American Christian baseball coach Del Howell consistently stresses to his team to run every ball out.

That lesson paid off big time Friday in the Class 5A baseball championship series at Jacksonville State.

Junior Britton Taft beat out a routine groundball to third base in the sixth inning of Game 3, sparking a 4-run rally for the Patriots and ultimately leading to the school’s sixth state baseball title.

ACA swept St. Paul’s 4-3, 7-5 after dropping the opener Thursday night.

“Our guys never quit,” Howell said. “It was just a groundball to third. We thought coming into the series that they struggled a bit defensively, though they didn’t this week. We stressed running everything out. Taft busted it down the line. When you do good things, the game of baseball rewards you. “

“That is kind of what happened there.”

After evening the series with a Game 2 win, American Christian trailed for most of the third game. St. Paul’s scored four runs in the third inning on Edward McLeod’s 2-run double and Brooks McDonald’s 2-run homer.

It stayed that way until the sixth.

Alabama signee Eric Hines, who hit a long homer in the day’s first game, walked to start the inning and MVP Hunter Elmore looped a single into right. St. Paul’s starter Ross Delaney got the next 2 outs, setting up Taft’s at-bat.

McLeod double-pumped on his grounder. Taft slid safely into first for an RBI infield single. Caleb McAusland followed with an RBI single, and Jaylen Crocker tied it at 4-4 with a 2-run double that went just off the glove of a sprinting Tate Farrell in left.

“They say baseball is a game of inches,” St. Paul’s coach Andy Robbins said. “It certainly is.”

ACA (31-14-1) took the lead for good in the top of the seventh. Leadoff hitter Cade Durrett was hit by a pinch, and Robbins opted to walk Hines intentionally.

“We discussed every possible scenario this week with him,” Robbins said of Hines, who finished the season with 20 homers. “We just didn’t want him to beat us.”

On the next pitch, Elmore followed with an RBI single to give his team the lead.

“He threw me a curveball,” Elmore said. “God always puts me in a position where He knows I can succeed. I trust in that and know He will always be with me and guide me through tough situations like this.”

The second-ranked Patriots added two more runs on Evan Lightsey’s sacrifice fly and McAusland’s RBI single to make it 7-4. However, just like in Game 2, the Saints (28-11-1) didn’t go away.

Delaney reached on an error to open the bottom half, and leadoff man Tate Johnston singled. Johnston was 5-of-8 on the day. No. 2 hitter John Stowers walked to load the bases with no one out.

“Sometimes that first out of the last inning is the hardest to get,” Howell said.

Elmore struck out McLeod for that crucial first out. After Brooks McDonald hit a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5, Elmore got Farrell to fly out to end the series.

“We had our chances and had some good people up right there,” Robbins said. “That’s baseball. They’ve come through for us all year. Sometimes, it just doesn’t happen.”

ACA forced Game 3 with a dramatic win in Game 2.

The Patriots took the lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the second and never trailed. Hines’ 386-foot homer to left gave them a 4-1 lead after five innings.

St. Paul’s clawed back to within 4-2 with a run in the top of the sixth and had a chance to tie or take the lead in the seventh. McLeod’s RBI single cut the lead to 4-3, but Taft made a diving stop to keep the ball on the infield and save the game from being tied.

“The shortstop actually saved that game,” Robbins said. “That was a beautiful play.”

Starter BJ Garth struck out McDonald with the bases loaded to end the game. He allowed 8 hits and all 3 runs. He struck out 6 and walked 3. Bradley Irish took the loss for St. Paul’s, allowing 8 hits and 4 runs.

Game 2 stats: ACA – Garth also was 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBIs. Hines was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run and a 386-foot homer. Crocker drove in the other Patriot run. St. Paul’s – Johnston was 3-for-4 with a run scored. McDonald was 2-for-4.

Game 3 stats: ACA – Durrett was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Hines was 0-for-1 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored. Elmore was 3-for-4 with the go-ahead RBI. He also got the win on the mound. He struck out 8. Taft and McAusland each had 2 hits. St. Paul’s – Hudson Farnell was 3-for-3. Johnston was 2-for-4. McDonald homered and drove in 3. McLeod drove in 2. Delaney pitched 6 innings, allowing 8 hits and 4 runs. Taylor O’Dell pitched the final inning and took the loss.

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