DEMOPOLIS – It took the Demopolis High School Tigers only five innings to defeat the Trinity Wildcats yesterday evening at the DHS baseball field, picking up a 13-3 victory in round one of the AHSAA 4A playoffs.

Devin Goodwin picked up the win for the Tigers, pitching a complete game (five innings), while giving up nine hits, three runs and striking out four.

“I thought we played the most complete game we’ve played all year,” DHS head coach James Moody said.

“And we picked a good time to do it.

Anytime in a playoff game when you score seven runs in the first, you’re making people play catch-up.”

The Tigers did just that – plating seven runs on five hits to jump out to an early 7-0 lead.

Chad Schoreder got things started in the bottom of the first inning with he bunted and safely reached first base before stealing second.

G.W. Washington followed with a walk and Devin Goodwin struck out on a wild pitch to plate Schroeder.

Bart Pettus then stepped to the plate and nailed an RBI single to bring home Washington.

As Seth Basinger safely reached first base with just one away, Clarke Kerby hit an RBI single and advanced to second on the errant throw to first.

William Meador followed with an RBI double hit sharply down the right field line.

Hunter Hawley drew a base on balls as Darrell Kent then safely got to first to load the bases for the top of the lineup.

With Schroeder at the plate and with two strikes, coach Moody put the runners in motion as Schroeder belted the ball deep to the left field wall to clear the bases and put Demopolis on top 7-0 after just one inning of play.

“It’s hard to play catch-up when you have your number one [Devin Goodwin] on the mound,” Moody said.

“I was really pleased with the confidence we played with.

We played really confident today.

And I’ve been agitated with them during the year, but when it’s time – this is what they do.

It’s like they have been around it enough and they know.”

Trinity plated two runs in the top of the second inning, which ended in controversy for the Wildcat fans as Cameron Bell was called out at the plate on an outfield assist by Schroeder.

Demopolis scored two runs on two hits in the second inning and added two more runs in the fourth inning as they held onto an 11-2 lead after four.

“I thought we played a complete game,” Moody said.

“I thought we swung the bat well, kept pressure on them, we ran the bases well today, and Devin did what he always does – he gives us a chance.”

Goodwin allowed one run on three hits in his final inning of work, forcing Rory McKean to pip out to Moody at second with the bases loaded and the Wildcats threatening to rally.

And then it was all up to the Tigers to end Trinity’s season.

After Schroeder drew a walk to begin the fifth, Washington smoked an RBI double to center field that just barely missed clearing the fence and ending the game on a walk-off homer.

But with Washington at second with no one out, coach Moody and his Tigers were going to do whatever it took to end the game then and there.

After Goodwin struck out and Washington moved safely over to third, the Wildcats intentionally walked Pettus to put runners on the corners with one away.

Basinger then stepped to the plate and hit a dribbler that bounced past the shortstop and third baseman as Washington raced home to give the Tigers a 13-3 victory due to the 10-run rule.

“It was a great team effort and I expect this out of these guys,” Moody said.

“They’ve been here.

They have been here in football and baseball now for two years.

It was nice – it was really nice.

I’m just glad we lived to play another day.”

Demopolis returns to action on Friday at the DHS baseball field, as they will face Opp in round two of the postseason.

At this point, a time has not been set for the game.

Check tomorrow’s edition of The Times for the scheduled start time of round two.