Reeves' 3-run homer lifts Aggies over Childersburg
By Chris Sherman SA Sports Writer

J.D. Mitchell turns a successful double play against Childersburg Friday night. Mitchell had a big series at the plate for the Aggies during the two-game sweep of the Tigers. (Photo by Stephanie Bayles)

Jeremy Reeves ripped a threerun homer to put Jackson up 9-8 and cap off a six-run bottom of the sixth inning to send the Aggies to the AHSAA semifinals Friday night with a twogame sweep of the defending 4A champion Childersburg Tigers.

"That was about as emotional a moment as I have ever been a part of," Aggie coach Jason Jones said of the homer.

The day didn't start out quite as dramatic as it finished, as the Aggies coasted to a 12-5 win in the first game of the best-ofthree series.

Sam Harbuck and Kent Myer both singled in the first with Harbuck later scoring on an error. J.D. Mitchell stepped to the plate and smashed a RBI single to put the Aggies outfront 3-0 heading into the bottom of the first.

Childersburg answered with two runs of their own to cut the Jackson lead to 3-2 after one inning of play.

Windham Jackson picked up a RBI single in the top of the second to push the Aggies' lead back to two runs at 4-2.

The score remained that way until Jackson exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth. Jeremy Reeves started things off with a two-run double and Mitchell again delivered, this time with a three-run homer to blow the game open at 10-2. Myer added a solo shot in the sixth and Sam Harbuck had a solo homer in the seventh to round out the scoring for Jackson. Cody Bayles (8-2) scattered five hits and had four strikeouts through five innings to pick up the win on the hill.

Reeves was 2-5 with two RBIs and Mitchell was 3-4 with a homer and five RBIs to lead Jackson at the plate.

Childersburg jumped out to a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning in game two. Myer scored the Aggies first run of the game on a balk in the bottom of the fourth to cut the gap to 3-1. Childersburg scored two in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead and added three in the sixth to build their lead to 8-3.

But it wasn't enough to hold off a determined Aggie team. Jackson scored six runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth behind Reeves' three-run homer to take a 9-8 lead into the final inning.

Myer shut down the Tigers in order in the seventh to seal the win.

Armstead was 2-4 with three RBIs and Myer had a double and walked three times for the Aggies at the plate.

'We have had tremendous fan support all year long," Jones said. "That was one of the best environments I have ever seen."

The Aggies travel to Montgomery Friday, May 9 to take on Alabama Christian at the AUM complex.

ACA (24-9) swept Saint James to advance.

"We need to have another big crowd come with us to Montgomery to help get us to the state finals. The players and coaches really appreciate all the support we have received this year. Everyone has been great. We also want to thank the city and the school for all their support."

Jackson and ACA meet up at 4:30 and 7 p.m on Friday with game three to be played at 2 p.m on Saturday if needed.

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