By Morgan Bryce
Associate Editor
Outstanding pitching efforts from seniors Brooks Fuller and Drew Jennings helped the Auburn High School Tigers clinch their second state championship this decade May 19.
Coming off two consecutive years of state semifinal losses, AHS rolled through the regular season and compiled a 27-5 record.
Four close wins to start the tournament propelled AHS to a semifinal tilt with Smiths Station. The Tigers swept the Panthers in dominating fashion to punch their ticket to the state championship series v. Hewitt-Trussville.
The Tigers opened the series with a 4-1 win that Friday over the Huskies and closed out the series with a tension-filled 1-0 pitching duel won by Jennings.
Matt Cimo has led the AHS baseball program for 26 years. In addition to another state title, he clinched his 500th win as the Tigers’ head coach against Hewitt-Trussville in March.
The Tigers will lose 16 players to graduation from this season’s state title team but look to add more depth and talent from its junior varsity squad entering the 2019 season.