Calhoun County, AL – Defending champion Oxford draws the top seed, Alexandria No. 2 and Piedmont No. 3. Tourney starts Friday, will play out at Choccolocco Park.
By Joe Medley
New coach, same consideration for Oxford baseball headed into the Calhoun County tournament.
County coaches unanimously voted the defending champion Yellow Jackets as the No. 1 seed headed into the county tournament, which starts Friday. Alexandria is No. 2 and Piedmont No. 3.
The tournament will play out at Choccolocco Park, including the championship game, which is March 5 at 7 p.m. on the signature field.
This year’s county tournament will mark Oxford’s first under new head coach Travis Janssen, who took over after Wes Brooks ended his 19-year run to move into administration.
Under Janssen, the former Austin Peay State University head coach and Jacksonville State assistant, Oxford is 4-1. The defending Class 6A state champion has beaten Vestavia Hills twice, Helena and Hoover.
“We’re off to a good start with starting pitching,” Janssen said. “R.J. Brooks has thrown well a couple of times. Nick Richardson has been competitive a couple of times.
“Our first thought goes to, we’re a little bit thin on the mound right now, and the guys that have thrown have done a really good job.”
Alexandria, the 2023 runner up, is 4-3 with a senior-laden team, but its veteran pitching staff will miss Andrew Allen in the county tournament. The Arkansas State signee is expected to be out two to four weeks with a knee injury.
Second-year Alexandria coach Zac Welch sees “a real deep” field in the county tournament.
“Everybody’s real anxious to get out there and see how we stack up against all the teams in the county,” Welch said. “It’s always a good time of year, this county tournament.”
Piedmont is 2-1. The Bulldogs opened with a shutout loss to Guntersville but scored 10 runs in each of its wins, against White Plains and Sardis.
With the victory over Sardis on Saturday, Piedmont secured its 200th victory under head coach Matt Deerman.
“I’ve had some really great players and really great assistant coaches to help us along the way,” Deerman said. “I’ve been blessed to be here. I couldn’t do it without all of those great players and coaches.”
Tickets are $12, which includes a $2 parking fee.
This story will be updated.
Seeds
(Overall record, vs. county)
1. Oxford (4-1, 0-0)
2. Alexandria (4-3, 0-0)
3. Piedmont (2-1, 1-0)
4. Jacksonville (3-3, 0-0)
5. Pleasant Valley (2-1, 2-1)
6. Donoho (0-0, 0-0)
7. Ohatchee (2-1, 2-1)
8. White Plains (3-4, 1-2)
9. Wellborn (2-3, 1-0)
10. Faith Christian (1-2, 1-1)
11. Jacksonville Christian (1-2, 1-1)
12. Weaver (0-0, 0-0)
13. Saks (0-2, 0-2)
14. Anniston (0-3, 0-2)
Pairings
(All games at Choccolocco Park)
Friday, March 1
No. 12 Weaver vs. No. 13 Saks, 4:30 p.m.
No. 11 Jacksonville Christian vs. No. 14 Anniston, 4:30 p.m.
No. 7 Ohatchee vs. No. 10 Faith Christian, 4:30 p.m.
No. 8 White Plains vs. No. 9 Wellborn, 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Pleasant Valley vs. Weaver/Saks, 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Donoho vs. JCA/Anniston, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 2
No. 1 Oxford vs. White Plains/Wellborn, 4 p.m.
No. 4 Jacksonville vs. PV/Weaver/Saks, 10 a.m.
No. 2 Alexandria vs. Ohatchee/Faith, noon
No. 3 Piedmont vs. Donoho/JCA/Anniston, 2 p.m.
Monday, March 4
Semifinals, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5
Championship, 7 p.m.
