Pike Road High School’s baseball team is headed to a decisive Game 3 after splitting Friday night’s doubleheader against Wetumpka in the opening round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs.
Pike Road dropped the first game 9-0 but responded in dominant fashion in Game 2, riding a combined no-hitter to a 9-1 victory to keep their season alive.
Peyton Hornbuckle set the tone on the mound, tossing six no-hit innings and keeping Wetumpka’s lineup off balance throughout the night. Julius Williams closed out the final inning to preserve the no-hitter and secure the Patriots’ bounce-back win.
The victory sets up a winner-take-all Game 3 on Saturday at 1 p.m., with the winner advancing to the second round to face Chelsea.
“This group has been a lot of fun to coach and be around,” Brooks said. “A big moment for our season came when football season ended and we did our ‘Road to The Blue Map’ challenges in December. Every football player showed up the week after being knocked out of the playoffs and competed alongside the rest of the team.”
That early buy-in, Brooks noted, has carried over into high-pressure moments like Friday night’s must-win game.
“It showed the competitiveness this group has and has played a huge part in these kids having respect for each other and coming together as our season has progressed,” he said. “This team has won a lot of close games and shown a lot of toughness throughout the season.”
After a tough opener, Pike Road leaned on that toughness to respond, flipping the momentum of the series behind dominant pitching and timely offense.
Now, with everything on the line, the Patriots will once again turn to that same identity.
“I’m proud of the way this team has competed and the work they’ve put in to get us to this point,” Brooks said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to have a chance at competing for a state championship this postseason.”
Saturday’s Game 3 will decide who moves on to the second round.
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