Prep notebook: Local baseball teams pushing for playoff spots

Mar. 26—It's hard to believe, but in less than a month it'll be time for the high school baseball playoffs.

No regular season flies by as fast as baseball, and this year the first playoff games are set to take place on April 19. The final regular season games are set to be played by April 13.

With just a few weeks to go, that means teams will be vying for a playoff spot as only the top two teams in each area can advance.

Several area series have already started, including for the Class 6A, No. 1 ranked Hartselle Tigers.

The Tigers (17-4) took on Muscle Shoals last week in Class 6A Area 14 play, sweeping the Trojans in three games by a combined 26-5. Alabama signee Jo Williamson had five hits and eight RBIs in the three games.

Hartselle's next area series will be next week vs. Decatur and the Tigers will take on Cullman the following week. Hartselle has won back-to-back area championships and hasn't lost an area game since 2021. The Tigers haven't missed the playoffs since 1998.

Hartselle isn't the only team in Area 14 that's having a strong season though. Decatur is 14-5 and last week defeated Cullman two games to one to win its first area series of the season. It was Decatur's first win over Cullman since 2019 and first series win against the Bearcats since 2016.

After dropping the first game 8-0, Decatur rebounded to win two games on Thursday (9-2, 3-2). Harris Penley had two hits and two RBIs in the decisive game three, including what would be the game winning RBI in the eighth inning.

Decatur's next area series is against Hartselle next week, and Muscle Shoals follows the week after that. The Red Raiders are looking for their first playoff berth since 2017.

Here is where other top local teams stand on the push to make the playoffs:

—After leading the Hatton softball team to two state titles (2017, 2023) , first year Hatton baseball coach Denton Bowling has the Hornets at 17-5 and ranked No. 9 in Class 2A. The Hornets are 6-1 in area play with three series wins, including one over Lindsay Lane, which advanced to the semifinals in Class 2A a season ago.

—Priceville (10-7) takes on West Morgan (8-4) this week (at West Morgan on Tuesday, at Priceville on Thursday) in a Class 4A, Area 12 series. West Morgan swept East Lawrence last week to win its first area series, while Priceville lost to Haleyville two games to one. Both teams are coming off a playoff berth last year. Priceville won the area and advanced to the third round of the playoffs, while West Morgan finished runner-up and lost in the first round.

—Decatur Heritage (3A) is 11-5 so far this season with four of its five losses coming to teams in Class 5A or higher. The Eagles' first area series will take place next week against Vinemont and they will play Danville the following week. Decatur Heritage reached the second round of the 3A playoffs last year in head coach Jay Mitchell's first season.

—Lindsay Lane (14-6) fell behind Hatton in Class 2A, Area 14, but the Lions still hold series wins over Whitesburg Christian and Tanner. Lindsay Lane will play Falkville in its final area series starting on April 8.

—Athens (13-6) has dominated its two area foes, Mae Jemison and Columbia, by a combined 47-0 in two games this season. The Golden Eagles will play two more against the two on April 4 at Columbia and on April 5 vs. Mae Jemison.

—Ardmore (13-7) defeated East Limestone (12-9) last week two games to one in both team's first area series of the season. East Limestone takes om Brewer next week then Madison Academy the following week, while Ardmore plays Madison Academy then Brewer.

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caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2