RHS pitchers combine to throw no-hitter versus Florence Falcons
Russellville’s varsity baseball team continued the 2023 season with a slate of games that saw the Golden Tigers split four contests during the week. Included in the wins was a rare combined no-hitter thrown by RHS.
Russellville 10, Florence 1
Two Russellville pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter versus the Florence Falcons March 14 at RHS.
Cayden Johns got the start on the mound for the Golden Tigers and went four innings, allowing one unearned run. He struck out five before turning the pitching duties over to Eli Boutwell.
The left-hander worked the game’s final three innings to finish the no-hitter. He also struck out five Falcon batters.
Russellville got a big game at the plate by Banks Langston. The senior centerfielder went two-for-three, including a home run and a double. Langston had five RBIs and also stole a base.
Johns added a double and a single to his strong pitching performance. Brodie Vandiver had two hits and was joined in the hit column by Brandt Cummings, Brayden Spurgeon and EJ Jones. Shayden Romans, Cummings, Vandiver and Boutwell had additional RBIs.
James Clemens 10, Russellville 7
Play began for the Golden Tigers in the PBR North Alabama Showdown held at James Clemens High School March 16.
The first of two games on the day for RHS saw the Golden Tigers jump out to a 7-2 advantage going into the bottom of the fifth inning, but the lead failed to hold up. The Jets were able to climb ahead with two runs in the fifth and six in the sixth.
Russellville got two hits each from Cummings and Boutwell. Romans had a double and an RBI, while Langston, Spurgeon and Johns also had singles.
Johns and Boutwell drove in two runs each. Also picking up RBIs were Logan White and Spurgeon.
White got the start on the mound and went five innings before Cummings came on in relief.
Russellville 4, Etowah 2
Russellville answered in game two of the day with a victory over Etowah.
The Blue Devils’ runs came in the second inning. RHS had a run in the third and fifth and two in the sixth to break the tie and get the win.
RHS pitcher Spurgeon threw a complete game on 111 pitches to get the win. The senior allowed two hits and struck out four.
Neyland Baker, Cummings and Johns had two hits each. Langston, Romans and Boutwell also hit safely. Extra-base hits were by Romans, Johns and Baker. Russellville got two RBIs from Baker and one by Boutwell.
Athens 7, Russellville 5
Play wrapped up in the PBR North Alabama Showdown at James Clemens for Russellville with a loss to 6A Athens to drop the Golden Tigers to 7-8 on the season. All of the RHS losses this season have come to larger schools.
Spurgeon and Vandiver had three hits each. Boutwell added two hits, including a double, and Langston also collected an extra-base hit. Seth Burns, Romans, Baker and White all had singles.
Spurgeon led the team with two RBIs, while Romans and Burns had one apiece.
Johns and Burns did the pitching.
