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North gets bats going early in win over Metro squad
Saturday, June 02, 2007
WESLEY HALLMAN
The Birmingham News
News staff writer
The Birmingham Metro All-Stars put two runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first, but the North team responded with 12 runs in the first two innings in a 13-3 win that sent the Metro squad to the consolation game of the 2007 Alabama Lions' East-West All-Star Classic today at 4 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium on the campus of Samford University.
Hoover junior Tyler Ray started on the mound Friday, giving up six runs on four hits in the first inning as the Metro team committed three costly errors. Hewitt-Trussville senior J.D. Brewster came on in relief and retired the final two batters in the bottom of the first before the North stars got to him in the second. Brewster gave up six runs on four hits in the inning as the Metro squad fell behind 12-3 after two innings.
"We threw strikes for the most part," said John Carroll Catholic and Birmingham Metro coach Bubba Roberts. "You've got to tip your hat to the North team. They just kept battling up there. They did a good job putting everything they hit into play."
Springville senior second baseman Cason Carroll paced the North with a double, a single and two RBIs. Madison Academy junior outfielder Brad Montgomery finished with a single and two RBIs and his high school teammate, junior first baseman Cory Williams, added two singles a RBI and two runs scored.
Hartselle junior J.C. Bates started for the North and gave up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts in the first three innings. Holly Pond junior Tayler Baker and Lawrence County junior Matthew Pugh combined to pitch the final six innings without giving up a single hit to Birmingham Metro.
Briarwood Christian junior first baseman Adam Russell led the Birmingham Metro team with a double and two RBIs. Pinson Valley senior catcher Wes Gilmer added a single and a run scored. Pleasant Grove junior outfielder Matt Chaney added a triple and a run scored. Chaney's high school teammate, junior infielder Jonathon Ford, added a single.
Russell's two run double put Birmingham Metro ahead 2-0 after the top of the first but Williams, Montgomery, Florence junior outfielder Scott Trousdale and Butler junior Chad Moss each recorded RBIs in the bottom of the inning.
Chaney led off with a triple in the top of the second and Pelham junior catcher Heath McGuirk brought him home on a sacrifice fly to right for Birmingham Metro's final run of the game.
Carroll's two-run double in the second sparked six more runs as the North extended the lead to 12-3.
"We hit the ball really well," said Springville coach Brian Bandevander, who coached the North squad. "I would have lost the farm if I had bet we would put a 12 spot on them in the first two innings. I'm pleased with the way we played and I think all of our kids are too."
Roberts said Homewood's David Hayes will earn the start on the mound in the consolation game. The players are disappointed they won't be in the championship game, but Roberts said he thinks the team will perform much better on day two.
"We'll get them out in the morning, take batting practice and just get them ready to play," Roberts said. "You always want to win, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. We've got four pretty good guys we can throw on the mound and we expect to have a good shot to win."
Central 9, South 3
Prattville junior catcher Brady Sutley blasted a three-run homer to secure the Central victory in the top of the ninth inning. Central will move on to face North in the championship game at 7 p.m., while South meets Birmingham Metro in the consolation game at 4 p.m.
Metro stars bounce back to win consolation game
Sunday, June 03, 2007
WESLEY HALLMAN
The Birmingham News
News staff writer
Pinson Valley senior catcher Wes Gilmer and his Birmingham Metro teammates were embarrassed by the 13-3 pounding they took in the semifinals to the North on Friday in the 2007 East-West All-Star Classic at Samford University's Joe Lee Griffin Stadium.
Gilmer did his part to make sure the Metro stars didn't leave the ballpark feeling the same way Saturday.
Gilmer got the Metro bats started with a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the second inning, and he crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh to give Birmingham Metro a 6-5 win over the South stars in the consolation game.
Pelham junior shortstop Wesley Rich sent a fly to left field just deep enough to allow Gilmer to tag up and reach home safely for the game-winning run.
"Everybody was kind of upset after the loss Friday," Gilmer said. "It wasn't hard for us to bounce back because there's a lot of pride on this team. Everybody wanted to win this one. It felt great to get that winning run across for the guys."
John Carroll Catholic and Birmingham Metro coach Bubba Roberts had confidence Gilmer would find a way to get in scoring position once he reached base.
"Wes had a good at-bat and did a good job reading the dirt ball to get to second," Roberts said. "That's why he's going to Auburn. He takes good swings, he's disciplined and he always plays hard."
Gilmer finished the day 2-for-2 with a homer, single, two RBIs and the game-winning run. He was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh and moved to second on a passed ball. Gilmer advanced to third on a single by Pelham senior third baseman Reid Aldridge that bounced just over the head of South shortstop Rhett Barnes and into left field. He came home on the fly by Rich.
"Reid hit the ball hard off the ground," said Roberts. "That was something that happened for us today that didn't happen yesterday. We had some bounces go our way. We just got some timely hitting and good pitching."
Homewood junior pitcher David Hayes started for Birmingham Metro, giving up one run on four hits with two strikeouts. Rich and Briarwood Christian junior Adam Russell came on in relief and gave up only two runs on three hits.
The South struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. Birmingham Metro responded in the bottom of the second with Gilmer's solo home run to tie the game at 1-all.
Birmingham Metro added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Pinson Valley senior outfielder Trent Mummey led off the inning with a single to center field and later scored on a grounder by Gilmer. Gilmer scored the second run of the inning on a single to right field by Russell.
The South tied the game at 3 in the top of the sixth. Pinson Valley junior infielder Josh Hattaway drove in two runs on a single to right field to give Birmingham Metro a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
North 6, Central 3: The North stars took advantage of seven costly errors by the Central squad to win the 2007 East-West All-Star Classic championship.
The North took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with three runs in the inning. Lawrence County junior outfielder Matthew Pugh and Madison Academy's Brad Montgomery each recorded hits and scored in the inning. Hartselle junior infielder J.C. Bates also scored.
Like father, like son for Birmingham Metro catcher
Friday, June 01, 2007
WESLEY HALLMAN
The Birmingham News
News staff writer
Bill Gilmer sat just a few feet outside the left field fence, gazing at the players that make up the Birmingham Metro team of the 2007 Alabama Lions' East-West All-Star Classic as they worked out at John Carroll Catholic High School.
Gilmer is always an interested observer of the East-West Classic. He played in the game as a senior at Erwin High School in 1978. This year, though, he has an even keener interest - his son, Pinson Valley catcher Wes Gilmer, is one of the 16 players on the Birmingham Metro roster. The Metro squad will take on the North today at 4 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium on the campus of Samford University. The Central and South teams will face each other at 7 p.m.
"It makes you proud as a father knowing that all of the hard work your son has put in ever since his first game in little league has paid off," said Bill Gilmer, who played in the 1978 Classic with former Huffman High School and Chicago White Sox star Britt Burns. "It's just a lot of fun for me to be able to watch him play ball."
he Classic's tradition isn't lost on Wes, who will play collegiately at Auburn University next season. Burns, Jeff Brantley, Chris Hammond, Bo Jackson and Mike Mordecai are just a few of the players who have starred in the Classic and suited up for a major league ballclub. In all, more than 60 Classic alumni have played in a major league game.
Gilmer is constantly reminded about that legacy by his father's numerous stories about playing with Burns. The senior, who is also the great nephew of former Alabama football star Harry Gilmer, is thrilled about getting the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father and many former major league players.
"I think it's going to be a lot of fun to play in the same game my father played in," said Wes Gilmer, who batted .458, hit eight home runs and drove in 50 runs this season to lead the Indians to the quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs. "I've seen the list that showed everyone who has already played in this game and I've heard a lot about the guys my dad played with. A lot of great players have played in it before. It's a real honor for me to get to play in this game."
Gilmer isn't the only player on the roster with family ties to the Classic. McAdory High School senior pitcher/shortstop Casey Sparks' father, Bobby, also played in the Classic after a stellar career with the Yellow Jackets.
"I feel lucky to be here," said Sparks, who will play for Lawson State Community College next season. "I'm getting the chance to play with some of the best players in the state and play in a game that has a lot of tradition."
The Birmingham Metro roster has a heavy Pinson Valley contingent. Senior outfielder Trent Mummey, senior pitcher/outfielder Russell Moses and junior second baseman Josh Hattaway join Gilmer, giving the Indians four players on the squad. Mummey, who batted .453 while hitting nine homers and driving in 45 runs, is also an Auburn signee. He also led Pinson Valley with 37 stolen bases.
Pelham senior third baseman Reid Aldridge hit .398 with seven homers and 50 RBIs this season and is one of three Panthers on the team. Junior shortstop/pitcher Wesley Rich and junior catcher Heath McGuirk of the Panthers will also play in the game. Pleasant Grove has two representatives on the squad - junior outfielder Matt Chaney and junior infielder Jonathan Ford.
Hewitt-Trussville senior J.D. Brewster, Hoover junior Tyler Ray and Homewood junior David Hayes will all see plenty of action on the mound this weekend. Ray finished the Bucs' season 7-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
John Carroll coach Bubba Roberts, who will serve as the head coach of the Birmingham Metro team, was upbeat after seeing the players' first workout.
"I thought things went pretty well," said Roberts. "They're all all-stars and we picked them for a reason. I was impressed with all of them."
The Metro team only includes players from Jefferson and Shelby counties. Therefore, players from other counties in the metro area are on other teams, Springville senior second baseman Cason Carroll and Hayden catcher T.J. Rock will play for the North. The Central squad includes Chilton County third baseman Wes Driver and pitcher/outfielder Kyle Parrish, Jemison pitcher/infielder Jeffery Alexander and outfielder Jordan Mims, and Bibb County outfielder Colby Vowell.
