By Jeff Devine
The Wiregrass will be well represented in the upcoming Alabama High School Athletic Association baseball state semifinals after several area teams captured South Sub-State playoff series victories Friday night.
In Class 2A, the Ariton Purple Cats and the G.W. Long Rebels of Skipperville both advanced to the state semifinals after sweeping their respective quarterfinal series.
Ariton defeated Reeltown Rebels by scores of 9-4 and 5-2 to improve to 30-7 on the season, while G.W. Long earned 6-5 and 9-4 victories over Tuscaloosa Academy Knights to move to 29-7.
The Purple Cats and Rebels are both members of Class 2A Region 3 and are the only teams from that region advancing to the state semifinals.
In Class 3A, Lee-Scott Academy Warriors of Auburn swept Thomasville Tigers with dominant 20-1 and 10-1 victories to advance with a 24-11 record.
Glenwood Gators of Phenix City also punched its ticket to the semifinals after defeating Altamont Knights by scores of 14-2 and 13-6. Glenwood improved to 31-8 with the series sweep.
In Class 4A, Opp Bobcats continued its postseason run by sweeping Oak Grove Tigers. Opp won 7-5 and 9-6 to improve to 27-6 and advance to the state semifinals.
Meanwhile, Houston Academy Raiders saw its season come to an end after falling to Bibb County Choctaws in two games in Class 4A quarterfinal action.
Two Wiregrass-area teams remained alive in Class 7A entering Saturday.
Dothan Wolves split the first two games of its South Sub-State series against Central Red Devils. Dothan captured Game 1 with a 9-1 victory before Central-Phenix City responded with a 4-2 win in Game 2, forcing a decisive third game. Central-Phenix City won Game 3 on Saturday, dashing Dothan’s hopes of advancing.
The series between the Enterprise Wildcats and Auburn Tigers was postponed Friday because of the weather, with the teams scheduled to resume play Monday afternoon in Enterprise. The winner of that series will then advance to the Semifinals.
