Sarah Finnegan
Vestavia Hills first baseman Jack Mason (23) as Vestavia takes on Mountain Brook during a home game on March 22, 2018.
Over the course of the year, Vestavia Voice will keep you up to date on the various Vestavia Hills High School athletic teams. For previous weekly updates, click here.
BASEBALL
The Vestavia Hills baseball team played in Oxford during the week, as part of the Choccolocco Park Spring Break Experience. The Rebels won a pair of games on Tuesday, knocking off Hickman (Missouri), 14-1, and Austin, 12-6. In the win over Hickman, Will Hoffman, Ben Saway, Colton Lewis and Hinton Livings drove in two runs apiece. Against Austin, the Rebels overcame a 2-0 deficit and scored all 12 runs over the final three innings. Lewis, Andrew Knight and Luke Whitaker each knocked in three runs.
The Rebels beat Pinson Valley, 6-4, on Wednesday. Knight led the way offensively, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Vestavia Hills won both games it played on Thursday. In the first game, Saway’s two-run single in the eighth inning accounted for the only offense in a 2-0 victory over Oxford. Garrison Cherry was stellar on the mound, allowing just two hits and no runs over seven innings of work. In the second game, the Rebels used a six-run fifth inning to overtake Moody, 8-7. Livings and Chris Dugas each drove in two runs.
The Rebels finished a perfect 6-0 week at Choccolocco with another win on Friday, as they took down Ohatchee, 14-3. Jonathan Hand went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs, while Cooper Bishop and Wells Dutton both knocked in two runs.
SOFTBALL
The Vestavia Hills softball team played in Gulf Coast Classic III over the week. The Rebels began the week on Monday with a pair of pool wins without allowing a run. Hannah Grace Roden drove in three runs and Nikki Hammond hurled a shutout in a 9-0 win over Carmel Catholic, while Annie Kate Parks and Merritt Cahoon each drove in two runs. Roden notched three hits and hurled a one-hit shutout in a 5-0 win over Sweet Water.
The Rebels had equal success on Tuesday, winning both games to finish pool play with a 4-0 mark. Vestavia Hills held off Haleyville, 2-1, in a pitcher's duel to begin the day. Hammond pitched a dandy, giving up just two hits and a run while striking out 10 in six innings. The Rebels then knocked off Summit, 5-2. Gwynnie Hornibrook drove in two runs and Charity Bibbs allowed two runs in four innings.
Vestavia Hills put together an impressive run on Wednesday, advancing all the way to the quarterfinals of the 67-team tournament. The Rebels began the day with a 6-0 victory over Coosa Christian, as Bibbs and Cahoon each drove in two runs, while Roden allowed three hits in four shutout innings. Cahoon and Sarah Cain each had two RBIs in the ensuing 7-2 win over Demopolis.
The Rebels then knocked off Mortimer Jordan, 3-1, behind a strong outing in the circle from Hammond. She allowed four hits and an unearned run in five innings of work, while also doubling at the plate. Vestavia’s run came to a close with a 3-2 loss to Huntsville.
GOLF
The Vestavia Hills boys golf team shot a two-day total of 609 in the West Alabama Classic. Spain Park won the tournament by firing a 570.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.
