Auburn bats star in win over Mary G. Montgomery
In the Tigers’ closest call yet, the offense made the difference.
As Auburn High’s Peyton Etheredge stepped to the plate at the top of the second inning, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see the junior pressing for a big hit. With the home team Tigers trailing 6-0 after a tough start on the mound, the pressure was on.
Yet Etheredge stuck to his approach, patiently waited and barreled up a single through the shallow center gap, the first push in what would eventually snowball into an eight run rally. Head coach Matt Cimo visibly breathed a sigh of relief as the final flyout of the game settled harmlessly into the infield, securing the 11-6 win and a 3-0 start for his club.
Auburn remains one of the top programs at the 7A level and expects to challenge for the state title yet again this year; the win ties it with Huntsville as the last remaining undefeated team in its class. Even as the Tigers’ pitching struggled to feel the zone, surrendering six walks and six earned runs over seven innings, things never felt out of reach for a roster that largely looks the same as a 2021-22 team that went 30-8.
Advance Staff
Standouts for the Tigers included third baseman Tanner Waldrop and outfielder Cade Beleyu, who combined to go 5-for-6 with 3 RBIs, a double, a triple and a home run. Waldrop, Prep Baseball Report’s No. 2 Alabama high school prospect of the class of 2024, displayed the impressive five tool profile that grabbed the attention of Auburn University head coach Butch Thompson. The junior projects to be one of the best players in the state this year despite a difficult 2021-22 season (.177 batting average) and has backed that reputation up thus far.
Cimo and company will need improved pitching against a Prattville team that managed five runs against a strong Spanish Fort team, but the Tigers clearly have the stuff to get opposing batters swinging; senior Cooper Hardee had three strikeouts in relief and looked overpowering at points with his low arm slot, high-run heater. Whether or not the control will come remains to be seen.
QUICK HITS:
- With the loss, Mary G. Montgomery dropped to 0-2 on the season. Impressive performances from the lineup (6 runs scored in each game) have not been enough thus far.
- Auburn infielder Henry Allen, another top prospect (No. 5 in Alabama for the Class of 2024) was held hitless through four plate appearances, but drew two walks and scored a run. The Mississippi State commit has huge power, registering exit velocities in the high 90s consistently. Coming off a huge sophomore season (.365 AVG, 41 RBI, 6 HR) he has the potential to be the best bat in 7A.
— By Eamon Smith