Northridge pulled a significant high school baseball upset over Spain Port in the semifinal round of the Class 6A playoffs in Alabama. However, the victory did last long.
The Jaguars were forced to forfeit their Game 1 win because of an illegal pitch. Rather, a few illegal pitches.
There are strict rules on pitch count for high school baseball. Northridge miscounted and mismanaged.
Northridge technically beat Spain Port.
Founded in 2003, Northridge High School is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as one of the two youngest public high schools in the region. It enrolls more than 1,100 students in Grades 9-12.
The Jaguars compete in Class 6A of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. They just so happened to meet another team of Jaguars in the high school baseball playoff semifinals.
Spain Park was founded in 2001 in Hoover, Alabama— right outside of Birmingham. It enrolls ~1,500 students in Grades 9-12.
Northridge entered the weekend ranked No. 3 in the state with an overall record of 32-7. Spain Park ranked No. 2 with an overall record of 32-8. Both teams were undefeated in their respective regions. These are two powerhouse programs with state championship aspirations.
The visitors traveled from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham for the first game of a three-game series. They threw their ace, Evan Malone. He was very good, but not lights out. The University of Alabama signee gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts, five walks and three hit batters over seven innings for Northridge.
You really cannot ask for a much better outing against one of the most potent offenses in the state. Malone also finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs at the dish. He backed himself up on the mound.
The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Spain Park ultimately loaded the bases but could not score the winning run. On to extras.
Northridge added two runs in the top half of the eighth but the home team saved two more runs from scoring with a pair of hose downs at the plate. The score went to the bottom of the eighth at 5-3.
Spain Park was able to add another run in the bottom of the eighth and loaded the bases on three-straight walks for a second time. It could not get the job done.
The Jaguars of Northridge defeated the Jaguars of Spain Park by a score of 5-4 to claim Game 1. Or so it seemed…
Alabama high school baseball keeps a strict pitch count.
Spain Park filed a formal protest as soon as Game 1 ended. It counted Evan Malone at 124 pitches. Northridge had its start pitcher at 124. Either way, he allegedly exceeded the pitch count mandate.
Game 2 got underway without an official ruling.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced its decision on Game 1 during the third inning of Game 2. It accepted a forfeit from Northridge. The final result was overturned. Spain Park was retroactively granted a victory by a score of 1-0.
Per AHSAA rules, a junior or senior pitcher cannot throw more than 120 pitches in a single day. Malone threw 123 or 124— which would’ve been fine if he did not start another batter after he hit 120.
A pitcher is only allowed to exceed 120 pitches if he is finishing an at-bat that already started.
Northridge had their ace at 119 pitches following a sacrifice fly to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with the bases loaded and one out. That 119 pitch count allowed Malone to start (and finish) the next batter, even if he exceeded 120 pitches during the at-bat.
Spain Park had Malone at 120 pitches or more. Therefore, he violated the pitch count rules by starting the next batter. The home team filed a protest to the AHSAA. The visitors were ultimately handed a loss.
Northridge also lost Game 2 by a real final score of 1-0.
⚾️ Final: @spjagbaseball 1, Northridge 0. (Class 6A Semifinals) (SP Wins Series 2-0)
— Andrew Simonson (@andrewtsimonson) May 16, 2026
After one of the wildest nights in recent memory, Spain Park is heading back to state for the first time since 2014! Hudson Franks was clutch throughout and a groundout was all it took to win. pic.twitter.com/B8NO3T6sVK
Spain Park punched its ticket to the Class 6A state championship game with the win in Game 2 after Game 1 was ruled a forfeit. The No. 2 seed will advance.
The No. 4 seed did not even get a chance to play the Game 3 rubber match despite its Game 1 victory. All because Malone exceeded the pitch count.