Jags Baseball punches ticket to Round 2
The Northridge Jaguars punched their ticket to the second round of the 2026 AHSAA Class 6A baseball playoff by sweeping the Chilton County Tigers at The Ridge on Thursday evening. In Game 1, the Jags scored all their runs in the first four innings, before giving up a solitary run to the Tigers in the top of the seventh, claiming a 9-1 victory. Game 2 was a little closer after two innings, but Northridge exploded for 10 runs in the top of the third and added another three in the fourth, en route to a 15-1 run-rule win to secure the first round sweep.
Game 1: Chilton County Tigers 1, Northridge Jaguars 9
After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, Mayson Elam got things started with a bang for the Jags, slapping a triple just beyond the reach of a diving Tiger center fielder. Evan Malone followed with a single that scored Elam (1-0). With two outs, Miller Arendale doubled to left, scoring Mims Miller (running for Wyatt Rath, 2-0) John Pruet (3-0) and Cooper Obradovich (4-0).
With two outs in the third, Obradovich doubled, allowing Miller (running for Rath) to score and take the Jags’ lead to 5-0.
Northridge picked up its final four runs of the game in the fourth inning. As the second batter, Ford Cold drew a walk. Elam doubled, sending Cole to third. Malone walked to load the bases. Rath drew a walk, scoring Cole (6-0). Pruet was hit by a Tiger pitch, pushing Elam across the plate (7-0). Grayson Cannon singled, to score Bus Payne (running for Malone, 8-0) and Miller (9-0).
The Tigers managed a solitary run in the top of the seventh inning, making the final score 9-1, in favor of the homestanding Jaguars.
Elam was 3-for-4 and scored two runs. Malone finshed 1-for-1 and was credited with one RBI. Rath had one hit and one RBI. Pruet scored one run and had one RBI. Canon had two hits and totaled two RBIs. Obradovich had one hit, scored one run and had one RBI. Arendale had one hit that collected three RBIs. Ellis Tucker had one hit and, finally, Ford Cole had one hit and scored one run.
Malone started on the mound and scattered seven hits over six innings, striking out 11 and giving up no runs. Caden Chaney completed one inning of relief, striking out three and giving up one run on one hit, while issuing one free pass.
Game 2 – Northridge Jaguars 15, Chilton County Tigers 1
The Jaguars started Game 2 as the visiting team and promptly jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Elam led off with a double and scored on a double by Rath (1-0). Chilton County countered with a run of their own (the only one of the game) to even things up in the bottom of the first (1-1).
Northridge reclaimed the lead in the second inning when Cole’s sacrifice fly to right scored Obradovich (2-1).
Then, the Jaguars put the pedal to the metal and scored 10 runs in the top of the third inning. Malone was hit by a Tiger pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rath singled to drive in Malone (3-1). Obradovich scored Payne (4-1) and Pruet (5-1) on a single to right. Tucker’s double scored Obradovich (6-1) and Areandale (7-1). With Tucker on second, Cole was hit by pitch and Elam drew a walk to load the bases. Then, on a 1-2 count, Malone launched a GRAND SLAM into the “Left Field Lounge” that gave the Jags an 11-1 lead. Northridge picked up their final run of the inning when Cannon singled to score Payne (12-1).
Northridge added a finishing touch in the top of the fourth inning, scoring a final three runs. After Arendale drew a walk as the leadoff batter, Tucker doubled to score Arendale (13-1). Elam drew a walk and Malone followed with a single to score Tucker (14-1).The Jags’ final run came on a Rath ground out that allowed Elam to cross the plate for the 15-1 margin.
Neither team scored in the fifth and the Jags claimed the 15-1 victory and, most importantly, a series sweep that sends them into the second round of the 2026 Class 6A playoff.
Elam finished 1-for-2 and scored three runs. Malone was 2-for-2, collecting five RBIs and scoring twice. Rath was 2-for-3 and totaled three RBIs. Pruet had one hit and scored one run. Cannon had one hit and one RBI. Obradovich went 2-for-3, scored two runs and tallied two RBIs. Arendale scored two runs. Tucker finished 2-for-2, with three RBIs and crossed the plate twice. Charlie Wilson got in the book, going 1-for-1. And, Cole scored one run and picked up one RBI.
Barron Gatlin completed 1-2/3 innings on the mound, striking out one, giving up two hits and a single run. Adam Hall faced 10 batters in 3-1/3 innings of relief, striking out eight and giving up no walks, no hits and no runs.
NEXT UP: The Jags are awaiting the outcome of the McGill-Toolen/Saraland series to determine their next opponent, but Northridge will be on the road for Round 2. As of the writing time of this game story, McGill-Toolen won Game 1 (13-6) and Saraland is currently leading 2-0 in Game 2 (top of fifth inning).
