Brody Wisener and Brue Milner reach for a pop up. Photos by Kyle Thornton

Tigers win area title

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee/Elmore County series for the Class 5A/Area 4 championship lived up to the hype. The Tigers took two of three reversing the roles from last year's area runner-up to the 2024 champion.

The Tigers took game one in a wild one on Tuesday at Southside Field, 12-10. Elmore County won game two 5-1 on Friday in Eclectic setting up the rubber match that went to THS 8-6.

The area championship was the first for Tallassee (14-7/4-1) since the 2017 season when the Tigers reached the third round of the playoffs.

"This series matters," said Tallassee head coach John Goodman. "Goal one was to get into the playoffs. Goal two was to win the area championship. Goal three would be to win the first round. Your goals keep stacking one step at a time."

On Tuesday, Tallassee erupted for nine runs after going to the bottom of the sixth inning down 6-3, aided by eight Elmore County walks in the inning, five by way of hit batsmen. The Tigers held off a seventh-inning four-run rally to grab the opener 12-10.

Elmore County (19-9/3-2) outhit Tallassee 15-6 led by Shea Darnell's 4-for-5 day at the plate. Thomas Lemmond went 2-for-2 for the Tigers. Mason Battles picked up the win. Ryals McNeely took the loss.

On Thursday, Brandon White struck out 13 and carried a no-hitter into the seventh. He got the win in the 5-1 game to even the series. Walker Wells took the loss for Tallassee.

In the nightcap and decider for the title, Tallassee overcame a 3-0 disadvantage with a five-run fourth and did not look back en route to the 8-6 win. Brue Milner was 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Lemmond got the victory. Shea Darnell took the defeat.

"You can see the maturity. They're more confident. They can absorb more," Goodman added. "It's all about believing in each other and trusting the process."

Tallassee will host the first round of the playoffs and go up against Marbury (20-8) in the best of three series starting with a doubleheader on Friday at 5 p.m. 1300 AM/94.7 FM/106.9 FM will broadcast live. Airtime on Friday will be 4:30 p.m. The "if" game is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.

Schedule/Results

*Photos by Kyle Thornton