Special to the Reporter

The Calera Eagles captured the Class 2A Area 7 title last week with a 10-1 victory over the Billingsley Bears at Clanton City Park.

Junior Dusty Downs turned in a strong pitching performance, giving up only 1 hit, allowing 1 unearned run while striking out 15 Billingsley batters.

John Adams led the Calera offensive attack with a 3-for-4, 2 RBI day including a long home run in the fourth inning.

Corey Turnbloom was 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI and Andy Jones was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Trey Russell had an RBI-single and Downs tripled in a run.

Cory Tracy added a hit, scored 2 runs and swiped 2 bases and Russell, Adams and Jay Haynes also added to their stolen base totals.

Calera’s string of 11 straight wins was snapped by the Marbury Bulldogs on Friday when the Eagles lost a 9-7 decision in 9 innings to end their regular season record at 15-5 and their area record at 5-1.

Several Eagle batters had a good day at the plate.

Senior Andy Jones was 2-for-3, clubbing his sixth home run of the season while driving in 3 runs. Jake Garzarek was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI and Dusty Downs had a pair of singles and an RBI.

Eric Cost had a hit and Trey Russell had a sacrifice fly RBI while Garzarek, Jason Adams and Jay Haynes each had a stolen base.

Senior Shortstop Brandon Dickson of Marbury hit a 2-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, his third hit and third RBI of the game to capture the win for the Bulldogs.

The Eagles will host Red Level in the first round of the playoffs today (Wednesday, April 23) at 3:30 p.m. at Calera’s Oliver Park