Gardendale senior Zach Cupps swings through a pitch on Friday in the opening round of the state playoffs. 

Area baseball teams came out of the opening round of the state playoffs with mixed results this past weekend.

In Class 6A action both Gardendale and Pinson Valley enjoyed home-field advantage, but could not break through to the field of 16. Gardendale fell to Area 12 runner-up Clay-Chalkville in three games while Pinson Valley came away on the losing side of a two-game sweep against Walker.

The Rockets poured on the offense in Game 2 on Friday night, claiming the contest 16-1. However, none of that firepower was present in the first or third games, which they lost 4-0 and 6-2 respectively.

In Friday night’s win, Gardendale shortstop Manning Early came through with two hits and three RBIs. Seth Rodgers drove home four runs with his two hits and Brandon Gary slapped home three more off two hits.

Pinson Valley lost to Walker 3-1 and 9-4.

In Class 5A action Mortimer Jordan and Corner have advanced to the second round, which begins this Friday. Corner, the Area 10 champions, easily swept through Wenonah while Mortimer Jordan survived a three-game series with St. Clair County.

After falling 5-2 in Friday’s opener, the Blue Devils bounced back strong with two double-digit wins to take the playoff series.

Levi Faucett, Patrick Burckett and Caleb Hays all brought their bats in the second game, which Mortimer Jordan won 10-0. Faucett and Burckett both finished 2-for-2 with multiple RBIs while Hays went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Corner blew past Wenonah, 16-0 and 11-0.

Second-round pairings

Mortimer Jordan (28-19) visits Area 12 winner Alexandria (16-16) for a best-of-three series beginning this Friday at 5 p.m. Game 2 will follow at 7:30 p.m. A Friday split would result in a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.

With a win the Blue Devils would face the winner of No. 1 Russellville-Lawrence County.

Corner (26-19) will welcome Area 10 runner-up Pleasant Grove (18-22) for a Friday doubleheader. An if-necessary game would be played on Saturday. A win would pair the Yellow Jackets with the winner of Madison County at No. 10 Randolph.

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