Monsters mash
- Updated: May 31, 2025
With Kirk, Watts, Brooks and Brunner helping out, shorthanded Choccolocco Monsters open Sunbelt League season by splitting doubleheader with Alpharetta.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — The Choccolocco Monsters ended the 2024 season by winning a Sunbelt League championship shorthanded, and they split their 2025 season-opening doubleheader shorthanded.
Playing with 12 players, with quite a few more to arrive next week, the Monsters opened with an 8-3 victory over the Alpharetta Aviators then lost the nightcap 10-7.
The reigning Sunbelt champs opened 1-1, and the best news? By next week, the Choccolocco Park public address will be calling all the Monsters.
“We were missing a lot,” said Monsters’ coach Ricky Ray Clayton, who was recently named Westbrook Christian School’s head coach. “We were pretty hand-tied.
“That’s OK. We’ll move forward, and we’ll start getting more guys in when they get done playing (their college seasons). The roster really starts filling in and gives you more depth, especially on the mound.”
Among the missing was Wichita State infielder Melvin Blocker.
“A couple of pitchers weren’t here, a couple of UAB guys,” Clayton said. “It’s all around right now. Some people are out of town, and some people are still playing.
“It’s all kind of outliers right there. Hopefully, will be getting everybody in soon.”
Among those who played Saturday was first baseman Weston Kirk, the former Spring Garden High standout who played for Spring Hill College in 2025. He’s played all three seasons in which the Monsters played their home games in Oxford.
Shortstop Peyton Watts (Troy) and center fielder R.J. Brooks (Northwest Shoals Community College), who starred on Oxford’s 2023 Class 6A state championship team, played Friday. So did catcher Aiden Brunner, a key player in Alexandria’s Class 5A state title run of 2024 who is in transfer portal after playing a year at the University of Charleston.
Brooks is natural to play for the Monsters. His dad is the team’s general manager, Roby Brooks.
The younger Brooks played for his dad at Top Gun Athletic, which Roby owns, and gets to play under his leadership again, as a college player.
“It’s a dream come true,” R.J. Brooks said. “There are so many people out there that are like, ‘Man, I don’t want my dad to coach me. I don’t want him always being on me.’
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to know your father is going to come through for you in the toughest times and in the not-so-tough times. If they’re getting on your butt, it’s just wanting the best for you.”
Watts said he’s using the summer to work on his game and enjoyed playing on Choccolocco Park’s Signature Field for the first time since high school. The field also serves as Oxford High’s home field.
“It feels great,” he said. “I haven’t been here in awhile. When I got done with summer ball last year, I actually came back and watched a couple of games, but I never got to be back on it.
“Now, being back on it, it feels like home. THere’s something about it.”
Brunner, who’s day Saturday included gunning down a runner attempting to steal at second base in the second game, hopes to help his cause in finding his next college destination.
“Honestly, I just want to get better at the plate and see a bunch of at bats,” he said. “Just getting a lot of reps and improving from what I learned in spring.”
Too, it’s nice playing playing with family in the stands.
“Being away from home 10 months out of the year, I really just want to be closer to home,” he said. “I like the environment here. I kind of grew up playing here, so it’s always been really fun.”
Photo gallery by Joe Medley
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