The 12u Birmingham Giants baseball team playing in Calera on sunday, posted a 4-0 mark on their way to bringing home another tournament win, allowing just 11 runs in the 4 games, and raising their fall season record to 10-5.
In game 1 of pool play, the Giants were matched up with the Crushers. Jarod Latta (4-0) started the game on the mound, allowing just 1 hit, while striking out 5. The 5th strikeout was his 100th all time as a Giant, becoming the 3rd Giants baseball pitcher to reach that mark (Sylas Amick, Mikey McGuire). At the plate Hits from KJ Beck (1), Jarod Latta (1), Bryant Akridge(1), and Eayan Thomas (1) all had hits for the Giants in the 5-0 win.
In game 2 of pool play, the Giants were matched with Sandlot, and right from the first pitch the Giants controlled the game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the 2nd inning, and coasting to a 6-4 win. Bryant Akridge started the game on the mound, striking out 3 in 2 innings of work, allowing no hits , before being relieved by Syalas Amick, who allowed just 1 infield single, while striking out 5 in 3 innings of work. Offensively the Giants were paced by Carson Berry (1), KJ Beck (2b), Sylas Amick (1), Jarod Latta (1), Kevin Hurley (1), Peyton Jackson (1), Eagan Lowery (1), and JB Landrum(1).
The win seated the Giants 2nd entering bracket play, to again match up with Sandlot. As in the First game, Sandlot managed just 1 hit, as Carson berry struck out 3 over 3 innings, and allowed just a single run, before the game was closed out by Sylas Amick in the final inning. Hits for the Giants offense came from Kj Beck (2b), Jarod Latta (1), Bryant Akridge (1), and Kevin Hurley (1), Giant hitters drew 6 walks and controlled the game right from the start, cruising into the finals to play the Alabama Outlaws.
In the Championship game, the Giants jumped out to a 4-0 lead, before the Alabama Outlaws were able to tie it in the 5th, and force the game into extra innings, where the Giants score 5 more runs to earn the 9-6 win. Jarod Latta mad his 2nd start of the day, working 3.1 innings, striking out 5, and Sylas Amick worked the final 2.2 innings to pick up the win, striking out 4. At the plate, the Giants received hits from Carson Berry (1), KJ Beck (1), Sylas Amick (1), Jarod Latta (2, 2b), Bryant Akridge (1), Peyton Jackson (2b), and Kevin Hurley (1) to score their 9 runs. In the final inning before the extra inning, Gavin Clanton was able to throw out the winning run trying to steal 3rd to preserve the tie and send the game into extra innings.
With two tournaments remaining in the fall, the win pushed the Giants to a 63-28-2 mark alltime, going into the Woodbat state tournament on sunday.
