By Erik Harris
PINSON – The quarterfinal round of the Class 6A state playoffs between host Pinson Valley and No. 5 Briarwood Christian got started with a split doubleheader on Friday night.
A timely two-out, two-run single by shortstop Destin Davidson helped keep the Indians’ season alive in a 7-4 win after dropping the opener by a count of 4-2.
The decisive third game will be played at Pinson Valley on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Game 1: Briarwood Christian 4, Pinson Valley 2
Carson Cupo’s right arm did the job for Briarwood Christian (25-8) in the series opener. He went the distance, allowing only four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Cupo worked his way to a combined 18 ground and fly outs in the afternoon session. His offense gave him a 2-0 lead to work with in the top-half of the third, and added another run in the fourth.
Pinson Valley’s offense began showing signs of life in the fifth inning when Davidson went to the opposite field for a two-RBI single with two outs. That swing pulled the Indians (31-13) to within one, but that’s as close as it would get.
Brett Jordan started on the mound for Pinson Valley, throwing 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three, walked two and hit a batter.
The home team created a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, but got nothing out of it as junior Raul Tafoya lined out to end the threat.
Briarwood Christian found an insurance run in the seventh via Shelton Clevenger’s bases loaded walk of John Michael Pegusky.
Game 2: Pinson Valley 7, Briarwood Christian 4
With the threat of elimination looming, Pinson Valley came out swinging in the nightcap.
Thanks to a pair of RBIs from Hunter Davidson and Blake Sissons to go along with some crafty work on the base paths, the Indians claimed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
Second baseman Rudd Mauldin sent another run across with contact on a check swing in the third.
Hunter protected his 4-0 advantage until the Lions plated one in the third off a throwing error. After working his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, Hunter saw his outing come to a close thanks to Pierce Merry’s three-run blast over the right field wall.
Blake Mayes took the ball from there, getting Pinson Valley out of a first and third situation to preserve a 4-all deadlock through five innings.
Davidson broke the tie with a clutch two-RBI chopper through the middle of Briarwood Christian’s defense in the sixth. His two-out RBIs put the Indians back on top 6-4.
Insurance was provided by Sissons in the final frame. The junior went to right field to send the final run of the evening across.