Sweet Water arms shut down Sumiton in sweep

Sweet Water pitchers held Sumiton Christian to a total of only four hits over two games while sweeping a Class 1A second round playoff doubleheader Friday.

Sweet Water 6, Sumiton Christian 0

Sumiton used a single and two walks to load the bases in the top of the first before Jonah Smith slammed the door on the rally with a lineout and a strikeout. The Bulldogs followed with a hit-by-pitch and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the first before Joseph Hicks induced a lineout and a strikeout to nullify the threat.

The teams remained deadlocked in a scoreless tie before Sweet Water broke things open in the bottom of the fifth. Will Huckabee took a hit-by-pitch and stole second before scoring on a Hunter Mendenhall single for the 1-0 lead. Walks by Chance Broussard and Luke Davis loaded the bases. Chastain Washington scored on a passed ball for the 2-0 lead. Broussard then scored on an error to move it to 3-0.

John Thomas Etheridge then singled in Taylor Lewis and Braiden Broussard to push the advantage to 5-0. Following a Sasha Smith single, Jonah Smith grounded to first to plate Etheridge for the final margin.

Jonah Smith struck out 10 batters over seven innings of work while scattering two hits and three walks for the win.

Sweet Water 10, Sumiton Christian 0

Sweet Water wasted little time getting the bats going in game two as the first four batters in the lineup ripped hits. Sasha Smith singled and was caught stealing. Jonah Smith tripled before scoring on Huckabee’s single to make it 1-0. Mendenhall also singled in the frame.

Sweet Water added to the lead in the top of the third as Jonah Smith singled and later stole home to move the lead to 2-0. Sasha Smith singled to open the top of the fifth before Jonah reached on an error. Huckabee grounded out to plate both Smith brothers for the 4-0 lead. After a Chance Broussard single, R.J. Rodgers singled home Trent Sams for the 5-0 advantage. Braiden Broussard then tripled in Chance Broussard and Rodgers to make it 7-0. Etheridge then singled in Washington to push the lead to 8-0. Sweet Water capped the scoring in the seventh as Shamar Lewis scored on a passed ball and Jonah Smith doubled in Sasha.

Broussard picked up the win in relief, striking out five batters over five hitless innings of work while issuing one walk.

Sweet Water (26-7) is set to face the winner of Maplesville and Brantley in the third round next week.