The AHSAA championship baseball games in Montgomery next week are set.
Thompson, Pelham and Geneva won Game 3s in their respective series on Saturday to advance to next week’s title games. Thompson will play Smiths Station, Pelham gets Cullman and Geneva gets Madison Academy.
RELATED: FRIDAY’S LIVE BASEBALL UPDATES
The action and updates from the day happened below. The finals schedule is at the end. Great weekend of semifinal games.
3:21 PM — One final piece of business before we close up this live update for the day. Don’t forget to read Jeff Sentell’s recap of today’s great Game 3 between Spanish Fort and Pelham. Jeff has the key plays, reaction and photos from the Pelham win. See you in Montgomery!
2:50 PM — It’s also a final at Geneva. Geneva beats Gordo 5-2 in the land of little cell service and advances to play Madison Academy next week in Montgomery. Finals schedule is below. Geneva is 25-8.
@BenThomasPreps We won 5-2!!!! pic.twitter.com/BIEAUtdfLm
— Geneva Baseball (@baseball_geneva) May 9, 2015
2:48 PM — It’s a final at Sparkman. Thompson wins 11-3 and moves on to the Class 7A state championship series against Smiths Station. Thompson is 31-16.
Congrats to the Warrior Softball and Baseball teams both going to State playoffs!! Winning breeds winning!Go Finish!! God Bless!
— Mark Freeman (@coachmarkf) May 9, 2015
Congrats to Thompson!! Shelby County is coming to take over Montgomery this week! #HuskyNation#gohamgo#WarriorNation
— Helena High Baseball (@HelenaHuskiesBB) May 9, 2015
2:22 PM — Skip Vaughn checks in from Sparkman where Thompson has a commanding 7-0 lead after five innings. Warriors trying to set up a meeting with Smiths Station in the 7A final.
2:17 PM — Geneva still up 4-2 in the sixth inning on Gordo. Winner meets Madison Academy next week.
@BenThomasPreps bottom of 6th 4-2 Geneva! McLaney Pitching pic.twitter.com/E9G7wAnFxM
— Geneva Baseball (@baseball_geneva) May 9, 2015
2:07 PM — Cell service apparently is sketchy in Geneva, but thanks to our friend Taylor Tannebaum we have a score. Geneva leads Gordo 4-2 in the fifth inning in their Class 3A semifinal.
1:31 PM — Thompson and Sparkman go to the second, still scoreless. Winner plays Smiths Station for the state’s first Class 7A baseball title.
1:26 PM — Thompson and Sparkman are underway. No score after an inning and a half, per ace correspondent Skip Vaughn.
12:52 PM — The final two games between Thompson and Sparkman in Class 7A and Geneva and Gordo in 3A should be starting soon. Stay tuned.
12:45 PM — Tyler Wilburn and Mike Farnell both pitched complete games for Pelham and Spanish Fort, respectively. That’s unusual for a Game 3. Even more unusual, only 5 total hits. Two great teams. Only Pelham advances on this day.
Baseball defeats Spanish Fort 1-0 to advance to the 6A finals!!! Great jobs guys! WAY TO BATTLE! #BIGBLUEpic.twitter.com/RSWAJBVbxN
— Kim Kiel (@PELHAM_AD) May 9, 2015
12:36 — First Final of the Day.Pelham defeats Spanish Fort 1-0 to advance in Class 6A. Pelham will play Cullman in the state finals next week. Toros got the tying run on second in the seventh but couldn’t score them. Great game. Well-deserving of Game 3.
Final: Pelham 1, Spanish Fort 0. Pelham advances to the Class 6A finals. #alprepspic.twitter.com/DqmDimDE0r
— Jeff Sentell (@JeffSentell_) May 9, 2015
12:26 PM — Mike Farnell limits the damage, but Pelham leads Spanish Fort 1-0 heading to the top of the seventh and needs three outs to advance to Montgomery. Still just five hits total in this Game 3. Very impressive play on both sides.
E6: Pelham 1, Spanish Fort 0. Tyler Wilburn goes back out for the ‘Ham. #alpreps
— Jeff Sentell (@JeffSentell_) May 9, 2015
12:21 PM — Pelham breaks through, takes a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth on Spanish Fort on an error by the Toros’ shortstop.
12:18 PM — Meanwhile, Thompson and Sparkman getting ready to go in their Class 7A Game 3. Winner faces Smiths Station.
Sparkman Baseball vs Thompson in “must win” game(1PM at SHS). #GoSenators#WeBelieve@Sparkman_RBIpic.twitter.com/6PjfEEU5ER
— SparkmanSenatorsPTO (@SparkmanPTO) May 9, 2015
12:15 PM — Dayton Cook reaches for the Toros in the sixth but can’t score. Looks like a run will win this one. Spanish Fort 0, Pelham 0.
E5: Another zero in Pelham line score. Spanish Fort RHP Mike Farnell has given up 1 hit in 5 IP. Retired 14 straight. #alpreps
— Jeff Sentell (@JeffSentell_) May 9, 2015
12:06 PM — Great job by the starters. It’s still Spanish Fort 0, Pelham 0 headed to the sixth inning. Winner plays Cullman for the state title next week. Four hits in the game — three by the Toros. That wasted chance in the first inning may come back to haunt them.
11:55 AM — Still scoreless in Pelham headed to the fifth inning. Panthers have one hit. Toros 3. Spanish Fort trying to reach the state finals for the sixth straight year. They’ve won four titles in that time. Best threat so far came in the top of the first when the Toros loaded the bases but came up empty.
11:46 AM — Spanish Fort, Pelham scoreless after three innings in Game 3. Jax State LF Tyler Wilburn has allowed three hits. Toros’ starter Mike Farnell just one to this point.
E3: Spanish Fort RHP Mike Farnell cruising right now. 1 hit through 3 IP. Faced just 2 Pelham batters over the min. No score.
— Jeff Sentell (@JeffSentell_) May 9, 2015
11:30 AM — No score after two innings between Spanish Fort and Pelham.
11:12 AM — Spanish Fort threatens but doesn’t score in the top of the first inning.
M1: @PelhamAthletics escapes a bases – loaded jam. Spanish Fort 0, Pelham 0. Game 3 to see who gets Cullman. #alpreps
— Jeff Sentell (@JeffSentell_) May 9, 2015
11:03 AM — Spanish Fort and Pelham ready to go in Game 3. Two teams that don’t know how to lose. One has to lose today. Jeff Sentell is on the scene.
James Earl Jones from “The Natural” and playoff baseball. Its a @PelhamAthletics thing. Time for Game 3. pic.twitter.com/ItezqIQ4FB
— Jeff Sentell (@JeffSentell_) May 9, 2015
Cullman seems ready for the winner.
@CullmanBaseball this is why we win! We work harder than any other program in the state!
— Jake Johnson (@james_d_johnson) May 9, 2015
Here are the pairings for next week’s Championships:
AHSAA STATE BASEBALL FINALS
First game will be played at Paterson Field. Game 2 and 3, if necessary will be played at Riverwalk Stadium
CLASS 7A
Smiths Station vs. Thompson, 7 p.m. Friday (4 p.m. Saturday)
CLASS 6A
Cullman vs. Pelham, 4 p.m. Friday (10 a.m. Saturday)
CLASS 5A
Helena vs. Russellville, 7 p.m. Thursday (4 p.m. Friday)
CLASS 4A
Trinity vs. Brooks, 7 p.m. Wednesday (4 p.m. Thursday)
CLASS 3A
Madison Academy vs. Geneva, 4 p.m. Thursday (10 a.m. Friday)
CLASS 2A
Randolph County vs. Mobile Christian, 4 p.m. Wednesday (10 a.m. Thursday)
CLASS 1A
Shoals Christian vs. Brantley, 7 p.m. Tuesday (10 a.m. Wednesday)
