The Birmingham Giants won their first State Tournament in baseball in Culman on Saturday, posting a 4-1 mark, raising their season mark to 14-6 and over all record to 61-27-5. After several 2nd place finishes in state tournaments, the Giants broke through with a 5-1 win over the chiefs. The win marked the 3rd time in the last year a Birmingham Giants team has won the state tournament.
In game 1 of pool play, the Giants faced off with the Juice from North Alabama. Jarod Latta (6-0) took the mound, striking out 6, allowing just 1 hit and Egan Lowery made his return to the mound closing out the final inning of the 5-1 win. At the plate, KJ Beck (1), Bryant Akridge (1), Jarod Latta (1), Peyton Jackson (1), and Gavin Clanton (1) all had hits for the Giants in the 5-1 win.
Next up for the Giants in pool play was the top ranked USSSA team, the Slammers. After 3 first inning runs, the Giants behind Eayan Thomas settled down allowing just 1 more run over the next 3 innings and Bryant Akridge closed out the final inning for the Giants on the mound. Hits from Sylas Amick (HR) and Kevin Hurley were not enough as the Giants fell 4-3, seating them 3rd going into bracket play.
Eayan Thomas (3-2) started the game on the mound pitching the first 2 innings, allowing just 1 run on no hits while striking out 3, and was followed by Syals Amick who closed out the final inning on the mound for the 4-3 win. KJ Beck (1), Bryant Akridge (1), Syals Amick (1), Jarod Latta (1), Peyton Jackson (2), and Gavin Clanton (1) had hits to pace the Giant offense. The win moved the Giants into the Semi Final against the number 1 seed Chargers. In the First inning the Giants sent 10 hitters to the plate scoring 4 runs on 5 hits hits enroute to the 7-5 win. Syalas Amick (3-3) picked up the win, striking out 6 over 4 innings of work, and Egan Lowery closed out the final inning for the Giants in the 7-5 win. Offensively the Giants received hits from KJ Beck (1), Bryant Akridge (2), Sylas Amick (1), Jarod Latta (2b), Peyton Jackson (1), Egan Lowery (2), and Kevin Hurley (2). The win moved the Giants into the state finals of the Wood Bat state tournament for the second year in a row.
Jarod Latta started the game on the mound for the Giants, allowing just 1 run over 3 innings, striking out 4, and Bryant Akridge worked 1.2 scoreless innings striking out 5 of the 6 hitters he faced, before Sylas Amick came on to record the final out of the tournament in the easy 1, hitter, 5-1 win over the Chiefs. At the plate KJ Beck (1), Bryant Akridge (1), Sylas Amick (2b), Jarod Latta (1), and JB Landrum (1) all had hits for the Giants to power them to the organizations first state tournament championship in baseball, and 3rd over all.
