Charles Henderson’s opponent in the finals of the 2010 Terry Sikes Memorial Tournament may have been an unexpected one, but the end result was one the Trojans expected to have.

The Trojans took on Northview in the finals, and won 8-2.

“I told our guys that we had four different opportunities to win a championship,” said CHHS head coach Derek Irons. “This was our first chance at one, and we did a good job of getting it. We were able to defend our hoe turf against some good opponents, and I’m proud of our guys for that. It’s hard to overstate how well we played this weekend.”

CHHS took on Northview in the finals, rather than Pool B winner Tuscaloosa County after Tuscaloosa County decided to head home instead of playing in the championship game.

The Trojans had already played Tuscaloosa County earlier in the week, and defeated it 12-0.

Northview was there to step in for Tuscaloosa County, however. The Cougars went 4-0 in play at the tournament, but were not scheduled to play in the finals since CHHS was in the same pool and was also 4-0 with a greater margin of victory over its opponents.

The game was the third of the season between the two schools, as they split a doubleheader back on Feb. 20 in Dothan.

Charles Henderson trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the first after Northview got an RBI single from Josh Summeford and an RBI sacrifice fly from Christian Senn.

The Cougars would not score again.

“So much of your success is dependent on how you handle adversity because you’re going to have it almost every game,” Irons said. “I am just so pleased with the way we were able to keep our composure.”

The Trojans cut the lead to one when K.D. Edenfield tripled to lead off the inning, and scored on an RBI single by Chance Shaver.

CHHS took the lead for good in the second, when the Lawson brothers, Quay and Jalin, scored on an error and a passed ball, respectively, to put the Trojans up 3-2.

Chase Connell added a two-RBI double in the third to put CHHS up 5-2.

The Trojans then put the game on ice in the fifth when Shaver scored on an error, and both Quay Lawson and Connell drove in runs with sacrifice fly balls.

Blake Hutchinson started the game on the mound for CHHS, and pitched the first three innings.

Harrison Reeves came on in relief, and did not allow a hit in four innings of work.

“All we asked for was three innings out of Blake, and he gave us exactly what we needed, but then Harrison came in and he just threw strikes,” Irons said. “He just did a great job of competing.”

At one point, Reeves retired nine straight Cougar batters. He did not allow a base runner until the seventh, when he walked the leadoff batter.

“It always feels good when you’re able to set some guys down in a row like that and it really helps to build the momentum,” Reeves said.

Reeves said after the game that winning the tournament had been a team goal.

“It was our goal coming in to defend this championship, and I’m glad I was able to help the team accomplish that goal,” Reeves said.

CHHS returns to action March 6 against Stanhope Elmore and Prattville in Prattville.