Benjamin Russell tops Demopolis 4-0 in game one of playoff series

Zack Rogers struck out 10 over batters over seven shutout innings Friday to push Benjamin Russell (24-10) to a 4-0 win over Demopolis (14-13) and a 1-0 series lead in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Rogers (8-1) allowed only a second inning leadoff single to Michael Brooker and a fifth inning infield hit to Wil Stephens.

The Wildcats got on the board with two outs in the third when Sean Rape scored on a Bryant Horn RBI single. Horn advanced to second on the throw home and scored on a Seth Hendon RBI single.

Benjamin Russell added to the lead in the sixth when Horn reached on an infield single and scored on a Caleb Brooks RBI single. Hendon singled his way aboard and later scored on an Austin Moncus RBI groundout.

Demopolis junior Tripp Perry limited Benjamin Russell to seven hits over seven innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out two in the process. Perry walked three but allowed none of the free passes to score.

“He didn’t have his best stuff, but by gosh he battled his rear end off. He kept us in the ball game,” Moody said. “He had a couple of innings there where they got on him a little bit. But the maturity I saw was about the fourth, he was physically probably done, but he battled through it. He gave us a chance and that’s the kind of effort we have to have to have a chance out here.”

Demopolis had its best chance to score in the seventh when John Anthony Morrison drew a one-out walk and Jacob Rodrigues reached on a fielder’s choice. The Tigers would put runners on the corners with two outs but came away empty in the frame.

“By far (the best pitcher we’ve seen all year). He’s an Alabama commit. He’ll probably be a bullpen guy for them,” Moody said of Rogers. “It’s just like I told the kids. You tip your hat. There’s days like that. He was outstanding. By far the best we’ve seen.”

Game two will take place beginning at 7:10 p.m.