Calhoun County, AL – The defending champion Oxford named the top seed Alexandria No. 2; contingencies outlined to deal with weather issues that could occur Date, time and location for the final
The Editor’s Note: Tickets for the Calhoun County baseball tournament are $5 per day, and can be purchased exclusively on GoFan.
By Joe Medley
The only question that remains after Sunday’s seeding session in the Calhoun County baseball tournament is which seed Mother Nature be claiming? The coaches voted for the defending champion. Oxford (4-1) as the top seed, and 2022’s runners-up Alexandria (3-2) to be the No. 2. The two names bring back memories of their memorable county final last year. In the final three seeds are No. 3. Piedmont (1-0), No. 4 Jacksonville (0-4), No. 5 Ohatchee (2-2) No. 6 Donoho (0-0), No. 7 Pleasant Valley (1-1), No. 8 White Plains (1-2), No. 9 Jacksonville Christian (1-1-1), No. 10 Saks (1-2), No. 11 Weaver (0-1) No. 12 Wellborn (3-0) No. 13 Faith Christian (2-1) and No. 14 Anniston (0-4).
The tournament is set to begin on Friday at Choccolocco Park, but forecasts are for severe weather on Thursday night, and thunderstorms through Friday. If rain is forecast for Friday, the schedule will be moved a day ahead, Wellborn principal Andy Carpenter explained. This means that Friday’s games will move to Saturday, and Saturday’s games will be moved to Monday, and the cycle continues. The day of the tournament, Thursday, March 9 was the earliest available date time for the Jacksonville State University’s Rudy Abbott Field, site of the championship game providing the possibility of two consecutive days between the scheduled semifinals and the championship game. Given the possibility that rain could affect JSU’s baseball schedules, contingencies were put in place to possibly shift tournament games in Choccolocco Park and play it earlier than Tuesday.
After the teams for the championship are chosen Principals and coaches from both schools will get together and make a decision. “It’s thrilling, and I’m hoping to have good temperatures,” Oxford coach Wes Brooks stated. “We’ve had two days planned as well as two locations should something go wrong and two days rain out.” Regarding the seedings, there weren’t any surprises. Brooks is the sole coach to nominate an additional team in addition to Oxford to be the top seeded and placed Alexandria in consideration. Oxford was the winner. “If I were voting on behalf of Oxford, I’d choose to vote the top choice,” Brooks said. “Voting isn’t easy, since it’s still early the county has so much talent, I believe you have six teams which (could create a buzz). )… “You just sit back and stare at Alexandria, Donoho, Jacksonville, Ohatchee, Piedmont, these are all schools that have a chance to play in the semifinals Monday.”
Being able to have Alexandria as the number. 2 seed, it raises chances of replay of the final from last year’s. Oxford defeated Alexandria 3-2 thanks to Hudson Gilman’s walk-off, one-out double at on the line of third base. The hit ended Alexandria the pitcher’s no-hitter Andrew Allen. Allen was at his pitch limit and Gilman was scheduled to be his final batter. As a junior, Allen is back and continues to hold the position of Alexandria’s No. 1 pitcher. Gilman is an incoming sophomore catcher at Oxford. Allen “is looking good,” first-year Alexandria head coach Zac Welch said. “He’s growing. He’s finally a junior which means he’s at the point where he’s expected to complete his uniform. And he’s getting there.” Read more… Continue reading…]
FCA home run derby
Prior to Sunday’s vote on seeding, Justin Caudle, campus missionary for the Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne and Randolph County chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, announced plans for an FCA home-run derby featuring students from schools in Calhoun County. The game is scheduled for on May 22, at Donoho in the new lighting at the Donoho stadium. The date is yet to be decided.
Caudle urged every club within Calhoun County to send its top two home-run hitters allow them to play on Donoho’s small porches. The idea is reminiscent of an initiative that was initiated with FCA employee Ricky Bowen in Jasper last year. “It was simply a way of letting the youngsters to enjoy themselves,” Caudle said. “Everybody loves home run derbies. Everyone is a fan of the Major League Baseball’s home-run derby. “It’s an opportunity to put their name in the world and also to have fun and hit a few homes runs.”
The derby will conclude with the event with a brief devotion, Caudle said. Because the FCA uses the event to raise funds the admission fee is a donation. Trophies will be given to the winner and the runner up.
