Tuscaloosa County High School’s Colson Mellown smacked a 2-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Wildcats past homestanding Hoover 1-0 and into the Class 7A Alabama High School Athletic Association baseball state playoff semifinals.

Mellown’s drive to center field brought home Ford Traweek – who had singled and stolen second base – with the game-winner.

The 10th-ranked Wildcats, who nipped No. 7 Hoover 3-2 in the opening game of the best-of-3 series on Friday, are making their first trip ever to the semifinals.

“It’s been a long season full of ups and downs and our kids just kept playing together,” Tuscaloosa County head coach Nick Richardson said. “This is a tight-knit group and they figured out a way to win. (The series) was two great baseball games with some weather in between. Our guys just stayed focused and trusted the process. They felt they could do it. That’s been the identity of this team all year. They just don’t quit.”

Tuscaloosa County will face No. 2 Bob Jones, a 4-3 winner over No. 1 Hewitt-Trussville on Monday. The semifinal series is set for Friday in Northport with a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. with Game 2 set for 7:30. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Both pitchers went the distance on Monday, with Dillon Dubose earning the win. The left-handed sophomore gave up 4 hits, struck out 5 and did not walk a batter. Dubose did hit one batter, throwing 60 strikes in 96 pitches.

“Dillon went out and competed,” Richardson said. “He threw strikes and forced contact. He made several big pitches in clutch situations today. He usually throws Game 3 in our area games, so he didn’t have to throw last week. He shut out one of the best teams in the state today.”

Hoover junior lefty Will Adams – an LSU commitment – took the loss, despite striking out 11 Wildcats and allowing 4 hits with 2 walks and one hit batter. Adams threw 98 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Traweek, a junior shortstop, was 2-for-3 at the plate for Tuscaloosa County. Junior Drew Keller and sophomore Mellown had the other hits for the Wildcats.

“Colson started the season on the JV team, but he kept working and working while he waited for his chance,” Richardson said. “He’s been playing third base for us the last four weeks. He was hitting in the (No.) 8-hole against a phenomenal pitcher today.”

Catcher Baylor Hardy with 2-for-3 for Hoover (25-17). Grayson Payne was 1-for-2 and James Au had a single in 3 at-bats in the loss.