Borders belongs
- Updated: March 6, 2018
Spring roundup: Alexandria left-hander posts first victory with his new team; Bolton leads Oxford golf to victory
By East Alabama Sports Today
Jalen Borders has been a part of the Alexandria baseball team from the minute he transferred from Saks over the summer, but after Tuesday night’s breakthrough performance he finally feels he belongs.
The big left-hander posted his first win with his new team Tuesday, going 3 2/3 innings before reaching his pitch limit in the Valley Cubs’ 7-4 victory over Munford.
“That was a big part of the game tonight,” Borders said. “This is my first win as a Valley Cub. I feel like I’m a part of the team now, settling in.”
Borders was lifted after 72 pitches and the longest of his four outings this season. He gave up one hit, four walks and struck out seven.
“He competed well,” Valley Cubs coach Andy Shaw said. “He’s getting better each time out.”
Borders won three games last season for Saks, but transferred after the school year while his family was building a new home in the Valley Cubs’ jurisdiction.
He was sharp with his fastball against the Lions. He struck out two in the first, second and fourth innings. The only hit he allowed was Marshall Clark’s leadoff double in the third. Clark scored on a passed ball.
“I’ve been comfortable with (the fastball) for a while, but this was the first time I was pretty spot on with it,” Borders said. “The production has been good, but I’m pretty hard on myself this year and I’m not where I want to be right now.”
The Valley Cubs supported him with an “energetic” first inning. Their first four batters all had hits, six of their first seven batters reached based and scored. Justin Ellison had an RBI double in the first and hit a solo homer leading off the second. Justin Shaw had two hits in the game.
“We’re getting better with our approaches at the plate,” Andy Shaw said.
Munford 001 000 3 – 4 5 5
Alexandria 610 000 x – 7 8 1
WP: Jalen Borders. LP: Dakota Green.
2B: Marshall Clark (M), Layton Ellison (A). HR: Layton Ellison (A).
GOLF: Bolton leads Oxford girls
Anna Bolton shot 44 to win medalist honors and lead the Oxford girls to a victory over Oak Mountain and Thompson at Inverness Country Club. The Lady Jackets posted 152 as a team, 10 shots ahead of Oak Mountain.
White Plains seventh-grader Dalton Faulkner scored his first-ever hole-in-one when he aced the 16th hole with a 5-iron during a practice round with the Wildcats’ boys team. The shot was witnessed by teammates Malakhi Gilbert and Daniel Norred
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