PREP ROUNDUP: Heatherly’s walk-off HR lifts Cullman past Madison Academy

Published 7:42 pm Friday, March 12, 2021

Cullman's Brennen Norton (left) and coach Brent Patterson celebrate the former's first-inning home run.

Kaleb Heatherly socked a walk-off, solo home run in the seventh inning to propel Cullman’s baseball team to a 6-5 victory against Madison Academy in Game 1 of Friday’s home doubleheader.

Heatherly cleared the fence on a 1-2 offering from Brant Benson.

Email newsletter signup

The Mustangs fired the opening salvo with a solo home run by Alexander Wade in the first inning.

Brennen Norton, however, tied things up with a solo shot of his own in the bottom half of the frame before run-scoring base hits by Max Dueland (RBI single) and Matt Brock (two-run double) put the Bearcats ahead 4-1.

Madison Academy, though, plated three runs in the fourth inning to make it 4-4.

But Cullman had an answer yet again, going in front 5-4 in the bottom half of the frame following back-to-back-to-back, two-out singles by Norton, Heatherly and Hayden Stancil — the latter of whom ripped one to the opposite field to bring in Norton.

That lead held until the seventh inning.

With runners on the corners and one out — they reached on a single and a wild pitch after a strikeout — the Mustangs attempted to steal second base and were rewarded with the game-tying run following an overthrow.

Madison Academy later loaded the bases, but Heatherly — who relieved starter Jeb Bartle to open the frame — induced a flyout to end the threat. Heatherly netted four strikeouts in the inning, with two reaching base (wild pitch and passed ball).

Heatherly finished with three hits and the game-winning RBI, while Brock (two RBIs), Norton (RBI) and Stancil (RBI) tallied two hits apiece. Dueland rounded out the home win with a hit and an RBI.

Bartle scattered seven hits and seven strikeouts in six innings.


Cullman 5, Madison Academy 3

Norton matched Heatherly’s walk-off in Game 1 with one of his own in the nightcap, sending a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall in the 10th inning to give the Bearcats a 5-3 victory.

It was Norton’s second homer of the game — he hit a solo shot in the first inning — and the senior finished with two hits and three RBIs.

Brock (RBI), Paxton Ponder, Heatherly, Stancil and Hunter Brooks had one hit apiece for Cullman in the win.

Stancil also pitched a beauty for the Bearcats, striking out 17 batters in eight innings. He allowed five hits and two earned runs.

Norton notched the win on the mound, scattering two hits, an earned run and two strikeouts in the final two innings of the contest.

See more local roundup below:


Prep Baseball

Addison 13, Meek 2

Addison 13, Meek 6


Vinemont 7, Cold Springs 3

Mason McKinney (V): 2 hits, RBI

Will Rhodes (V): hit, RBI

Mason McKinney (V): 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 8 K

Brodi Williams (CS): 2 hits, 2 RBIs

Roberto Ayala (CS): 2 hits


West Point 13, Locust Fork 2

Branson Smith: 4 hits, RBI

Will Cochran: 3 hits, 3 RBIs

Aubry Cleghorn: 3 hits, 2 RBIs

Chase Sibley: hit, 2 RBIs

Carter Thornton: hit, RBI

Isaiah Wylie: hit, RBI

Branson Smith: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 8 K


Prep Soccer (Girls)

Cullman 2, Enterprise 2