Valley Cubs celebrate signings

Cubs’ battery, golfer sign for college; county softball tournament starts early today; baseball, softball polls

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

Derrik Turner and Justin Whitley have been buddies and battery mates since the third grade. They often talked about how neat it would be if they could play together all the way through college.

They’re going separate ways after high school, but the two Alexandria baseball seniors got the next best thing Wednesday. They got the experience of at least signing together on the same day.

Turner signed to play at Marion Military Institute and Whitley reenacted his signing with Montevallo in ceremonies attended by family, friends and teammates at the school gym. Senior golfer Jordan Gregoria was also part of the celebration, signing to play golf at Jacksonville State.

“Me and Justin have been playing baseball together since I moved from Oxford in the third grade,” Turner said. “Since we were little we always talked about going to the same college and playing college baseball with each other, and even though it didn’t happen, us signing makes me feel like we got our goals done together.”

Turner, the Valley Cubs catcher, joins a number of area players signing at MMI in this recruiting class. At Montevallo, pitcher Whitley will be reunited with former Alexandria catcher Jake Whiting.

Turner only recently accepted his offer to Marion. Whitley sent his paperwork to Montevallo earlier in the school year.

Gregoria’s signing comes four days after she helped the Valley Cubs win another Calhoun County girls golf championship. She also had been considering Montevallo, but ultimately chose the Gamecocks for the opportunity to play and stay close to home.

She will be at least the third player from the county to play for JSU, joining Ashley Cox (Oxford) and current player Erin Gunnels (Piedmont).

“It was exciting to be able to sign to take my sport to the next level,” Gregoria said. “When I first started I didn’t ever think about. I knew there was the possibility of someone going out there to play, but I never thought I’d be here. Then as the years went on and I was able to progress, I knew I could do it.”

SOFTBALL: County Tournament resumes early

The Calhoun County Softball Tournament at Oxford Lane resumes Thursday at 1 p.m. – a little earlier than originally scheduled — with the aim of getting five rounds completed in hopes of beating the rain.

If all goes according to that plan, at the end of the night there will be one undefeated team and as many as two one-loss teams remaining.

Admission for the day is $10 regardless of the number of games planned to see. Admission for Friday night’s championship round and ‘if’ games is $5.

If the games are unable to be played Friday, they will be moved to the same time Saturday. In the event the tournament is washed out after Thursday’s games are complete, the undefeated team will be declared champion, the team it beat in the winner’s bracket final will be the runner-up and the loser’s bracket winner will be third.

Alexandria, Oxford and Piedmont moved into the Final Four of the winner’s bracket Tuesday night. Top-seeded White Plains plays its first game at 1 p.m. against Saks.

Here is the Thursday schedule with field in parenthesis:

Winner’s Bracket
Game 8: No. 1 White Plains vs. No. 9 Saks, 1 p.m. (A)
Game 16: White Plains-Saks winner vs. No. 5 Piedmont, 2:30 p.m. (A)
Game 15: No. 2 Alexandria vs. No. 3 Oxford, 2:30 p.m. (B)
Game 21: Game 16 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 5:30 p.m. (B)

Loser’s Bracket
Game 10: Anniston vs. JCA, 1 p.m. (D)
Game 14: Ohatchee vs. Game 10 winner, 2:30 p.m. (C)
Game 11: Jacksonville vs. Pleasant Valley, 1 p.m. (B)
Game 12: Weaver vs. Game 8 loser, 2:30 p.m. (D)
Game 13: Faith Christian vs. Wellborn, 1 p.m. (C)
Game 17: Game 14 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 4 p.m. (C)
Game 18: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 4 p.m. (D)
Game 19: Game 16 loser vs. Game 17 winner, 5:30 p.m. (C)
Game 20: Game 18 winner vs. Game 15 loser, 5:30 p.m. (D)
Game 22: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 7 p.m. (D)
Game 23: Game 21 loser vs. Game 22 winner, 8:30 p.m. (B)

POLLS: Four County teams make final polls

Alexandria goes into its Class 5A playoff series with Springville ranked No. 3 in the final regular-season prep baseball poll released Wednesday night. Potential second-round opponent Mortimer Jordan is ranked No. 7.

Piedmont was nominated for the 3A poll.

On softball side, Alexandria is No. 6 in Class 5A, White Plains is No. 5 in 4 4A, and Pleasant Valley is No. 8 in 3A.

Wellborn was nominated for the 3A poll and Cleburne County was nominated for the 4A poll.

The complete final regular-season poll is listed below.

ASWA BASEBALL RANKINGS
CLASS 7A
1. Vestavia Hills (20-11)
2. Mountain Brook (27-4)
3. Thompson (28-12)
4. Auburn (24-8)
5. Spain Park (18-11)
6. Hoover (25-12)
7. Theodore (26-5)
8. Hewitt-Trussville (15-6)
9. Central-Phenix City (25-9)
10. Baker (18-9)
Others nominated: James Clemens (19-12), Grissom (20-11), Huntsville (20-12), Sparkman (17-14).

CLASS 6A
1. Cullman (35-9)
2. Pelham (21-9)
3. Spanish Fort (25-8)
4. Opelika (25-10)
5. Briarwood Christian (20-6)
6. Hartselle (25-19)
7. Homewood (24-7)
8. Southside-Gadsden (20-9)
9. Saraland (25-11)
10. Dothan (23-15)
Others nominated: Gardendale (25-9), Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (25-11), Northridge (22-12), Northview (19-14), Pinson Valley (26-12), Walker (22-8).

CLASS 5A
1. Charles Henderson (31-2)
2. St. Paul’s (33-2)
3. Alexandria (27-3)
4. Tallassee (26-6)
5. Etowah (25-10)
6. Russellville (22-6)
7. Mortimer Jordan (29-9)
8. Corner (28-12)
9. Pleasant Grove (23-12)
10. Rehobeth (19-10)
Others nominated: Ardmore (19-8), Faith Academy (16-12), Jemison (23-12), Helena (18-15), Madison County (23-10), Randolph (18-5).

CLASS 4A
1. UMS-Wright (26-5)
2. Oneonta (22-4)
3. St. James (21-9)
4. Trinity (21-9)
5. Handley (29-2)
6. Thomasville (20-11)
7. Headland (23-8)
8. Brooks (23-10)
9. Haleyville (18-7)
10. Sipsey Valley (16-10)
Others nominated: Bibb County (18-16), Cordova (24-7), Hokes Bluff (15-6), Holtville (24-14), North Jackson (16-7).

CLASS 3A
1. Hale County (25-2)
2. Madison Academy (19-11)
3. T.R. Miller (19-2)
4. Plainview (21-2)
5. Colbert County (24-5)
6. Hanceville (21-6)
7. Bayside Academy (28-4)
8. Gordo (22-2)
9. Slocomb (16-11)
10. Lauderdale County (21-12)
Others nominated: Colbert Heights (20-6), Cottage Hill (28-10), Geneva (17-5), Piedmont (17-8), Winfield (23-12).

CLASS 2A
1. Luverne (20-2)
2. G.W. Long (25-9)
3. Mobile Christian (16-10)
4. Thorsby (20-3)
5. St. Luke’s (18-9)
6. Houston Academy (17-11)
7. Phil Campbell (23-9)
8. Hatton (13-16)
9. Falkville (21-9)
10. Mars Hill Bible (13-12)
Others nominated: Ariton (16-6), Highland Home (13-4), New Brocton (16-6), Randolph County (16-7), Washington County (15-6).

CLASS 1A
1. Verbena (13-2)
2. Cedar Bluff (18-9)
3. Decatur Heritage (11-11)
4. Billingsley (15-7)
5. J.U. Blacksher (19-6)
6. Maplesville (13-5)
7. Shoals Christian (13-16)
8. Millry (18-12)
9. Lynn (13-3)
10. Hackleburg (18-7)
Others nominated: Athens Bible (7-7), Brantley (7-16), Marion County (13-9), Shades Mountain Christian (10-12).

AISA
1. Marengo Academy (22-4-1)
2. Edgewood Academy (27-6)
3. Monroe Academy (29-7)
4. Glenwood (31-3)
5. Springwood (18-5)
6. Macon-East (30-8)
7. Autauga Academy (27-7)
8. Northside Methodist (34-11-1)
9. Clarke Prep (16-10)
10. Bessemer Academy (12-10)
Others nominated: Abbeville Christian (16-14), Hooper Academy (18-18-1), Kingwood Christian (20-9-2), Lowndes Academy (13-14).

ASWA SOFTBALL RANKINGS
CLASS 7A
1. Sparkman (27-8)
2. Spain Park (25-5-2)
3. Hewitt-Trussville (27-6)
4. Central-Phenix City (27-8-4)
5. Baker (33-6-1)
6. Huntsville (18-10)
7. Thompson (23-11)
8. Buckhorn (22-6)
9. James Clemens (21-7-2)
10. Tuscaloosa County (12-10)
Others nominated: Enterprise (12-13), Mary Montgomery (18-15-1), Prattville (20-6), Vestavia Hills (16-11-1).

CLASS 6A
1. Southside-Gadsden (27-2)
2. Hartselle (29-5)
3. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (23-7)
4. Daphne (31-6-1)
5. Dothan (35-5-1)
6. Saraland (26-6)
7. Wetumpka (27-6-1)
8. Cullman (20-10)
9. Florence (18-2-1)
10. Pell City (28-8)
Others nominated: Arab (15-7), Athens (15-9), Chelsea (13-9), Muscle Shoals (14-7), Robertsdale (23-16-1), Valley (17-9).

CLASS 5A
1. Hayden (23-5)
2. Rehobeth (30-5-1)
3. Alabama Christian (25-8-2)
4. Springville (24-7)
5. Etowah (24-7)
6. Alexandria (23-12-1)
7. Corner (13-6)
8. Beauregard (18-10)
9. Marbury (19-9)
10. Calera (17-7)
Others nominated: East Limestone (19-10), Eufaula (18-13), Lawrence County (14-11), Mortimer Jordan (10-15).

CLASS 4A
1. Curry (30-3)
2. Westminster Christian (27-5)
3. Northside (27-7)
4. Cordova (19-11)
5. White Plains (22-5-1)
6. LAMP (27-4)
7. Headland (23-7)
8. West Blocton (19-13)
9. Handley (13-9-1)
10. Leeds (17-11)
Others nominated: Bibb County (9-6), Clarke County (19-6), Cleburne County (22-7), Danville (12-10-1), Rogers (16-8), Wilson (16-7).

CLASS 3A
1. Hale County (20-9)
2. Oakman (23-8)
3. Pisgah (23-6)
4. Colbert Heights (23-3)
5. Prattville Christian (27-9)
6. West Morgan (16-8)
7. American Christian (19-6)
8. Pleasant Valley (16-13)
9. Slocomb (21-7)
10. Glencoe (20-5-1)
Others nominated: Brindlee Mountain (11-1), Geneva (19-12-1), Lexington (13-9), Opp (16-10-1), Wellborn (15-6).

CLASS 2A
1. Sumiton Christian (28-9)
2. Hatton (21-6)
3. Mobile Christian (11-15)
4. Leroy (27-6)
5. Ider (26-8)
6. Ariton (19-13)
7. G.W. Long (18-6)
8. Section (7-9-1)
9. Fayetteville (16-5)
10. Falkville (16-13)
Others nominated: Addison (17-10-1), Cold Springs (10-6-2), Collinsville (15-10-1), Fyffe (11-8), Horseshoe Bend (17-12), Mars Hill Bible (14-8-1).

CLASS 1A
1. Ragland (12-5)
2. Brantley (16-9)
3. Athens Bible (12-7-1)
4. South Lamar (18-6)
5. Spring Garden (11-7)
6. Pleasant Home (10-7)
7. Marion County (19-6)
8. Berry (12-14-1)
9. Lynn (13-10)
10. Kinston (10-17)
Others nominated: Cedar Bluff (8-8), Decatur Heritage (6-11), Hackleburg (12-12).

AISA
1. Macon-East (41-4)
2. Glenwood (30-8-1)
3. Pike Liberal Arts (26-9)
4. Morgan Academy (22-6-2)
5. Marengo Academy (15-5-2)
6. Patrician Academy (18-2-1)
7. Abbeville Christian (23-10)
8. Lakeside (11-12)
9. Bessemer Academy (16-5)
10. Tuscaloosa Academy (20-8)
Others nominated: Clarke Prep (13-11), Edgewood (14-16), Lee-Scott (10-9), Northside Methodist (15-10-2).

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