Sports

NCAA softball: Tide falls in super regional opener

noreply@annistonstar.com (Star staff) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:30:00 -0600

The defending national champion Alabama softball squad fell 3-2 to Tennessee in the first game of their super regional showdown. The best-of-three series will continue today. Game 2 will be at 4 p.m. on ESPN, while Game 3, if necessary, will be at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Gaspard, NCAA projects say Alabama helped itself at SEC tourney

noreply@annistonstar.com (Joe Medley) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:02:00 -0600

Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard came into the SEC tournament confident that his team would make the NCAA tourney and could even play its way into a higher NCAA seed. Mission accomplished, he said, after the Crimson Tide lost 3-2 to second-ranked LSU in Friday’s SEC elimination game.

No. 2 LSU catches Crimson Tide in ninth inning

noreply@annistonstar.com (Joe Medley jmedley@annistonstar.com) — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:39:00 -0600

Mike Oczypok came one out short of a complete game, as LSU scored a pair of two-out runs in the top of the ninth inning and beat Alabama 3-2 in Friday’s first elimination game at the Hoover Met.

Mark Edwards' In My Opinion: Finebaum moves and we breathe a sigh of relief

noreply@annistonstar.com (Mark Edwards medwards@annistonstar.com) — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:11:00 -0600

Paul Finebaum is taking his radio show to Charlotte and will work for ESPN. Good for him. This deal allows Finebaum a national TV and radio stage with a network that will appreciate him. And he won’t be anywhere close to the most obnoxious personality on the network – Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless have him beat by the lengths of about 17 football fields.

Two ex-Cleburne County players help lift Central Alabama to NJCAA tournament

noreply@annistonstar.com (Star staff) — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:23:00 -0600

Two former Cleburne County players have helped Central Alabama Community College of Alexander City make the National Junior College Athletic Association baseball tournament. Freshmen Alex Lee and Matt Norton have played a role in the Trojans’ run to their national tournament, which is a double-elimination event and begins Saturday. Central Alabama (38-13) will open at 10 a.m. against Palm Beach State of Lake Worth, Fla.

Ex-JSU player pleaded guilty to charges from 2011 hazing incident

noreply@annistonstar.com (Al Muskewitz) — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:45:00 -0600

One of the four men who pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from a 2011 hazing incident involving a Jacksonville State fraternity is a former Gamecocks football player.

Mark Edwards' In My Opinion: Tide-Tigers draw a large 'small' crowd

noreply@annistonstar.com (Mark Edwards medwards@annistonstar.com) — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:14:00 -0600

Earlier this week, Alabama beat Auburn in a Monday afternoon SEC tournament baseball game and drew 7,241. Apparently, we’re supposed to sweat about this, because it’s the smallest crowd for an Alabama-Auburn game in the SEC baseball tournament in Hoover, according to AL.com. They’ve played each other six other times in the Hoover Met, drawing more people each time.

JSU baseball: Gamecocks fall in OVC elimination game

noreply@annistonstar.com (Al Muskewitz amuskewitz@annistonstar.com) — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:10:00 -0600

Jacksonville State gave up six runs in the first four innings and lost 6-3 to Belmont in an elimination game of the Ohio Valley Conference baseball tournament. Belmont's Chase Brookshire had a career-high 14 strikeouts and tossed a complete game. Belmont (38-20) will advance to Friday's elimination game, while Jacksonville State ends the season at 32-26, marking the ninth time in the last 10 years the Gamecocks posted 30 or more wins.

SEC baseball: Alabama stays alive with extra-inning win

noreply@annistonstar.com (Joe Medley jmedley@annistonstar.com) — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:00 -0600

The Crimson Tide rallied from a three-run deficit in Thursday’s early SEC elimination game at the Hoover Met, and Mikey White’s two-run single in the top of the 10th inning keyed a 7-5 victory over Ole Miss. Seventh-seeded Alabama (34-25) will play the Arkansas-LSU loser Friday at 3 p.m. Ole Miss (37-22) awaits Monday’s announcement of the NCAA tournament field. The Tide also improved to 3-6 in extra-inning games this season, having won two in a row.

JSU, EKU combine for eight double plays

noreply@annistonstar.com (Al Muskewitz amuskewitz@annistonstar.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:39:00 -0600

Depending on which side of the equation one sits, a double play is either a pitcher’s best friend or a hitter’s nightmare. Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky got ample doses of both Wednesday in their Ohio Valley Conference tournament opener. They combined to turn eight double plays in the game, setting what is believed to be a neutral-site tournament record and tying Southeast Missouri’s team record with four each.

Gamecocks fall to Colonels in OVC tourney opener

noreply@annistonstar.com (Al Muskewitz amuskewitz@annistonstar.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:38:00 -0600

It used to be Jacksonville State was a virtual lock whenever its first game came up in the Ohio Valley Conference baseball tournament. It’s not that way lately. The Gamecocks dropped their tournament opener for the second year in a row Wednesday, falling to fifth-seeded Eastern Kentucky 11-2 at The Ballpark at Jackson.

Gattis grand slam leads Braves past Twins 8-3

noreply@annistonstar.com (Associated Press) — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:00 -0600

Evan Gattis no longer seems amazed by his improbable rookie season. Yet, there are still times when it's a bit of an adjustment for the Atlanta Braves catcher. Like when someone recognizes him in the grocery store. "It's a little weird," the 26-year-old Gattis said. "I'm not used to that yet." Gattis did it again Wednesday, hitting his first career grand slam. B.J. Upton and Ramiro Pena also homered for the Braves, who finished off a sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 rout.

SEC baseball: Bad start against No. 2 LSU dooms Tide to losers’ bracket

noreply@annistonstar.com (Joe Medley jmedley@annistonstar.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:32:00 -0600

One rugged inning for Alabama starter Charley Sullivan proved to be the difference as the Crimson Tide fell 3-0 to LSU in Wednesday’s SEC tournament action at the Hoover Met.

Anniston's Bullock to coach for all-star team; 3 local players on roster

noreply@annistonstar.com (Brandon Miller bmiller@annistonstar.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:31:00 -0600

Anniston High School football coach Eddie Bullock will serve as an assistant coach for the North team in the state all-star football game, the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association announced this morning.

Mark Edwards' In My Opinion: Can't wait for Tide vs. Johnny Football

noreply@annistonstar.com (Mark Edwards medwards@annistonstar.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:36:00 -0600

Is it Sept. 14 yet? That's the day Alabama plays at Texas A&M. The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday that CBS has picked up that game for national broadcast. Kickoff will be at 2:30 p.m., and I wish it was today.

College football: SEC announces TV, kickoff time for Alabama-Texas A&M

noreply@annistonstar.com (Star staff) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:10:00 -0600

The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday that CBS has picked up Alabama's game at Texas A&M on Sept. 14. Kickoff will be 2:30 p.m.

Gattis, Freeman lead Braves past Twins

noreply@annistonstar.com (Associated Press) — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:46:00 -0600

Evan Gattis hit a two-out, pinch-hit homer in the ninth to send the game to extra innings and Freddie Freeman won it in the 10th, sending the Atlanta Braves to their fifth straight win, 5-4 over the slumping Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Bishop leading Gamecocks into OVC tourney

noreply@annistonstar.com (Al Muskewitz amuskewitz@annistonstar.com) — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:43:00 -0600

By all accounts, this has been a good year for Jacksonville State center fielder Michael Bishop. A fun year. A productive year. It’s been a different kind of year, as well, particularly as it relates to the role the junior has assumed and embraced.

Outdoors: Lesson learned on the tournament trail

noreply@annistonstar.com (Charles Johnson) — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:42:00 -0600

Coaches and athletes use each game as a learning experience. What did we do right? What did we do wrong and how do we improve for the next time? Tournament anglers can approach fishing in the same manner. Even us observers can usually pick up a tip or two.

SEC baseball: Auburn coach says he still thinks Tigers will land NCAA baseball bid

noreply@annistonstar.com (Joe Medley jmedley@annistonstar.com) — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:05:00 -0600

Auburn may yet play in its first NCAA regional since 2010, but the Tigers didn’t help their cause in Hoover on Tuesday. A 6-3 loss to Alabama in the single-elimination play-in round of SEC tournament blunted Auburn’s late-season surge and gave the Tigers and the NCAA selection committee six days to ponder them before Monday’s announcement of the field.