Hive mentality
- Updated: November 10, 2023
Oxford’s state-championship baseball team produces three more signees, bringing the total to eight with three more Yellow Jackets committed.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — The list of Oxford state baseball champions turned college signees keeps growing.
Three made it official Friday, with rising seniors Carter Johnson (Alabama), R.J. Brooks (Jacksonville State) and Forrest Heacock (Snead State Community College) participating in a ceremony to mark their signings in the school’s media center.
With Friday’s signings, Oxford’s 2023 Class 6A state championship team has produced eight. Five signed this time a year ago: Sam Robertson (Auburn), Peyton Watts (Troy), Drew McCormick (Jacksonville State), Hayes Harrison (Northwest Shoals Community College) and Jackson Crow (East Mississippi Community College).
Three more members of that team have committed: Eli Bozeman and Hudson Gilman (Jacksonville State) and Nick Richardson (South Alabama).
Oxford finished the 2023 season with its second Class 6A state title, tying a school record with 39 wins. The Yellow Jackets won their final 19 games, including all 10 playoff games.
The 2023 team will receive its state-championship rings tonight, prior to kickoff of Oxford’s football playoff game against Athens on Lamar Field. They celebrated their signings Friday with parents, newly hired Oxford head baseball coach Travis Jansen and recent-former Oxford coach Wes Brooks, who moved into administration.
“I’ll say his, guys,” long-time Oxford athletics director Larry Davidson said as he turned to the school’s three signees Friday. “You’re still an Oxford Yellow Jacket. You’re not wherever yet, and we’re expecting big things out of you down the way.
“Two things you’ll always be. You’ll always be an Oxford Yellow Jacket, and you’ll always be a state champion.”
Brooks looks forward to playing is college career on the same field where he pitched the final out of May’s state-final series against Spanish Fort. His excitement on the mound made for an iconic picture that was part of his memorabilia display at Friday’s signing ceremony.
He becomes the latest Gamecock in his family. His dad, Roby Brooks, and uncle, Wes Brooks, played for Jax State under Rudy Abbott. R.J. Brooks will play under first-year Jax State head coach Steve Bieser.
“It’s going to be a huge class,” R.J. Brooks said. “At one point, there were 11 of us. I think there’s 10 now, but it’s a huge class, and I just want to be a part of it.”
Johnson chose Alabama over several college offers and will have Major League Baseball draft possibilities in June. Scouts have scheduled visits to the Johnson house starting next week.
This after he was one of 40 players selected for a 18U Team USA training camp roster over the summer, which he called “the coolest experience of my life.”
“Honestly, I’m not think much about it right now,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to get better every day and see what happens.
“I’m just looking forward to playing anywhere, period. I just want to play ball.”
Heacock will join Calhoun County products Jack Hayes, Max Hanson and McClane Mohon, all from Piedmont, at Snead State. Heacock, who moved to Oxford from Helena, called it an honor to be among the latest Yellow Jackets to sign.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “It’s a great place to be. It’s a very fun program to be at.”
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