BY ROB DAVIS AND DANIEL SCHMIDT
FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — In the doubleheader’s opening game, on March 24, Trinity scored in bunches, scoring eight runs in the second inning and nine more in the fifth to roll past The Oaks 18-5.
The Mighty Oaks out-hit the Eagles 9-8 but struggled defensively, committing multiple errors that contributed to nine unearned runs.
Bryson Mayes went three-for-three with a two-run double for Trinity, and Anderson England launched a three-run homer to right field as part of the eight-run second.
Asher Johnson, Bryson Johnson and David Nelson Rhyne each had two hits for The Oaks. Mike Carter and Elisha Hallmark also drove in two runs. The Mighty Oaks also drew six walks, but couldn’t consistently convert them into runs.
Game two
After game one of the doubleheader, The Oaks School bounced back on with a dominant 14-4 victory over the Eagles of Trinity Christian School at West Ridge Park in Opelika.
The Mighty Oaks used three pitchers over the course of six innings to hold Trinity to just four runs. Noah Shabo started the game on the mound for The Oaks and pitched three strong innings, allowing no earned runs and no walks while striking out four batters before handing the ball to Frank Huguley. Huguley also allowed no earned runs and struck out five before Vance Gould closed out the game and secured the win.
“This was a much needed win for us,” The Oaks head baseball coach Dave Shabo said. “I think our guys were starting to feel the pressure a little bit. We told them before the game to just relax and have fun out there. It was nice to see some smiles on their faces and see them enjoying playing baseball.”
Elisha Hallmark got things going for the Mighty Oaks with a single in the bottom of the first inning. Two consecutive walks put Hallmark at third base before crossing home plate on a past ball. With the bases loaded Asher Johnson was able to score from third base after a rare balk was called on the Trinity pitcher.
Trinity evened the score at two in the top of the second inning. Anderson England led off with a double and scored after the next batter Fife Conway also doubled. Shabo struck out the following two batters before Bronx Duval singled up the middle to score Conway.
The game wasn’t tied for long though as the Mighty Oaks put a five spot on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Three walks loaded the bases for Johnson who drove in two runs with a single. Mike Carter and Davis Rhyne both singled as three more runs would cross the plate in the inning.
“Baseball is a unique game,” Shabo said. “It’s an individual sport as you are the only one playing your position and yet everyone has to do their individual best to have a positive outcome as a team.”
After retiring the side in the top of the third, The Oaks added four more runs in the bottom of the inning. Bryant Johnson led off with a single and advanced to second base on a single up the middle by Huguley. Shabo singled to drive in Johnson, and Huguley scored on a passed ball. Then with two outs Asher Johnson drove in two runs to make it 11-2 in favor of the Mighty Oaks. Huguley and Shabo combined to drive in two runs in the sixth inning to end the game.
“We know our time is coming,” Shabo said. “We have a really young team that just needs experience. I think we have about nine games left to play, and our goal is just to improve each game, gain experience and end the season with some positive momentum that we can take into the off-season and into next baseball season.”
