By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
OZARK — The Carroll High School Eagles struggled to take flight Friday as they faced off against the #9 ranked Andalusia Bulldogs.
The Eagles were unable to generate offense during the matchup, falling 16-0 to Andalusia. The first three innings remained scoreless as both teams traded solid pitching and defensive plays. Andalusia broke through in the fourth inning with the game’s first run and never looked back. The Bulldogs added five runs in the fifth, three more in the sixth, and capped the night with an impressive seven-run surge in the final inning.
Carroll rotated through four pitchers in an effort to slow Andalusia’s bats, with Trent Houston, Jason Chancey, J. Hairston, and Josiah Monson all taking the mound. Coach Sam Gilmer also highlighted a standout performance from an 8th grader. “Casen Kellum (#12) started on the mound and competed very well! He went 4.2 innings, giving up 4 earned runs and also had the lone hit of the night for the Eagles,” Gilmer said.
Andalusia entered Friday’s contest with six straight wins and left with seven, continuing a dominant season. The victory marked the Bulldogs’ ninth win by ten runs or more, highlighting their powerful offense and consistent pitching. The win improved Andalusia’s record to 15-3. Carroll, meanwhile, has a 7-12 record for the season. The Eagles won
Looking ahead, both teams will return to action with home games in their next outings. Carroll will host Headland on Tuesday and Thursday this week, followed by area matchups against Eufaula the following Tuesday and Thursday. Andalusia will face UMS-Wright Prep at noon on Saturday, a team whose pitching staff has allowed just 3.7 runs per game this season.
Both squads will rely on their home crowds for support as they aim to continue strong seasons and earn wins in key area contests.
