How Montgomery-area teams performed in the first round of the 2024 AHSAA baseball playoffs
All series except one from the first round of the 2024 AHSAA baseball playoffs were completed over the weekend.
Class 4A first-round host Oak Grove has a 1-0 lead in a series with Montgomery Catholic and was rained out in the second game Friday and Saturday. Teams will complete the series at 2 p.m. Monday, and Game 3 if needed will follow at 4 p.m.
The majority of the River Region programs dominated in its opening round matchups, with several series ending in sweeps. Heading into the next stage of the bracket, here are the storylines from round one that will affect the remainder of the postseason.
More: Alabama high school baseball: Montgomery-area standouts to watch in the postseason
Trinity's chances for title No. 8
The Wildcats (23-10) made a statement in its 2-0 series sweep against Montevallo in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs. They won game one 11-1 and game two 23-1 in four innings. They finished with twenty-eight hits, thirty-four runs and fifteen walks.
Trinity’s Cooper Bernier finished with four runs scored and two RBIs, Fleming Hall added two triples, five runs scored and five RBIs, Patton Mitchell finished with five runs scored and two RBIs and Ross Sanders led with eight RBIs. Walker McClinton and Brady Rascoll commanded the mound as McClinton finished with 10 strikeouts in the first game.
Junior Xavier Boswell finished with three runs scored and four RBIs, hitting a triple and two doubles. After sitting out last season transferring from Hooper Academy, Boswell's addition to the lineup has added more depth to this loaded roster. The Wildcats look to keep up the momentum travelling to Tuscaloosa County in the next round.
Reigning champions roll past first round
Class 5A state champions Holtville started its 2024 postseason sweeping Elmore County winning game one 14-4 and game two 11-0. Southern Miss commit Drey Barrett, did it all for the Bulldogs at the plate and on the mound in both games.
Barett, the No. 7 prospect in the class of 2024, hit a grand slam in game one giving the Bulldogs a 9-4 lead in the bottom of the third inning. In game two he hammered a two-run double to help close out the series. Holtville will matchup against Headland next.
Other Montgomery-area teams to watch
Pike Road swept McAdory in its opening Class 6A playoff matchup and will travel to Hillcrest on Friday, April 26 for round two.
Prattville Christian Academy swept Cottage Hill and will matchup against Excel in the second round. Parker Blake has 70 total strikeouts on the year with a .424 batting average.
Saint James Tabor Offord finished with 15 strikeouts and hit two doubles in the Trojans sweep over Flomaton. Next, they will host Opp at home.
The second round for the Class 1A-6A and first round of Class 7A is set for April 26-27.
Jerry Humphrey III is a sports writer for the Montgomery Advertiser who covers area high school sports, Auburn recruiting and Alabama State athletics. Follow him on Twitter @jerryhump3.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: River Region teams sweep first round of 2024 AHSAA baseball playoffs
