20-15) headed to Mobile for a Class 5A First Round match up against the St. Paul’s Episcopal Saints, being swept in two games. CHHS dropped the first game by a score of 9-2. St. Paul’s scored six runs in the third inning to take control of the game.

For CHHS, Chase Vaznaian hit a two-run home run, while Trenton Bryan drove in one run with a double and Cole Pugh hit a double and scored one run. Dylan Westberg struck out one batter and gave up nine hits and one earned run in two and 1/3 innings pitched. Will Watkins also pitched two innings and fanned one batter, while giving up no hits or runs.

For St. Paul’s, Brooks McDonald went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two runs. Edward McLeod also hit a three-run home run. Tate Farrell struck out 10 batters and gave up six hits and two earned runs in seven innings on the mound.

St. Paul’s dominated game two by a score of 18-0, scoring 14 runs in the third inning. For CHHS, Ben Cochran, Vaznaian and Pugh each collected one hit. Trenton Bryan struck out three batters and gave up seven hits and five earned runs in two and 1/3 innings pitched.

For St. Paul’s, Tate Johnston went 4-for-5 with an RBI and three runs, while McLeod went 2-for-3 with two doubles, five RBIs and two runs. Bradley Irish pitched five innings and struck out five batters, while giving up three hits and earning the shutout victory.

The Zion Chapel Rebels (13-13) were also swept in the Class 2A First Round by the Cottonwood Bears on the road. Cottonwood took game one by a score of 7-1, scoring six runs in the first three innings.

John Foster Hamm scored the lone Rebel run, while Dylan Davis drove in one run. Hamm also pitched six innings and gave up seven hits and four earned runs with two strikeouts.

For Cottonwood, Ethan Simmons went 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI and one run. Austyn Miller pitched seven innings and mowed down 10 batters, while giving up two hits and one earned run.

Cottonwood also took game two by a score of 3-0. Cottonwood led 1-0 going into the seventh inning and scored two more runs to secure the victory. For ZCHS, Joseph LeGear hit a double, while Davis, Gunner Jacobs and Tyler Bass each collected a hit. Davis pitched six innings and struck out a batter along with giving up four hits and no earned runs.

For Cottonwood, Simmons scored one run and Evan Morris drove in two runs. Braylon Morris pitched all seven innings and struck out 11, while giving up four hits and no runs.