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After games were washed out on Tuesday, schools from The Messenger’s coverage area returned to play at the Gulf Coast Classic Baseball Tournament in Baldwin County on March 27.

The Class 2A No. 2-ranked Pike Liberal Arts Patriots pulled double duty on Wednesday, earning a pair of wins over Curry and Sweetwater. The Patriots defeated Curry by a score of 10-6 to start things off. Senior Will Rice made his debut on the mound, picking up his first win of the season as he struck out four batters and gave up four hits and three earned runs in two innings pitched.

Braden Shirley also earned the save, mowing down seven batters and giving up four hits and one earned run in four innings pitched. Dawson Bradford went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while Luke Barron went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Kade Brookins also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, while Cole Garrott went 2-for-4 with two runs.

Pike followed that up with a 2-1 win over Sweetwater. Barron pitched a complete game, striking out 10 and giving up just one hit and one earned run in seven innings on the mound. John Lott went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Pruitt Vaughan went 2-for-3 with a run. Weston Garrett scored the other PLAS run.

The Charles Henderson Trojans also played a pair of matchups on Wednesday, throttling Southside by a score of 15-7 before losing to Mountain Brook 11-3. Against Southside, Cole Pugh went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs, while Chase Vaznaian went 2-for-4 with three runs. Wilson Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Clay and Cooper Johnson both scored two runs each. Wes Templin pitched four and 1/3 innings and struck out a pair of batters, while giving up seven hits and four earned runs.

Against Mountain Brook, Cooper Johnson went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Clay Johnson, Parker Adams and Josh Hooten scored one run each. Trenton Bryan struck out a pair of batters and gave up four hits and two earned runs in one inning pitched.

The 2A No. 1-ranked Ariton Purple Cats dominated Wheaton-North on Wednesday by a score of 11-3. Myles Tyler was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, four RBIs and a run, while Lawson Leger scored three runs. Ian Senn went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Senn also earned the win on the mound, striking out eight batters and giving up four hits and two earned runs in five and 1/3 innings pitched.

The Zion Chapel Rebels also picked up an 8-3 win over Collinsville. Wes Braisted went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI, while Austin Jordan went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Brodie Stinson went 2-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and a run. Braisted earned the win on the mound, striking out seven and giving up seven hits and one earned run in seven innings pitched.