Admirals battle in Alabama
The rocky terrain of Farragut High School’s baseball team continued unabated last week.
The Admirals went 2-3 with a postponement against Hardin Valley Academy Wednesday, March 30, and played the final four games in the Hoover Buccaneer Classic in Hoover, Alabama.
“We’ve played some really good teams,” Admirals’ coach Matt Buckner said. “Doing some things better. Hopefully we can continue to grow.”
The Admirals, now 8-7, opened the week with a 9-4 win over district foe Maryville High School’s Rebels at home. Seven runs in the third and fourth innings turned a 2-1 deficit into an 8-3 lead.
FHS’s junior Jett Johnston hit a three-run home run and Jaxson Pease got the win, striking out seven in five innings.
Thursday, March 31, the Admirals lost 6-5 to Spain Park High School (Birmingham) in Hoover.
Tied at four after six, the Jaguars scored two in the top of the seventh to lead 6-4. In the bottom of the seventh, Farragut managed only a single run. Johnston and Landis Davila hit home runs for the Admirals.
Matthew Kilbey took the loss, giving up a run and two hits in an inning and a third. Farragut committed four errors in the game.
Errors, six this time, again plagued the Admirals in the first of two games on Friday, April 1, as they lost 17-7 to Harvard-Westlake School from Los Angeles. The Wolverines scored nine runs in the final two innings to put it away.
“That’s (errors) one thing we definitely have to do a better job of,” Buckner said.
Lukas Buckner had two hits for Farragut, and Johnston had two RBI. Eli Evans took the loss for Farragut in two and one third innings.
In the second game Friday, the Admirals fell to Hoover High School 3-1. Tied at one after five, the Buccaneers scored two in the sixth and endured.
Davila’s home run in the second was one of only three hits for Farragut and its only run. Jake Merrick took the loss, giving up two hits and two runs (one earned) in two innings of relief.
Farragut’s big bats returned to close out the tournament with a 12-2 thrashing of Brooks High School (Killen, Alabama). A seven-run outburst in the second was more than the Admirals needed.
Five Admirals had two RBI each in the game. Michael Delph was the winning pitcher, giving up three hits and no earned runs in four innings.
“We’ve played a lot of teams that are really, really talented,” Buckner said. “Maybe we’re not quite ready to compete at that level yet. We’re getting there though. Just gotta continue to progress.”
