By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
LEEDS – The Leeds Greenwave grabbed a pair of wins over the Moody Blue Devils this week to secure the 5A Area 10 championship and earn themselves a first-round home game in the playoffs this coming weekend.
After a rainy start to the week that required some moving around of schedules, these two rivals finally got to play their series on Friday and Saturday.
Friday, the two teams started out at Leeds for the first of three games for the weekend. Moody looked to put Leeds away early, scoring five runs in the first four innings and holding the Greenies scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Leeds would put up five runs in the inning to tie the game before a scoreless fifth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Greenwave put two more runs on the board to take a 7-5 lead. Not to be outdone, the Blue Devils scored two in the top of the seventh to tie it once again, but could not find anything in the top of the eighth. A Nolan Moore single for Leeds brought home Taylon Gaiter for the winning run, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend with a hard-fought 8-7 win for the Leeds Greenwave. For Leeds, Dax Phillips went six-plus innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs while striking out five batters. Joseph Bryant got the win, going one-plus innings and allowing not hits or runs and striking out two. At the plate for the Greenies, Nolan Moore and Conner Nelson both had three RBI. For Moody, Bryant Hardin took most of the load on the mound as he went five innings, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out five. Braden Wright finished the game allowing three hits and one run and striking out a batter. At the plate, Brady Dodd drove in three runs while Landon Cherry had two RBI.
Game two looked to be another typical Leeds/Moody baseball game and it did not disappoint. The teams locked up at 1-1 in the first before Leeds pulled away with two runs in the second and another in the third to make it 4-1. Moody would mount a comeback, scoring a run in the fifth and sixth inning to make it 4-3 heading into the seventh. Leeds would answer with three runs, making it 7-3. Moody needed four runs to stay in it but could only get three in the final inning, making it a 7-6 victory for Leeds and sealing the area championship for the Greenwave. Nolan Moore got the win for Leeds, going six-plus innings and allowing six hits, six runs and striking out nine. Dax Phillips had a two-run home run in the game for his team-leading two RBI. Moody’s Brady Dodd allowed a hit and three runs and got a strikeout from the mound for the Blue Devils. Blaine Burke, Zane Smith and Braden Wright all had RBI in the game for Moody.
With the area championship in their rear view, the Leeds Greenwave took to the field against Moody again on Saturday and Moody got a bit of revenge on the Greenies in this one, taking a 6-1 win on Saturday. The Blue Devils held a 2-0 lead heading into the third. Leeds got their only run of the game in the top, but Moody added three in the bottom of the third. After another run in the sixth and holding Leeds scoreless for the remainder of the game, the area runners-up got the win over the champs in the weekend finale. Moody’s Ashton Morrow got the complete game win, allowing four hits and one run while getting two strikeouts for the Blue Devils. A host of Blue Devils contributed to the scoring efforts. Leeds pitcher Conner Nelson took the loss for the Greenwave while Dax Phillips was responsible for the lone run in the game.
Leeds head coach Jake Wingo said, “I was very proud of our boys and how they competed. Friday, we were down 5-0 and they did not flinch. They kept battling and fighting a clawed their way back into it. It was an incredible baseball game. Give Moody credit. They made some great plays and we were able to find a way to win late. Great high school baseball game. Then Saturday, game one was another good game. It was close. I’m just proud of our boys and the work they put into it and for beating a really good team like Moody.
The Greenwave will travel to Sylacauga on Tuesday and then host Boaz in round one of the playoffs on Friday and possibly Saturday. Coach Wingo said the following about those two opponents, “Today is about preparation for the playoffs. Ironing things out. Play sharp, crisp and pitch a lot of guys. Just want to stay fresh. They are a great team, a top ten team this year. Boaz, we get them at home Friday. Last year they made it to the semifinals. They have a tradition of winning, so they are very good. We are excited about the challenge and opportunity. It will be a good first round matchup.”