Mortimer Jordan head coach Shayne Carnes (20) talks to Nick Overton (3) in a win over Hayden last week. 

The Mortimer Jordan baseball team sent two runs across in the sixth inning on Tuesday night to outlast Class 5A, Area 11 rival Springville in a 5-4 home win. The victory put some area championship hardware in the Blue Devils’ trophy case.

Mortimer Jordan (22-16, 5-0) is now guaranteed home-field advantage in the opening round of the state playoffs, which begins on Friday, April 22. They will welcome the Area 12 (Alexandria, St. Clair County, Lincoln, Anniston) runner-up for a best-of-three series beginning next Friday.

Junior Patrick Burkett was big for the area champions on Tuesday. He turned in three innings of work on the hill, allowing two hits for one earned run to go with a pair of strikeouts in a winning effort. Burkett helped himself with a 2-for-2 night at the dish with a two-bagger, RBI and one run scored.

Throwing the first four innings for Mortimer Jordan was senior Austin Shivers, who surrendered nine hits and one earned run along with two strikeouts.

Walker McCleney and Caleb Hays also drove in runs for the Blue Devils. McCleney, a center fielder, finished the game 1-for-2 with a base on balls and two runs scored. Hays went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

Mortimer Jordan is scheduled to finish league play on Thursday night at Springville.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.