Todd Schiehl couldn’t tell you how many first-pitch strikes he threw.

All the Vinemont High senior knows is that he was ahead in the count more times than not.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to do,” said Schiehl, who hurled a four-hit shutout against Fairview in the quarterfinals of the Cullman County baseball tournament Tuesday.

“That takes the pressure off me and puts it on them (Fairview). You always want to get ahead in the count.”

Mission accomplished.

Constantly staying ahead in the count, Schiehl was able to keep everyone in Fairview’s powerful lineup off balance. The Eagles right-hander struck out nine while walking only one.

Schiehl pitched well, but he had a little help. Vinemont (8-9) played near-flawless defense.

Vinemont only committed one error — a bad throw in the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles also turned one double-play.

“The way we played in the field today, that’s the one thing I’m most proud of,” Eagles coach C.J. Shearer said. “Compared to where we were early in the season, I can see a big difference.

“We made plays today that probably wouldn’t have happened earlier this year. Plus, those guys that we had out there refused to lose. This group of players, they are becoming winners.”

Good pitching and solid defense kept Vinemont in the game. The two runs that were manufactured put the Eagles over the top.

Vinemont took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Schiehl pushed Isaac Yarbrough across the plate with a fielder’s choice.

The Eagles doubled their lead in the top of the fourth.

After Schiehl reached on an error, Gauge Day followed with an RBI single.

Day led Vinemont offensively, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Schiehl went 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.

Junior left-hander Luke Davis took the loss for Fairview. He gave up one hit and two earned runs in four innings. He walked three while striking out four.

Gregory Davis pitched the final three innings for Fairview. The junior lefty struck out six and gave up two hits.

Skylar Ayker, Davis and Caleb Goldsby all went 1-for-3 for the Aggies, while Trett Hardman went 1-for-2.

Vinemont plays Holly Pond (5-7) in the semifinals at West Point today at 3:30 p.m. The two teams have split four games this season.



Good Hope 16, Hanceville 1

The Raiders broke out of a recent slump, routing Hanceville in the first round of the Cullman County baseball tournament.

The Raiders offense got rolling in the bottom of the second, when Jacob Overton, Chris Davis and Kevin Thomas crossed the plate.

Good Hope grabbed four more runs in the fourth and completed the scoring with nine more in the fourth, highlighted by Smith’s two-run triple in his second at-bat of the inning.

Scott Motes pitched five innings of of two-hit ball to pick up the win for Good Hope (5-4), which plays the winner of today’s game between Cold Springs and West Point Thursday in the semifinals.