BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The Tigers stayed in the thick of the 6A Area 4 baseball hunt with a pair of area wins over Satsuma Friday and Saturday.

Baldwin County won the first area game 6-1, but dropped the tie-breaker 6-1 in a Friday doubleheader at Satsuma. The Tigers came back to win the second area contest at home Saturday 5-3 on Jerry Wright Field to cap off the official dedication of the field to the late former BCHS coach who died last summer.

“This was a monumental game for us,” said BCHS coach Peter Bezeredi. “We had to have this one and my players really stepped up. Tucker Miller pitched a great game for us and we got some timely hitting and then took advantage of some miscues by Satsuma. But, this is really a huge, huge win for us.”

The two wins mean the Tigers improved to 3-1 in the area along with McGill-Toolen Catholic also at 3-1. But the Tigers hold the tie-break advantage over the Yellow Jackets who still have their series with the ever-hungry Gators this week. BCHS will begin its final area series starting today, hosting Williamson at 4 p.m.

Saturday, Miller (4-2) started on the mound and scattered six hits through 6 innings for BCHS to get the win. Jake Swearingen and Matthew Burt took over to close in relief. Billy Johnstone got it going offensively in the bottom of the fourth to single in Kyle Cook and added another RBI in the fifth to score Cook again. Johnstone and Miller also paired up in the top of the fifth on a nice 3-1 put-out at first with a Gator at third to prevent an SHS run. Jordan Ebert and J.A. Harville each had an RBI double, Kyle Buck had a SAC-FLY, Buzz Cabiness a SAC-BUNT and Swearingen beat out an infield ball for a single.

At Satsuma Friday, Harville got the win scattering seven hits and helped himself at the plate with two base hits for the area win.

Satsuma’s Justin Butterworth picked up the win in the tie breaker.

BCHS will also host Mary G. Montgomery Tuesday at 7 p.m. after the Williamson game. The area series with the WHS Lions will finish with a doubleheader at WHS Thursday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The Tigers have dedicated their season to Wright and to former BCHS diamond standout Dusty Roberts, who died in a tragic accident. The players wear the initials DR on one sleeve and JW on the other this season in their fallen brothers’ memory. Bezeredi, who took over after Wright retired, also coached Roberts. Both are beloved “Old Tigers” who are missed by the community and school as well as family and friends, he said.

“Dusty Roberts was a senior here my first year and he was a great kid and really already a great young man and also was a tremendous player. He played hard and gave it all he had and I just want these players to buy into that and play like he did. And today they did.

“And of course, I really miss Jerry so much. We all loved and respected him and it’s so good to get a big win for our program because I know he’s looking down and smiling. It was a really nice ceremony and good to have so many people come out. So I think both of them and all old Tigers were looking down on us today and helped make it even more special with a big win.”