The Birmingham Giants finished up their 2016 spring season finishing their World Series run with a 4-2 record, finishing 31-16-2 on the season, and 44-21-4 in their first year.
In their first pool play game the Giants faced off with the Renagades, and after trailing for 3 innings, the Giants used a 5 run final frame for the comeback victory. Egan Lowery(5-3) started on the mound, going 3 innings before being relieved by Sylas Amick(8-2) who picked up the win. At the plate the Giants were led by Gavin Clanton (2), KJ Beck (2b), Kevin Hurley (2b), and JB Landrum(1).
In Game 2 of pool play the Giants were scheduled to play the Druid City Dodgers. John Pickens worked 2 hitless innings on the mound for the win, before being relieved by Gavin Clanton who pitched the next 3 innings on mound, and Jarod Latta closed out the game for the save. The Giants offense struck quickly for 3 first inning runs on hits from Carson Berry (2), Sylas Amick (2), and a home run from Jarod Latta (5) for 3 first inning runs and an eventual 8-6 win. The Giants also received hits from John Pickens (1), Kevin Hurley (2b), and JB Landrum (2) in the win.
The 2 pool play wins seated the Giants 3rd over all out of 20 teams going into bracket play and scheduled them to play the Black Sox, a team they have never lost to. Gavin Clanton made his first start as a Giant, allowing just 3 runs over 3 innings, and after a few runs in the middle frame Jarod Latta slammed the door on the black Sox in extra innings to preserve the win. After 2 intentional walks in the extra frame John Pickens(2) came up with a Walk off single for the Giants win. Hits also came from Sylas Amick (1), KJ Beck (1), and Kevin Hurley (2b).
With the win the Giants moved on to again face the Renagades. After trailing early 4-0, the Giants battled back to a 5-4 deficite with the tying run on 3rd in the last inning, but were unable to push that run across and fell 5-4. Jarod Latta(4-4) started the game on the mound, pitching 5 solid innings, allowing 3 earned on 3 hits while striking out 6. Sylas Amick (2b), Jarod Latta (1), KJ Beck (1), and Kevin Hurley (2) had hits for the Giants offense.
The loss sent the Giants to the losers bracket to again face the Black Sox, again with the same result, a Giants 8-3 win. John Pickens (5-7) picked up the win pitching 3.1 solid innings , allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit, striking out 1, and Sylas Amick quelled a small ralley in the last inning for the Giants victory. Hits for the Giants came from Carson Berry (3b), Sylas Amick (2), Jarod Latta (1), KJ Beck (2), Peyton Jackson (1), and Kevin Hurley (1).
The Win moved the Giants on to face off with the Cullman Cats. After trailing 3-0, 6-3, and 9-7, the Giants continued to battle to force extra innings. After 2 runs in the top half of the innings, to make the score 11-9 cats, the Giants drew within 1 run on a single from Egan Lowery (2), who then after advancing to 3rd with 2 outs successfully stole home, however a misinterpreted catcher interference call sent the runner back to 3rd, where he stranded and the Giants lost 11-10 to be eliminated. At the plate Jarod Latta homered, and hits came from Sylas Amick (2), John Pickens (2), KJ Beck (2), and Peyton Jackson (1).
The loss eliminated the Giants and ended their regular summer season, leaving the last tournament in Iowa at the Field of Dreams.
