Oxford, AL – Alexandria’s 2024 glories continue as Goode takes first, Henegar seconds in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ second annual home run derby.
By Joe Medley
Fellowship of Christian Athletes organizers don’t try to make sure state champions rule in the group’s annual home run derby. It’s just work out that way.
Fresh off of helping Alexandria win a Class 5A state title, the first state baseball title in school history, Bray Goode took first place, and Valley Cubs teammate Samuel Henegar was runner up in Monday’s second annual FCA home run derby at Choccolocco Park.
This comes a year after Oxford’s Carter Johnson won and fellow Yellow Jacket Hudson Gilman took second place in the inaugural FCA home run derby. Oxford won that Class 6A state title,the second in program history, in 2023.
Johnson, in California for a Major League Baseball talent combine ahead of next month’s draft, didn’t return to defend his title. Gilman, still recovering from a hand injury, attended Monday’s derby but did not participate.
It came down to two heroes from Alexandria’s state-title run, which pleased both participants.
“It was pretty cool,” Henegar said. “It just shows how talented we were and having such quality hitters.”
The derby had three rounds, and each participate had three minutes at the plate to hack away with his chose pitcher. Pitchers included Ranburne coach and former New York Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley.
Of 13 participants, six hit at least one home run to advance to the second round. Goode hit six in the first round and played derby strategy like a champ.
Goode batted last in the second round and stopped as soon as he matched Henegar’s three second-round homers to reach the final.
“I was trying not to wear myself out,” Goode said. “I kind of did that in the first round, doing a little too much, so I was going to stop right here and save energy for the last round.”
Henegar batted first and hit one home run in the final round. Goode needed two to win and got it done in three pitches.
His victory finished off what he called “a great spring.”
“It was awesome to see it come down to two Alexandria guys, battling it out to the end” said Goode, one of the Valley Cubs’ few returning players after they lost 15 seniors. “It was cool.”
Derby statistics
FIRST ROUND
Name, school, home runs
–Drake Loggins, Jacksonville 0
–Ashton Wallace, White Plains 1
–Kai Clecker, Donoho 1
–Samuel Henegar, Alexandria 2
–Tyler Rucker, Saks 0
–Reid Maniscalco, Oxford 4
–Alex Whitt, Ranburne 0
–Jacori Avery, Saks 0
–Luke Richardson, White Plains 0
–Marcus Lawler, Donoho 3
–Kingston Peeler, Jacksonville 0
–Bray Goode, Alexandria 6
–Canaan Whitman, Oxford 0
SECOND ROUND
–Ashton Wallace, White Plains 1
–Kai Cleckler, Donoho 1
–Samuel Henegar, Alexandria 3
–Reid Maniscalco, Oxford 0
–Marcus Lawler, Donoho 2
–Bray Goode, Alexandria 3
FINALS
Samuel Henegar vs. Bray Goode, Alexandria
–Samuel Henegar, Alexandria 1
–Bray Goode, Alexandria 2
Goode wins
Photo gallery by Joe Medley
