By Staff
Charles Prince, Hartselle Enquirer
FALKVILLE – An outstanding season came to an end in Falkville Saturday.
The Falkville Blue Devils reached the second round of the 2A baseball playoffs before they fell out of postseason play with a 4-0 loss to Colbert Heights Saturday. In the opening round of the playoffs, Falkville had topped Oakman 8-1.
Falkville 8, Oakman 1
Bobby Holladay smashed a two-run homer to get the offense going and Kevin Russell's strong showing on the mound led the Blue Devils past Oakman.
Holladay hit a home run with one out in the bottom of the second inning to start a five-run rally for Falkville. Jeff Granstaff scored ahead of Holladay after reaching base on an error. After a Kevin Russell double, Cody Simpson came on to pinch-run and stole third base. Simpson scored two pitches later on a passed ball. Zac Ferrell scored on a ground out to make it 4-0 Falkville followed by Ryan Summerford scoring from second on when brother Ross doubled off the left field wall.
In the fourth inning, Falkville added three more runs when Ferrell reached on an error and stole second. Ferrell scored when Todd Russell doubled to left. Ross Summerford then walked and stole second to give Falkville runners on second and third.
Russell and Summerford scored on Ryan Summerford's second RBI double of the game.
"I think we played great today," Falkville coach Jeff Andrews said. "I think we let down a little the last two innings when we gave up a run. We played real well the first five (innings)."
After allowing one run with one out in the sixth, Russell was relieved by Ryan Summerford. Summerford got a fly out and a strikeout to end the inning. Russell finished with 5 1/3 innings of four-hit ball.
Summerford would strikeout the side in the top of the seventh inning to lock up the win and move the Blue Devils to the second round.
Colbert Heights 4, Falkville 0
Eli Fuller led No. 8 Colbert Heights to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs by limiting the Blue Devils to six hits. Fuller struck out 11 and walked only three during the shutout.
Falkville got runners to third base only twice in the game and failed to collect an extra base hit.
Kevin Russell had two singles for the Blue Devils while Ross Summerford, Jonathan Lacey, Bobby Holladay and Zac Ferrell had one single each.
Ryan Summerford took the loss by allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings of work. Summerford allowed a single run in the first inning and then allowed a three-run homer with one out in the top of the second after hitting two batters. Brad Vest relieved him and allowed only two more hits in 5 2/3 and he struck out three while not allowing a walk.
Falkville ended the season with a 16-11 record.