Flomaton's Davenport (5) beats Miller's Jernigan (12) to the bag
T.R. Miller will travel to Hale County this Friday to begin its two-out-of three series in the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs after the Tigers swept Flomaton 5-2 and 9-3 in the opening round in Brewton.
T.R. Miller 20-5 and Hale County (16-8) will play a double header Friday with the first game starting at 3 p.m. The second game will begin about 30 minutes after the first game. If the teams split Friday they will play the deciding game Saturday.
Flomaton ended the 2019 baseball season with an 8-9 record.
Head coach Wes Sessions said the team had its chances against Miller Friday but couldn't take advantage of some opportunities.
"It seemed like every time we did something good we gave it right back to them," Sessions said. "But our guys played hard. You start the season with a goal of making the playoffs and we did. Then you want to advance."
Miller 5, Flomaton 2
Although T.R. Miller out hit the Hurricanes 11 to four in the first game Friday, it took a three run rally in the bottom of the sixth with the game tied 2-2 to seal the victory for the Tigers.
In the bottom of the sixth, eight hole batter Miller Hart doubled and nine hole batter Landon Sims reached on a fielder's choice with Hart being thrown out at third for the first out.
Leadoff batter Hunter Johnson singled and Kyle Blevins followed with a single. Following an error, Wyn Brittain singled. Sim, Johnson and Blevins all scored to give T.R. Miller a 5-2 lead.
Flomaton failed to score in the top of the seventh to end the game.
T.R. Miller drew first blood in the bottom of the first when Blevins doubled then scored on Matt Smith's RBI single.
After three scoreless innings, Flomaton tied the game in the top of the fifth and had an opportunity to take the lead.
After one out, Nick Turner reached on an error and Tucker Davenport singled. With two outs, Alex Cash walked to load the bases. Jackson Steele also walked to push Turner across the plate. Smith flied out to right to end the inning, with the game tied at 1-1.
T.R. Miller answered in the bottom of the fifth with a run to take a 2-1 lead. Blevins reached on an error and Smith and Brittain followed with singles to push Blevins across the plate.
Flomaton tied the game again in the top of the sixth.
After two outs, Joseph O'Bannon singled and Nick Turner reached on an error. Tucker Davenport then delivered an RBI single to score O'Bannon sending the game to the bottom of the sixth tied at 2-2.
Miller rallied for its three runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory.
On the afternoon, Miller scored five runs on 11 hits and committed three errors. Flomaton scored two runs on four hits and also committed three errors.
Brittain led Miller with a three-for-four performance at the plate and two RBI. Blevins and Smith each had two hits for the Tigers and Hunter Johnson, Tyler Merritt, Logan Bush and Miller Hart also had hits for the Tigers.
Steele had two hits to lead Flomaton with O'Bannon and Davenport also having hits.
Evan Tatum took the loss for Flomaton, allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits.
Landon Sims got the win for Miller in relief of Blake Jernigan. Sims pitched one and one third innings allowing one run on one hit. Jernigan pitched five and two-thirds inning, allowing one unearned run on three hits.
Miller 9, FHS 3
With the game tied 2-2 in the nightcap, T.R. Miller exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth and cruised to a 9-3 win over Flomaton to capture the opening series of the playoffs.
Logan Bush led off the top of the fourth for the Tigers with a double and Miller Hart was hit by a pitch. Bush was later caught stealing for the first out. Logan Rowell reached on an error and Hunter Johnson and Kyle Blevins followed with a double and single respectively. Matt Smith reached on a fielder's choice and Wyn Brittain followed with a single. After the second out, Blake Jernigan and Logan Rowell singled which pushed Hart, Rowell, Johnson, Blevins, Smith and Brittain across the plate.
Flomaton took the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Alex Cash singled and Jackson Steele walked. A balk, stolen base and two wild pitches allowed Cash and Steele to score.
Miller tied the game in the top of the second. After two outs, Logan Bush singled and Miller Hart walked. Logan Rowell then reached on an error to score one run and Hunter Johnson hit an RBI single.
The game remained 2-2 until Miller's big fourth inning. Miller added a single run in the top of the fifth when Miller Hart singled and later scored on Kyle Blevins' RBI single to give the Tigers a 9-2 lead.
Flomaton picked up one run in the bottom of the seventh when Cash singled and later scored on Steele's RBI double.
In the game, Miller scored its nine runs on 13 hits and committed one error. Flomaton scored three runs on five hits and committed four errors.
Logan Bush led the Miller offense with three hits in four attempts. Hunter Johnson, Kyle Blevins and Blake Jernigan each had two hits for the Tigers and Matt Smith, Wyn Brittain, Miller Hart and Logan Rowell also had hits for Miller.
Alex Cash was a perfect three-for-three for the Hurricanes. Jackson Steele and Joseph O'Bannon also had hits for Flomaton.
Matt Smith picked up the win for Miller going the distance and allowing three earned runs on three hits and striking out four.
Jackson Steele took the loss for the Canes giving up eight runs (four earned) in three and one third innings. Alex Cash pitched three and two thirds innings allowing one earned run on six hits.
