Oxford’s Green fires gem
- Updated: February 26, 2018
Senior right-hander has command of all three pitches, throws complete-game no-hitter against 7A Mountain Brook
By East Alabama Sports Today
MOUNTAIN BROOK – Oxford coach Wes Brooks could sense Hayden Green was pitching well, but he’s a superstitious enough baseball guy to know not to ask how well while the game is in progress.
His instincts were right on.
Green fashioned Oxford’s first solo no-hitter in recent memory Monday night when he stifled Mountain Brook 3-0. The senior right-hander struck out five and the only two base runners he allowed came on two-out hit batsmen when the inside two-seamers he threw ran a little too far inside.
He threw 74 pitches, 48 for strikes, and didn’t allow a runner past first base. The game lasted 97 minutes.
“It was one of those things about in the fifth inning I kind of thought we had a no-hitter going, but I didn’t want to say,” Brooks said. “Jay (Stephens) is right beside me in the dugout and he keeps the charts and I caught myself peeking. I really didn’t know, but I knew not to ask.
“Then when we got the final out, I said ‘it was a no-hitter, right’ and they said yes it was.”
The gem left Oxford officials to search for the last solo no-no in team history. Tucker Simpson threw a no-hitter against Gadsden and then a perfect game against Hewitt-Trussville in the 2012 playoffs the following week.
The Jackets got a combined no-hitter from Judd Moore, Jarin Turner and Nick Hamlin against Moody in last year’s Spring Break Experience. Andy Hammond threw a combined no-hitter against Weaver in the 2015 County Tournament. It wasn’t immediately known when the Jackets last got a seven-inning solo no-no.
Probably the Spartans’ best chance for a hit against Green came in the fourth when Parker Garrison flew out to the warning track in right field. Green retired the last 10 batters he faced and struck out the final batter on three pitches.
“With Mountain Brook being 7A and no having a scouting report early in the year you throw to the pitcher’s strength and wait and adjust if you have to,” Brooks said. “He was just really solid on all three pitches and location.
“Pitchers who throw mid- to low-80s and can throw three pitches for strikes tend to be the guys who are the unsung heroes (of a pitching staff) and really excel in high school.”
The hitters supported him with single runs in the first, second and sixth innings. Brennan McCullough’s RBI ground out drove in the first run, the second scored on an error and Jared Adams’ sacrifice fly scored the final run in the sixth.
Oxford 110 001 0 – 3 6 0
Mountain Brook 000 000 0 – 0 0 3
WP – Hayden Green (2-1). LP – Hughes Mitchell. 3B: Brennan McCullough (O).
GOLF
White Plains starts T-2 in Blue-Gray
MONTGOMERY – Andrew Miller shot 75 and freshman Wesley Jenkins shot 76 in his first varsity start helping White Plains pull into a tie for second after the first day of the 26th annual Blue-Gray Golf Classic at Wynlakes G&CC.
The Wildcats shot 308 as a team and are tied with Fort Payne, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County. Houston Academy leads at 294.
White Plains also counted a 78 from Colman Hayes and a 79 from reigning Calhoun County champion Cameron McCareeth. Nathan Griffin’s 83 completed the lineup.
“Wesley managed the golf course well,” Wildcats assistant coach Justin Mallicoat said. “We had a practice round yesterday and he hit some shots that converted to double bogeys and bad holes. He eliminated those holes. He maintained his poise and never let the moment get too big. Whenever he had a bogey he followed it up with a par.
“Andrew Miller (was) the same way. He managed the course and played a solid round. I’m really eager to see how we come out tomorrow and play. These guys are hungry and want to play well. We gave ourselves a shot heading into Day Two.”
Team scores: Houston Academy 294, White Plains 308, Fort Payne 308, Thompson 308, Enterprise 314, Huntsville 316, Vestavia Hills 320, Gadsden City 321, Spain Park 321, Hoover 322, Central 323, Helena 328, Southside 331, Oak Mountain 335, Trinity Presbyterian 342, Prattville 323, Bibb County 345, Montgomery Academy 345, Bayside Academy 348, Fayette County 350, Westbrook Christian 350, Montgomery Catholic 364, LAMP 372, Stanhope Elmore 419, Marbury 589.
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