Photo by David Leong
The Vestavia Hills High School baseball team is off to a strong start in the 2026 season, battling for position in a highly competitive Class 7A.
The Rebels posted a record of 18-8 through the month of March, notching wins over Chelsea, Dothan, Hartselle, Wetumpka, Tuscaloosa County and Thompson among others so far.
Vestavia Hills capped off the month with consecutive impressive wins, beating Tuscaloosa County 6-2 on Monday and following that up with an 8-7 win over Thompson on Tuesday.
In the win over Thompson, the Rebels rallied from a two-run deficit and scored five runs in the sixth to go ahead 7-4. But Thompson responded in the bottom half of the sixth with three runs of its own to tie the game. Gavin Smith hit a go-ahead single in the seventh to give the Rebels the lead for good.
Smith had two hits in the game, including a double, and drove in two runs. Charlie Taaffe was one of five Rebels to hit a double in the game, and he finished with three hits and two runs batted in.
Cross Tonsmeire also had two hits and two RBIs. Luke Snowden notched three hits and an RBI, while Haines Bridges drove in a run as well.
Wilson Szymela started the game for Vestavia, throwing three scoreless innings. Griffin Hendon earned the win, throwing the final two innings.
The Rebels have a challenging month ahead, playing Thompson, John Carroll and area foes Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover and Oak Mountain.
