(This story contains updates from games that ended after out print edition deadline.)

Three up, three down.

That’s the way the baseball season ended for local high schools, as Gardendale, Mortimer Jordan and Fultondale were all swept in doubleheaders in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs.

The Rockets lost a pair to tenth-ranked Vestavia Hills, an 8-1 rout in the opening game and a 3-2 heartbreaker in eight innings in the nightcap.

The Rebels shelled Rockets starting pitcher Kyle Large for four earned runs in 2-1/3 innings of the opening game, and simply couldn’t figure out Vestavia starter Davis Rickard, who struck out six while allowing just the one run on four hits in five innings.

Only first baseman Jesse Blackburn had any progress against Dickard, with a line drive base hit that brought home Chris Blakey in the third inning.

Gardendale had its chances, leaving runners stranded in scoring position in three different innings. But they were also victimized by excellent fielding by Vestavia, particularly from left fielder Jimmy Laughlin and right fielder Ryan Smith.

“Ryan Smith gets us some fly balls that average right fielders wouldn’t get to,” Rebels coach Dal Davis said. “We’ve counted that we’ve won eight or ten games this year that we wouldn’t have won if it weren’t for them in the outfield.”

The Rebels took command in the third, when they put three runs across on RBI hits by Corbin Potter, Ryan Raspino and Spencer Towns, the latter of which prompted Coach Pat Keedy to pull Large out of the game.

Josh Freeman threw three innings of middle relief until he ran into trouble in the sixth inning, giving up two runs.

In the second game, pitchers held sway for most of the way as Gardendale found itself down 2-1 going into the seventh inning. Then the Rockets sent the game into extras, thanks to a double by designated hitter Mason McAnally, who scored on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly to left field by catcher Matt Oliver.

But the rally went for naught in the bottom of the eighth, as pitcher Georgie Salem hit a two-out double, took third base on an uncontested steal, then scored the winning run when Jordan Suggs bobbled a Russell Larsen grounder to shortstop.

Sophomore starting pitcher Carter Burns went six innings for a no-decision, allowing just three hits and two earned runs.

The Rockets finish the season with an 18-16 record.

Mortimer Jordan’s promising season came to an end sooner than they’d hoped after dropping a pair at Boaz in Class 5A play, losing 5-4 in eight innings in the first game and 5-1 in the second.

The Blue Devils made it close in the opening game, rallying to tie the contest at 4-4 in the seventh to put the game into extra innings. Jsh Liston scored on a fielder’s choice by Josh Grooms, then Grooms scored after stealoing second on a C.T. Wood base hit. Jesse Stanley then drove in Grooms with a double plaus a two-base error when the ball got by the Pirates’ center fielder.

But Boaz won it with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, when Chad Lawson’s hit brought in Zach Willoughby.

The second game was a nightmare for Jordan, as they coughed up a season-high eight errors in the nightcap. All five Boaz runs were unearned.

Pitcher Jesse Stanley went the distance, striking out six while allowing seven hits. He also batted in the Devils’ lone run on a double in the sixth that scored Braden Glass.

Pirate pitcher Blake Truett was in control the whole way, as he fanned 12 Devils while giving up three hits and three walks.

Mortimer Jordan finishes the season with a 30-12 record.

Fultondale’s first trip to the high school baseball post-season in three years came to a quick end, thanks to a sweep by host Lineville in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Aggies shut out the Wildcats 6-0 in the opening game, then hung on to win the nightcap 5-4 despite a furious sixth-inning rally by the Cats.

“Austin Gibson pitched well enough to win the [first] game, but Lineville was just simply hitting them where we weren’t,” Fultondale coach Mike Gillespie said.

In the second game, the Aggies shelled the Cats and pitcher Gary Willis for a quick 5-0 lead. Then Fultondale made a last stand in the sixth inning, led by hits by Willis and Steven Dodgen, to put four runs across. “But we left runners on and just couldn’t quite get the tying run in,” Gillespie said.

Dodgen was 2-for-4 with a double, and Willis was 2-for-3 in the nightcap.

The Wildcats finish the season with an 11-9 record.