Rebels fall in first area contest

Vestavia Hills came up short in its first Class 7A, Area 6 game against Hewitt-Trussville, falling 2-1 at Sammy Dunn Field on Tuesday night.

“We got exactly what we expected,” Rebel head coach Jamie Harris said. “This is (Class) 7A, Birmingham baseball. We’re going to play in one-run games. Guys are going to be able to pitch and we have to be able to come up with clutch hits.”

The clutch hits were hard to come by for the Rebels, as they stranded a runner in scoring position in three of the first four innings. They notched their only run of the game in the fifth thanks to a string of fundamental baseball.

Brett Jones led off the frame with a walk, followed by a single by Nathan Hospes. Chase Fisher advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, and leadoff hitter Christian Cusimano drove in a run with an RBI groundout.

“We didn’t get those hits tonight,” Harris said. “If we get those hits Thursday (against Hewitt-Trussville again), we’ll be in good shape. If we don’t, we won’t.”

Both teams matched ace pitchers against each other, and they did not disappoint. Sonny Potter and Carson Skipper fired complete games, as neither team put much consideration into pulling either one.

Potter, the Rebels No. 3 hitter as well, went seven innings, allowing four hits and three walks along with nine strikeouts. Josh Morgan got an RBI single off of Potter in the fifth to open the scoring, and the Huskies got the go-ahead run in the sixth, as Tyler Tolbert stole home and beat a close play at the plate.

Skipper also allowed just four hits, while walking two and striking out five.

The teams will swap locations and play at Hewitt-Trussville on Thursday in another all-important area game.

“It is what it is. It’s not the end of the world. Sure, we’d much rather be 1-0 than 0-1, but it’s one game. It was what we expected,” Harris said.

First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.