Abernathy is recovering from surgery on his throwing arm after injuring it against Shoals Christian in the first game of the Class 1A state quarterfinals last month. He went 10-0 with a pair of saves and a 0.99 ERA last season in 62 2/3 innings. Abernathy gave up 18 runs (7 earned) on 29 hits with 14 walks and 78 strikeouts.
Mintz was almost equally as effective for the Tigers (25-14). He was 6-2 with a save in 53 1/3 innings. Mintz gave up 16 runs (10 earned) on 22 hits with 11 walks and 70 strikeouts. He had a shutout to his credit and a 1.68 ERA.
******
Former Cherokee County High School and current Jacksonville State two-sport standout Coty Blanchard will be joining the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League as they prepare for their season opener on June 14 against Yarmouth-Dennis.
The Commodores have a 44-game regular season that concludes play on August 7. Playoffs for the 10-team league begin on August 9.
The Cape Cod League attracts top college baseball talent and is considered one of the leading amateur leagues in the country.
JSU baseball coach Jim Case helped get Blanchard selected to play in the league. He is the latest Gamecock to play in Cape Cod during the summer, joining former Gamecock and Atlanta Braves draft pick Todd Cunningham and former Gamecock first baseman Ben Waldrip.
Blanchard batted .230 for the Gamecocks (28-30) last season. He had seven doubles, two triples, a home run, 22 walks, five stolen bases, 32 runs scored and 13 RBIs.
Prior to signing with Jacksonville State to play football and baseball, Blanchard was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles at pick number 1228 in the 41st round in the 2010 Amateur Draft.
******
The Spring Garden baseball team will be hosting its fifth annual Summer Slam June 22-23. Teams playing include the newly formed Clay Central (formerly Lineville and Clay County), Saks, Hokes Bluff, Gaylesville and Gaston.
Teams will be divided into two pools for play on Friday, June 22. Pool A consists of Clay Central, Gaston and Gaylesville. Those teams will face each other at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Pool B will be Spring Garden, Saks and Hokes Bluff. Those teams will play each other at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
From pool play, teams will be seeded and play in a single-elimination tournament on Saturday, June 22.
Spring Garden will also host Springville and Collinsville in other summer dates, in addition to traveling to Clay Central, Gaylesville, Ohatchee and Sand Rock in the seven playing dates allowed by the Alabama High School Athletic Association during the summer. The AHSAA has voted to reduce summer playing dates to four starting in 2013.
******
The Class 1A, Area 14 softball coaches have released their All-Area tournament and season teams.
The Area Tournament Team is led by Spring Garden senior outfielder Jordan Sides, who was selected as Most Valuable Player. Joining Sides from Spring Garden is Heather Smart, Jessica Smart, Ivy Franklin and Hayden Bates.
Area runner-up Cedar Bluff is represented by senior outfielder Suzie Quarles, sophomore shortstop Katie McGinnis, freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Kilgro and eighth-grade catcher Destinie Grace.
Representing Collinsville is Summer Roberts, Christy Cox and Trista Duque. Gaylesville has two representatives in Katlin Hammett and Courtney Wheeling. Megan Higdon was selected from Valley Head.
Spring Garden also had five selections on the All-Area Season Team. Zonna Forrister, joins Sides, Bates and the Smart sisters. Quarles, McGinnis and Paige Bryant represent Cedar Bluff. Roberts, Cox and Duque were selected from Collinsville. Hammett and Wheeling represent Gaylesville. Higdon was selected from Valley Head.
******
The Collinsville High School football team will host a bass fishing tournament on Saturday at Big Oak Campground in Cedar Bluff from daylight until 3 p.m. The entry fee is $25 per person. The winner receives $1,000, with others earning door prizes.
For more information, call Aaron McGarvey at (256) 630-6072.
Post a Comment