Jags hold off Warriors, 5-2, for undefeated opening weekend

The Northridge Jaguars baseball team completed a weekend sweep at the 2026 Prep Baseball Alabama Kickoff Classic at River Run Park in Northport. After 4-0 and 8-4 wins over Gardendale and Helena, the Jags faced off with the Warriors from Thompson High School. Leading 2-0 after six innings, Northridge added five more runs, then held off a Warrior comeback attempt to close the weekend with a 5-2 win.

After getting a late start, John Pruet was hit by pitch on a 1-2 count. Following a ground out to first that moved Pruet to second, an error on Wyatt Rath’s grounder brought Pruet around to score before the Warriors recorded two more outs. The Jags held the Warriors scoreless in the bottom of the inning to lead 1-0 after one complete.

Neither team scored in the second inning, but Northridge added one run in the top of the third. With one out, Pruet singled to center. Evan Malone followed that with a double to center that allowed Pruet to cross the plate. The Jags left runners on second and third, failing to produce any more runs. Northridge retired the Thomson batters, 1-2-3, in the bottom of the inning, improving their lead to 2-0.

Both teams failed to light the scoring column again until the seventh inning. The Jaguars were able to add three runs in the top half, raising their lead to 5-0. Ellis Tucker got things on track when he was hit by a Warrior pitch, then moved into scoring position by stealing second base and making his way to third. Ford Cole drew a walk, which gave the Jags runners on the corners. Pruet’s third at-bat resulted in a grounder that scored Tucker, for a 3-0 lead, and moved Cole to second. Malone followed with a single to right that scored Cole, moved Pruet to third and increased the Jags’ lead to 4-0. After the Warriors recorded the first out of the inning, Cooper Obradovich sacrificed, scoring Pruet from third and moving Caden Chaney (courtesy runner for Malone) to second. Northridge surrendered the third out of the inning, but held a 5-0 cushion as they headed into Thompson’s final at-bat.

The Warriors were able muster two runs with two out in the bottom of the inning, but a grounder back to pitcher Tucker, who came on in relief of Malone, ended the threat and sealed the 5-2 victory for Northridge.

Pruet and Malone led the Jags at the plate, with both collecting two hits. Charlie Wilson was the only other Jag to record a hit. Pruet totaled three runs scored, with Tucker and Cole supplying the other two runs for Northridge. Malone was credited with two RBIs. Pruet, Rath and Obradovich recorded one RBI each.

Malone got the start on the mound and completed six innings, recording 10 strikeouts and issuing three walks. Malone surrendered one hit, but didn’t allow a run. Tucker faced seven batters in his one inning of relief, limiting the Warriors to two runs on one hit.