The Cottondale Hornets Middle School baseball program launched its 2026 season last week, engaging in a three-game series that showcased learning experiences and glimpses of potential for the young athletes. The season opener took place on the road at Tolar Middle School on Thursday, followed by the home debut for both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams on Friday, attended by an enthusiastic crowd in Cottondale. Although the Hornets did not secure a victory during their opening week, the team demonstrated resilience and growth which coaches can build upon as the season progresses.
Game One: Close Contest Ends in Defeat
The Cottondale ‘A’ team faced a tough challenge in their season opener, ultimately falling 7–4 against Tolar. Despite the loss, the Hornets displayed a strong late-game push, scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Starting pitcher Trayton Land took the mound, pitching three innings and yielding four hits, along with two earned runs and two unearned runs. He struck out two batters and issued one walk. Rowan McDaniel followed in relief, allowing two earned runs and one unearned run in his inning of work, while August Dahl closed the game with a clean final inning.
Cottondale’s offense struggled initially, failing to capitalize on opportunities in the first and second innings. The Hornets threatened in the top of the first with Dahl drawing a walk and advancing to second base after Grayson Watson was hit by a pitch. However, three consecutive outs left both runners stranded. Tolar seized the moment in the bottom half, scoring two runs to establish an early lead.
In the fourth inning, Cottondale finally broke through. Elan Parrish led off with a walk, stole second and third, then scored on a sacrifice from McDaniel. Unfortunately, Tolar responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, extending their lead to 7–1. In a spirited finale, the Hornets rallied in the fifth; Dahl and Watson both hit singles, followed by a deep drive from Royce McLeod that loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Harrison Kline brought Dahl home, and Barrett Trimble delivered a clutch single that scored both Watson and McLeod. Despite the fight, a late strikeout ended the game.
Game Two: Same Score, Different Setting
The following day, the Hornets welcomed the Tolar Cowboys to their home field, resulting in an eerily similar outcome, with another 7–4 score. Starting pitcher JuJu Ortiz took the mound for Cottondale, pitching two innings while allowing six runs, four earned, on five hits and four walks. Sebastian Arranda stepped in and performed well in relief, giving up no runs on one hit, while Harrison Kline closed the game, allowing one run on three hits.
The Hornets struggled offensively at first, not registering a hit until the third inning. Back-to-back walks by Trayton Land and McLeod ignited the offense. A sacrifice fly brought Land home, and Dahl’s hit to right followed by Watson’s opposite-field hit loaded the bases. Ortiz then delivered a pivotal two-RBI double, narrowing the deficit significantly. Cottondale managed to trim the score to 6–4, but their momentum faltered as they left the bases loaded without further scoring.
Although Cottondale did not achieve a win during the opening week, the games provided critical experiences. The Hornets demonstrated improved plate discipline, aggressive baserunning, and late-inning rallies, indicating their capacity to compete against county rivals. With the initial nerves behind them and valuable game experience gained, the Hornets are poised to build on this early stretch as they aim to convert close losses into victories throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.
