RUSSELLVILLE- The Class 5A semi-final playoff series between Madison Academy and Russellville was a battle which featured two perennial powerhouses in high school baseball. The Mustangs of Madison Academy have won four state titles (2008, 2014, 2015, 2016) while the Tigers of Russellville have also notched four titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021) on their belt.

The semi-final matchup was hosted by the defending state champion Tigers and came down to a third and deciding game where the winner advanced to the AHSAA State Tournament Finals.

The two heavyweights of high school baseball were like two sumo wrestlers meeting in the middle of the ring with little advantages in the best-of-three series. In game one, the visiting Mustangs made the first take down with a 9-4 victory. Both the Tigers and Mustangs went face-to-face in game two before the home team out muscled the visitors to squeeze out a 13-10 victory. The two teams took a deep breath, regrouped and stood to the challenge of a third and deciding do-or-die game three.

Russellville kept the Madison Academy bats quiet limiting the usual explosive swingers to just three hits and no runs while the Tigers scored five runs, including a three-run homer, in the fifth inning to post a 5-nothing shutout.

Bump Burgreen, a first-year transfer from Decatur and a Jacksonville State signee, had all three of the Mustangs’ hits.

Madison Academy finished 30-15 while No. 4 Russellville is 33-12 and will face second ranked Holt (34-5) in the championship series.