Trojans Sweep East Limestone, #10 Demopolis

The Charles Henderson Trojans picked up two wins Saturday at Troy University, defeating East Limestone 4-2 and Demopolis 7-6.

In the first game against East Limestone, Houston Mabray pitched a complete game and struck out six. East Limestone scored one earned run and one unearned run in the third inning, but in every other inning Mabray faced the minimum and retired them three up and three down. CHHS trailed 2-0 in the fifth inning before back-to-back doubles by Austin Adler and Gregory Barnette narrowed the deficit to 2-1. Jalin Lawson led off the sixth with a double followed by singles from Joey Denison and Chase Smartt. Lawson scored on an error on a pick off attempt, then Luke Hastings drove in courtesy runner Morgan Shaver to give the Trojans the lead. Michael Thomas provided an insurance run with a sacrifice bunt that scored Tripp Blackmon from third base. Barnette and Lawson each had two doubles in the game.

The night cap featured a matchup between two top ten teams in 5A. CHHS is currently ranked #9 in the latest ASWA rankings, and Demopolis is #10. Blackmon got the start on the mound for the Trojans and worked four innings before giving way to Lawson. Lawson was credited with the win after working three innings and striking out four. After allowing two unearned runs in the top of the third innings, CHHS answered in the bottom half when Adler reached on an error and Barnette was hit by a pitch. Michael Fox's sacrifice bunt moved runners to 2nd and 3rd where Lawson delivered a double that scored both runners. Smartt then followed with a single that scored Lawson from second. The Trojans again found themselves trailing headed to the bottom of the sixth, and again found a way to take the lead. With two outs and no one on and trailing 6-4, Adler was hit by a pitch. Barnette followed with a walk, and Fox knotted the score at 6 with a two RBI triple to left field. He later scored on a wild pitch to give the Trojans the winning margin of 7-6. Smartt finished 2-4 with an RBI at the plate. Fox and Lawson both drove in two.

CHHS returns to action Monday in a make-up game against Dothan at Troy University. First pitch is at 5:00.