The 2008 Jackson Aggies with the AHSAA Class 4A state championship trophy. It was Jackson's first outright championship in school history. (SA photo by Chris Sherman) The Jackson Aggies completed the sweep of the Haleyville Lions 8-6, 9-8 to claim the schools first outright state championship Thursday, May 15 at Paterson Field in Montgomery. Haleyville built a 6-0 lead in game two as the Lions out hit Jackson 14-4 while striking out 16 Aggie batters. But in the third inning, the Aggies rallied for eight runs off seven walks, a hit batter and an error to take the lead.

"It's a strange game," said Aggies coach Jason Jones. "We got four hits and two errors, but the most important numbers are we had nine and they had eight."

Aggie starter Kent Myer had to leave the game after tossing only two pitches because of arm trouble, and the Lions plated sixruns off reliever Logan Breedlove. Anfernee Crayton came on for Breedlove and got the Aggies out of a jam. The young Aggie pitcher went 5 2/3 innings striking out four while allowing just two runs to earn the win on the hill.

J.D. Mitchell (top left) hauls in a double play during the first game of the series. The Aggies (above) hold their 4A championship trophy high at Paterson Field Thursday. Myer (top right) tackles Matt Allen after the final out was recorded in game two. Cody Bayles (left) is presented the MVP from Greg Brewer, assistant director of the AHSAA, following the championship series. William Taylor (right) tosses a pitch in game one. Photos by Chris Sherman "Crayton is a tremendous talent. He had an incredible game," Jones said.

Haleyville tied the score 8-all in the bottom of the fourth but Jeremy Armstead delivered a RBI single, in the top of the seventh following William Taylor's leadoff triple, to put the Aggies ahead 9-8 heading into the Lions' last at bat. Cody Bayles, series MVP, came in to pick up the save. Bayles allowed the first two hitters to reach base and after a bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out it appeared as if Haleyville was on the verge of tying the game. The next batter hit a grounder to Myer at second base and the Alabama signee, ailing arm and all, threw a strike to home for the second out of the inning.

"I just gave it everything I had," Myer said of the throw. "My arm was killing me and I didn't have anything on it the whole game. But in that situation, I didn't think about it."

Bayles, who left game one with shoulder problems, picked up the last out on a slow grounder to third to end the game.

"My arm was throbbing," Bayles said. "I told coach (Jones) I wanted one more inning. I went out and did what I had to do."

Sam Harbuck, Windham Jackson, Taylor and Armstead collected the Aggies' four hits.

Aggies win game one

In the first game of the series, Myer had a three-run homer and Jeremy Reeves added a two-run shot helping the Aggies build an 8-2 lead in the fourth. That was all Bayles (10-3) needed on the mound, as the sophomore struck out six while allowing only three hits through five innings of work to pick up the win in an 8-6 Aggie victory.

"I was proud of the way we came out of the gates and put up some runs early," said Jones. "I knew this Haleyville bunch was not going to go away. They made it to the finals; they're not going to just give up. I was proud of the way our offense came through today."

Haleyville scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Aggie lead to 8-6 but Taylor came in to pick up the save in the seventh.

"I knew the defense was going to play behind me," Taylor said. "All I've got to do is throw the ball across the plate. And that's what I did."

Myer was 2-2 with a homer and four RBIs; Eckstein was 2- 3; Sam Harbuck 2-4 with a RBI; and Reeves had a two-run homer to lead the Aggies at the plate. Windham Jackson added a hit.