Class 4A Area 12 Race
With Jacksonville and Alexandria experiencing key losses, Cleburne County and Saks look to take over Class 4A Area 12.
As with any year in high school athletics, the balance of power can shift from place to place depending on the loss of a respective school. On baseball diamonds across Calhoun and Cleburne County, that scenario is playing out in one of the most competitive areas in the state, Class 4A Area 12.
The power in Area 12 has, without a doubt, leaned towards Alexandria and Jacksonville over the last couple of years. The prohibitive favorites have not only dominated the 4-team division, but they’ve also made impressive runs in the post-season.
Take Jacksonville for instance. Under the watch of current head coach David Deerman, the Golden Eagles have advanced to the state semi-final and quarter-final rounds in the past two years respectively. The year before Deerman took over the team, Jacksonville made it all the way to the state finals where they lost to Deshler on a walk-off homerun in the third game of the series.
During the current run of playoff success, Deerman has watched 15 seniors graduate, to include Division 1A talent such as Todd Cunningham, Barry Benton and Justin King. While he wasn’t a Division-1A signee out of high school last season, Jeff Pool was a critical part of the Jacksonville pitching staff over the last two or three years.
Seniors Joey Estes, Neal Walters and Bradley Christopher are all fine players, but it appears the loss of great players may have finally caught up with them. Starting 5 sophomores and 1 freshman, it’s safe to say that Jacksonville is inexperienced.
For Alexandria, who was upset by Cleburne County last year in the area tournament, life is a bit different this year as well.
Outside of the obvious losses of Blake Jennings and Jake Welch, both of whom were all-County players, the Valley Cubs lost key contributors Nick Gohde, Chase Waddell and Michael Everly. That list of players represented four of the top 6 batters in last year’s lineup. Jennings, Waddell and Everly also made up a healthy portion of the team’s pitching rotation.
“I think we’re getting better game by game,” said Alexandria head coach Andy Shaw. “We played a tough schedule and we started out a little slow, but the kids are getting better and better and that’s all we can ask.”
The loss of top level talent showed largely in the Calhoun County Baseball Tournament. After playing in the county final last season against one another, Jacksonville and Alexandria dropped contests to Oxford in the semi-final and final rounds by a combined score of 26-5.
While these two squads may be missing a few familiar pieces, don’t sleep on them for long. Deerman and Shaw’s teams will be much improved as the season moves on.
Cleburne County picked up a shocking victory last season with their upset win over Alexandria in the area tourney. The Tigers return a solid core despite losing six position players. Their silver lining? The return of their top two pitchers, C.C Watson and Michael Hollis, who combine for the best one-two punch in the area.
Regardless of what they trot to the plate come area tournament time, the Tigers will have the upper hand on the mound. Watson is solid. Hollis is arguably the most underrated arm in the Highschoolgameday area.
In 2008 Cleburne County already proved they can beat great teams. They’re one of only two clubs to defeat defending 4A state champion Childersburg this season.
The other team in Area 12 is getting the most love from fans and media. The Saks Wildcats debuted in the Sports Report Power Poll at number three behind only Hokes Bluff and Etowah. The problem is that they backed that up with a quick exit in the Calhoun County Tournament.
Overall Saks has lived up to expectations. An 8-2 record with solid wins over Cherokee County and Ranburne on the road has given Derrick Cobb’s ball-club some confidence.
The biggest problem for Saks in their two losses has come at the plate. Said Cobb, “If we can start hitting the ball we’ll be alright.” They were shutout by Piedmont [1-0] in the county tournament and failed to pick up an earned run against Weaver in a 4-2 loss.
With their two losses coming in the last week and one of them occurring on Calhoun County’s biggest stage, it’s easy to think Saks is not playing as well as expected. Don’t expect that to continue. They’ll get there shot against Oxford this Saturday. It’s the match-up everyone hoped to see last week, no disrespect to Piedmont or Alexandria.
Will Jacksonville and Alexandria get better? Absolutely. Will Heflin give opponents a run for their money? There’s no doubt about it. But with an ace on the mound in Dekota Wells, along with a batting order capable of hitting the long ball one through 9, Saks has to be the favorite. Not bad for a team that finished last in the area in 2007.
Chad Barnett
Editor
Highschoolgameday
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