All’s Welch
- Updated: February 18, 2023
New era for Alexandria baseball starts with a victory as Valley Cubs beat Haralson County (Ga.); Oxford downs Bob Jones, Hoover
By East Alabama Sports Today
TALLAPOOSA, Ga. — The Zac Welch era of Alexandria baseball is off to a winning start.
Brodie Slaton went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, and three Valley Cubs pitchers spread out five hits over seven innings in a 4-2 victory at Haralson County (Ga.) on Saturday.
Welch, a long-time assistant coach and former Alexandria standout in baseball and football, took over as head baseball coach when Andy Shaw retired in Alabama and joined two other former Alexandria coaches, Frank Tucker and Jason Johnson, in various capacities at Haralson County.
Brayden Thacker got the start Saturday and allowed one hit with four strikeouts over three innings. Andrew Allen pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts.
Alexandria will play Jacksonville at home on Tuesday.
Alexandria 200 101 0 – 4 7 1
Haralson County 000 101 0 – 2 5 1
WP: Andrew Allen. LP: Whiddon. 2B: none. 3B: Ty Brown (Alexandria). HR: none.
Oxford wins two
At Hoover, Oxford rebounded from a Friday loss to Hartselle on opening day to beat Bob Jones 8-2 and Hoover 5-3 in the PBR Kickoff Classic on Saturday.
Carter Johnson doubled and drove in three runs against Bob Jones, and Roby Brooks tripled and drove in a run.
Reigning Class 4A-6A All-Calhoun County player of the year Hayes Harrison pitched the first five innings, spreading out four hits with one earned run, no walks and four strikeouts.
Against Hoover, Hudson Gilman had two hits and an RBI. Harrison and Sam Robertson had the other two RBIs.
Peyton Watts, Gilman and Eli Bozeman combined to limit Hoover to three runs on nine hits. Watts struck out five batters in four innings, and Bozeman fanned three over the last two innings.
Bob Jones 000 011 0 – 2 6 4
Oxford 200 132 x – 8 8 1
WP: Casey Phillips. LP: H. Willis. 2B: McCormick (O), Johnson (O). 3B: Brooks (O). HR: none.
Oxford 005 000 0 – 5 4 0
Hoover 011 010 0 – 3 9 4
WP: Gilman. 2B: none. 3B: none. HR: none.
Ragland rolls
RAGLAND 13, WINTERBORO 0: A six-run top of the fifth helped Ragland make short work of Winterboro.
Ezra Hill doubled and drove in two runs for the Purple Devils. Casey Phillips and Jaggar Cox combined to throw a two-hitter, with Phillips striking out nine batters in a four-inning start.
David Donaldson and Jabari Thomas had two hits apiece for Ragland.
Ragland 340 06 – 13 9 1
Winterboro 000 00 – 0 2 1
WP: Casey Phillips. LP: H. Willis. 2B: Ezra Hill (R). 3B: none. HR: none.
Cover photo: Alexandria coach Zac Welch got a win in his first game as the Valley Cubs’ head baseball coach Saturday at Haralson County (Ga.). (Submitted photo)
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