It was an easy road to the semi-finals of the Calhoun County baseball tournament for Jacksonville’s Golden Eagles as they shut out Anniston, 19-0, and Saks, 13-0.

Jacksonville, the No. 2 seed in the tournament was to have played Alexandria, the No. 3 seed in the semi-final game last night. Results were unavailable at press time.

While the 19-0 score with Anniston might look as if the Golden Eagles used the game for batting practice, it was more of a game of patience for the Jacksonville batters as they waited for the right pitch but it seldom came.

Jacksonville (8-0) recorded only five hits during the game as Anniston pitchers had a hard time finding the plate, giving up 12 walks and hitting five batters.

It was the first game of the season for the Bulldogs and was unfortunate that it had to come during the county tournament with undefeated Jacksonville.

For the Eagles, Colby Bryant, Zach Shadoan and Samuel Sawyer all had doubles while Nick Quinn and John Mark Sawyer both connected for singles.

Jacksonville pitchers combined for a one-hitter. Jake Williams took the mound first and pitched three no-hit innings, striking out eight while giving up just one walk.

Tanner Simms came on in relief in the five inning game and struck out two while giving up just one hit.

Senior Will Thompson stole the show for the Eagles against Saks. Thompson was 3-for-4 to include a walk-off grand slam, a solo home run and accounted for seven RBIs as Jacksonville once again took only five innings to best Saks 13-0.

The Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 first inning lead on a double by Bryant, a single by Thompson, a single by Sawyer, single by Brock Sanderson, a double by Trevor O’Day and a single by Shed Long.

Long was batting against his brother, Shed Long, a pitcher for Saks.

While Thompson shined at the plate, Matthew Gunter was brilliant on the mound, going the distance for the Eagles allowing just one hit in five innings.

Gunter had nine strikeouts and walked only one batter.

In addition to Thompson’s hits, Bryant, Shadoan, O’Day and Jake Smith all finished with doubles while Samuel Sawyer, Sanderson and Long finished with singles.

The Calhoun County tournament will finish tonight with the championship game being played at 6 p.m. at Alexandria.