Vina hosts for first time against Decatur Heritage

Vina’s Nick Schimittou is one of several solid hitters for the Red Devils as they prepare to host Decatur Heritage in the opening round of the state playoffs. | Scot Beard/FCT

When Decatur Heritage visits Vina in the first round of the state baseball playoffs Friday the Red Devils will experience something they have never done before — play a playoff game on their home field.

Though Vina has made several trips to the playoff under coach Greg Hamilton, they have never won the area and had the opportunity to host.

Vina will have a tough opponent in the Eagles, who sport a 14-14 record.

“Their pitching staff has a couple of solid lefties,” Hamilton said.

The Red Devils played the Eagles in the opening game of the season with Decatur Heritage rallying for a 4-3 win in the final inning.

Hamilton said both squads are different teams now that they have about 25 more games of experience.

Vina looked good in a pair of tune-up games last week, pounding Phillips 17-5 and breezing past Brilliant 23-7.

The Red Devils then stumbled with a 12-2 loss to Red Bay in the county tournament and lost to No.-1 Hackleburg Monday.

Vina’s series against the Eagles begins with a doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. Friday. If the third game is needed in the best-of-three series, it will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.