Hugs all around
- Updated: April 30, 2016
Dodd shuts down Mortimer Jordan with 13 strikeouts to complete Valley Cubs’ sweep, No. 1 Russellville next
Alexandria pitcher Cody Dodd (R) gives/gets one last hug from his father Jimmy after pitching the Valley Cubs to a series sweep of Mortimer Jordan Saturday.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
The hardest thing for Cody Dodd to do Saturday was give hugs to everybody on his way around Alexandria’s victory lap.
The senior right-hander gave another strong pitching performance, scattering six hits and striking out 13 as the Valley Cubs beat Mortimer Jordan 8-1 to sweep their best-of-three Class 5A playoff series.
When the game was over the Cubs took to their traditional home post-game celebration of running along the warning track and greeting every fan they could the other side of the wall. Typically the pitchers are the last in line, but Dodd prolonged the proceedings by stopping to give or accept a hug from everyone he encountered.
“He’s a hugger,” was a popular refrain.
Dodd was still around the third-base dugout as his teammates started to collect in right field for their post-game huddle. When he saw the group gathering he bolted across the infield to join it as the fans behind the screen around home plate beckoned for their ace to come over.
He needed to join his teammates, but yelled in their direction that he would be there in a moment. As all that was going on Cubs coach Andy Shaw was fine with waiting, giving his senior right-hander his moment.
“I’ve gotten more hugs than I ever got in my life,” Dodd said. “In the moment you just feel like you need to give one. I felt the need to give them today.”
Dodd certainly hugged the strike zone all day. He struck out the side in the first inning and fanned six of the first nine Blue Devils he faced. He struck out at least two in five separate innings.
“I just went out there and threw like I was supposed to,” he said. “The defense played behind me. I was just making my pitches and hitting my spots, like I usually do.”
The Valley Cubs now travel to Russellville for the quarterfinals. The Golden Tigers came to Alexandria last year and eliminated the Valley Cubs in the 5A semifinals.
Griffin Carroll gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run double and that’s all Dodd needed. They extended the lead to 4-0 with Jake Woodward’s two-run single in the third and added two more in the fifth.
Woodward and Riley Shaw both went 3-for-4 for the Cubs. Dodd, Carroll and Will Reaves had two hits apiece. Carroll had the go-ahead two-run double in Friday’s win.
Alexandria 8, Mortimer Jordan 1
Alexandria 202 021 1 – 8 15 0
Mortimer Jordan 001 000 0 – 1 6 1
WP: Cody Dodd. LP: Joseph Swann.
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