By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes Academy Rebels came up short in their effort to win an Alabama Independent School Association Class AA State Baseball Championship Tuesday afternoon at Paterson Field in Montgomery.

The Rebels from Lowndesboro fell to Rebels of Coosa Valley Academy in Harpersville by scores of 4-2 and 5-4 in the championship best-of-three series.

Corey Lowe pitched the first contest for Lowndes Academy while Toby King took the mound for the boys from Lowndesboro in the second contest all the way to the seventh inning.

Lowndes Academy led 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh needing just three outs in order to live to fight another day.

The Rebels from Lowndes County had scored four runs on five hits with two errors.

Bases were loaded when Wade Howard was tapped by Coach Shane Moye to keep the Lowndes Academy Rebels alive.

But it was those other Rebels who scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take home the crown.

The nail in the coffin came with the score tied 4-4 with two outs on the Rebels from Harpersville.

It was a valiant effort from the boys of Lowndes Academy. Coming off the first game loss and trailing 1-0 in the second contest, they had battled to a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning.

Going into the bottom of the seventh, the score stood 4-2, which would lead to heartbreak.

Making the all-tournament team from Lowndes Academy were King, Lowe and Seth Senn.

The Lowndes County Rebels ended the season with a 21-13 overall record.

“We gave it our all. They made more plays than we did when it came down to it. We left a lot of guys on base,” Moye said following the loss.

He said it was the first time for his guys to be in the championship game situation, and they were just a little nervous.

“Hopefully, we will be back next year,” he said.

The Lowndes Academy Rebels lose just two seniors in King and William (Willie) Nall.

Moye said the each kid on the team had a role during the season and Tuesday and did not want to single anyone out.

“We just give all the glory to God that we were here,” he said.

Lowndes Academy Athletic Director Matt Marshall said the Lowndes Academy Rebels were runner-up in 2005 in Class A, in 2006 and 2007, they were state champs in AA and had not been back until now.

Since Moye took the helm of the varsity baseball squad, Marshall said, “I’ve been just impressed with what he has done.” He said both Moye and assistant coach Rusty Todd have done a great job.

“They’ve had a fabulous season. It comes down to one run. I hope next time we can be on top,” Marshall said.

The entire Lowndes Academy team includes:

Nall (1), Garrett Headley (3), Lowe (6), Taylor Gray (7), David Hussey (8), King (10), Cody Harrell (11), Michael Scribner (13), Thomas Ward (14), Lane Davis (18), Howard (22), Ryan Tindoll (24), Senn (33), Jake Wheeler (44), Owen Nall (55) and Alex Thrash (00).