Dalton Jackson and John Howell hit two no-hitters in the game in the midst of Florala was a bouncer Notasulga in the first round of a 1A State playoff doubleheader at home on Thursday 20 April.
The Wildcats placed 4th in their state they improved their record to 14-2 for the season thanks to an 14-0 victory in game one, and the same 14-0 win at the end of game. In the end, the Blue Devils ended their season with a 4-7 mark.
These were the first playoff game played at FHS since the season of 2013.
Game 1
Keldrick Davis was a leadoff runner, but was caught taking second. Jackson took out his next batters to make an uncontested beginning. Howell received a free throw which he scored his first run of the game via an unintentional pitch. After a strikeout Judd Goolsby walked and scored by scoring the RBI hit by Jackson. Rayshon Coleman was struck by a pitch with bases loaded and scored Jackson. Johan Zamora knocked a two-run single to the right side, and added Seth Bundy and Colby Strickland for a 5-0 lead following one.
Jackson knocked out his side during the second, and the offense scored an impressive nine hits in the final ten minutes. Zane Weeks started the frame with a double, but was removed on an error by a fielder’s choice. Jackson extended the lead to 7-0 thanks to a lengthy two-run homer. Bundy got an unearned single stole the second and third and scored after an error. Wyatt Brooks followed with a walk, and Strickland hit bunt single. An error pushed Brooks onto the field. Coleman struck an RBI double to give the team an 10-0 lead. Coleman stole third base and scored after a passed ball. Weeks struck out with an RBI single to bring home Zamora and Goolsby doubled in Weeks to take a 13-0 lead. Goolsby scored via a force play to give the team a 14-0 advantage after just two.
Jackson continued to add heat by striking out twice in the middle three innings. Dorrian Pollard, and Davis were able to walk after two outs, but an error stopped the threat. The umpires declared the game had been called off early.
Jackson was 2-for-2 and had three RBIs and two runs at the plate. He also won the game in three innings. Zamora and Coleman had a one-for-one with two RBIs and a run and Weeks was 2-for-3 with one run and RBI. Florala was the only player to steal 12 bases during the game.
Game 2
As visitors, the Wildcats took over the pace they left after three hits in the opening. Jackson hit a two-run homer which scored Howell and Goolsby to take an immediate 2-0 lead. Jackson reached third thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Bundy He scored after a fumbled ball for a 3-0 advantage. Howell took just 10 pitches to get a fast two-three bottom half. He pitched out three batters.
Jaden Seago was able to score with a single-out error in the 2nd and scored the RBI three-run home run by Weeks. After Weeks scored through a wild pitch Goolsby scored a third after an error. Jackson hit the RBI single. Howell didn’t allow another base runner to score and made sure the game was to 6-0 in the second inning. It was the Blue Devils did not allow an unintentional run in the third of the third, but they continued to be stifled by Howell. He blasted the team again, and took the game to the fourth.
Goolsby and Jackson began the fourth frame by hitting consecutive doubles. Zamora scored the score 8-0 by scoring an RBI single, and then added Jackson. Kris Crayton was hit by an errant pitch during the bottom of the inning however Howell kept the no-hitter. Dawson Reeves started the fifth with a single before moving to second after a walk to Howell. Weeks added an RBI single that scored Reeves. Goolsby delivered Howell and Weeks by hitting a double for a 11-0 lead. After another RBI single from Jackson, Bundy singled and placed runners at third and second. Brooks also added on to the huge advantage with a two-run single to give the team a 14-0 advantage. Howell completed his impressive effort with a second 1-2-3 to the bottom of the fifth inning as the game was halted because of the mercy rule.
Jackson was the leader of the batting line-up at 4-for-4, with five RBIs and three runs. Brooks went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Weeks as well as Goolsby also racked up 2 hits during the win. Howell won the game by pitching 5 innings without a hit baseball and also struck out 13 batters. FHS completed their game of the basepaths with a further 10 stolen bases.
Florala will be heading for a trip to Billingsley as well as University Charter for a second-round playoff game this week.
The article NO-NO NOTASULGA Florala pitches to get into the second round by throwing a pair of no-hitters was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
