ORANGE BEACH — Senior Tripp Carter pitched a no-hitter to help the Orange Beach Makos collect their first baseball victory over the Gulf Shores Dolphins, 2-0, Friday night as part of Prep Baseball Report’s South Alabama Showdown.

“Obviously a lot of emotions, coming into this game there was a lot of talk around town on the island but we just made sure we had one thing one on our mind and it was to win,” Carter said of his postgame feelings. “It didn’t matter who’s across the field from us, we blocked all the noise out and we went out there and did what we’re supposed to do.”

Carter finished with 5 strikeouts against 3 walks and 0 hits over 7 innings while Orange Beach scored a single run in the fourth and sixth innings. It was Austin Beck who supplied a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to push the Makos’ lead to 2-0 entering the seventh and final inning.

“His swing looked really good today in pregame and I just said, ‘Hey you’re not starting but you need to be ready to go,’” head coach Josh Hoyle said of Beck. “The cool thing is that I went to Tucker West and I said, ‘Austin’s swinging for you,’ and he didn’t flinch. He said, ‘Yes sir,’ and it could have been really easy for him to pout. But he gave his at-bat up and Austin knew what he needed to do.”

“Huge. We’ve been making such a big deal just for everyone to be ready when their number’s called,” Carter said. “And I think for (Beck) to go out there and do that, there’s no better feeling.”

Hoyle: no-brainer to start Carter

Carter followed suit and did what he needed to do — take care of the heart of Gulf Shores’ order — for the final three outs of his first career no-hitter. His Orange Beach teammates spilled out of the dugout to provide a moment Carter said he’ll remember forever.

“Incredible. I can’t describe it with any other words than that,” Carter said. “It was awesome.”

FINAL: Orange Beach 2 Gulf Shores 0. @TrippCarter21 does it! The Makos secure their first-ever win over the Dolphins on the baseball diamond via NO-HITTER. @OrangeBeachBSB owns island bragging rights for the next year. Stay tuned for more! #ALHSBaseball @PBR_Alabama #ALSouth pic.twitter.com/YUOI1PvpI5

— Gulf Coast Media Sports (@GCMSportsAL) February 24, 2024

Hoyle had plenty more words to describe Carter’s impact on the program during his time as a Mako. While Hoyle assumed head coaching duties this season, he served as an assistant coach the previous two years.

“When you look at a seasoned vet like that, a senior who has been here the whole time; he’s been in some fights, he ran out there as a ninth grader and learned trial by fire and I think that’s kind of brought him to this point,” Hoyle said. “He’s a great player but he’s an even better person. He’s such a great kid, he’s a leader and he does everything the right way so giving him the ball today was a no-brainer.”

Makos claim pitchers’ duel

Carter’s counterpart on the mound, Meridian College commit Connor Gehr, certainly factored into Hoyle’s decision on who to start but he had faith the Orange Beach hitters would fall back on their training.

“Connor Gehr is Connor Gehr. He requires no introduction so we kind of knew what we had on our plate today and the kids went with the game plan and the approach and executed it,” Hoyle said. “We knew it was going to be low scoring but it kind of played into our hand because we feel really good about where we are defensively.”

Bragging rights, revenge secured

That created the formula that the Orange Beach Makos used to not only secure their first win over the Gulf Shores Dolphins but also even the all-time series after last year’s 10-0 decision in favor of Gulf Shores.

“It was such a mental thing for our guys going over there last year and kind of getting embarrassed,” Hoyle said. “It felt like the game got really fast last year so that was kind of the message this year, ‘We’ve got a good club and we’re going to go out there and go toe-to-toe with them. And win, lose or draw, I bet you they’re going to respect you when it’s all said and done for how you played the game.’”

Mutual respect shared in the face of tough times

The respect was mutual between Hoyle’s familial connections to Dolphin head coach Chris Jacks but also as one Island community that shared grief following a death in the Gulf Shores community.

“All the kids know each other and I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Chris, we’re cousins so I love that guy and he does a great job over there,” Hoyle said. “And we’re praying for them. (Gulf Shores is) going through a lot today, they’ve had a little tragedy in their family so I told him, ‘We can move this,’ and they wanted to play so hats off to those guys.”

Money quotes

“I think it’s safe to say baseball is alive and well on the island,” Hoyle said.

“I’ll probably put this in a case, I might get my teammates to sign it and have this piece forever,” Carter said of the baseball that recorded the final out of his no-hitter. “I’ll remember this one for the rest of my life for sure.”