re: Bama Baseball | (32-26)

Baseball news has been very quite the last couple of days. Came across these articles that remind us of the great ones who have come before. These two are on Joe Sewell - the namesake of our baseball stadium.

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Sewell had finished his final season at Alabama earlier in 1920. Alabama, which had won its fourth consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Association title, was loaded with major league talent (8 members of those four SIAA title teams would reach the majors), and Sewell was the star. He’d sign a contract with the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern Association, which was then a Double-A affiliate of the Indians. Sewell picked up where he left off at Alabama, hitting near .300 and had New Orleans in contention for the Southern Association title.

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Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Joe Sewell’s MLB Debut

Hall of Famer Joe Sewell: In His Own Words


Alabama. Where Legends Are Made.

What we can't wait to see from Week 1 of SEC Baseball

6. Bama’s ace
So there could be somebody in Tuscaloosa with a better arm than Mac Jones or Bryce Young. Tide starter Connor Prielipp may be the league’s top lefty. SEC coaches thought so, as they tabbed Prielipp along with Vandy’s Rocker (righty) as the first-team All-SEC pitchers. A big-time prospect coming into 2020, Prielipp threw 21 innings in the shortened 2020 season. He gave up 5 hits, 6 walks, 0 runs, and had 35 strikeouts. Can anybody score on him? Alabama’s first foe, McNeese State, wouldn’t be a likely pick to do the honors.

T-Watts baseball nuggies

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— Alabama’s preseason practices have gone well and the team is confident heading into the season opener this Friday against McNeese State

— Overall the team is relatively healthy. A couple of guys — TJ Reeves and William Hamiter — have missed scrimmage time recently due to minor injuries, but both are expected to be available this weekend.

— Another note about the team.. they generally follow Brad Bohannon’s lead in that they prefer to let their actions and play do their talking for them, but this group is quite “pissed” (as one source put it) about the SEC preseason rankings, and are very determined to prove doubters wrong.

— It won’t come as a surprise to most, but Connor Prielipp will get the opening day start. Sources indicate an intense battle between several guys for the Saturday and Sunday nods, and the battle will continue through non-conference play. We’re told to look for Antoine Jean and Dylan Smith to get the nod initially, while guys like Tyler Ras, Connor Shamblin, Jacob McNairy, and Grayson Hitt will all have extended outings in relief. Hope is two out of these six guys will emerge from the group before SEC play begins later this spring.

— Chase Lee and Brock Guffey will anchor the bullpen. Another guy to watch is Landon Green who’s a RHP and has created a lot of buzz the past month and will grab weekend innings. Green’s FB has been up to 95, and he may have the best breaking ball on the team from talking with sources.

— It’s safe to assume these guys at these spots: Sam Praytor (C), Drew Williamson (1B), Zane Denton (3B) … Peyton Wilson has been very impressive in pre-season scrimmages and will definitely be a regular, splitting time between 2B and CF. You can also expect Owen Diodati’s bat to be in the lineup at either RF or DH. Jim Jarvis is said to be the team’s best infield defender and will play SS or 2B, depending on who else is playing where. William Hamiter and TJ Reeves will play corner OF but not every game. Bryce Eblin (SS) and Caden Rose (2B/CF) are two freshmen who will play often, and Jackson Tate is expected to get some opportunities in CF at times

— Davis Heller is a JUCO transfer 1B who has really performed well this fall and early in the spring. He will get time at DH

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Looking for a big season out of Jean. It would be great for him to really lock down that Saturday spot and give us some dominant outings.

Just received an email from UA - some tix available this weekend for those who are interested.

It's Opening Weekend at The Joe!

No. 25 Alabama baseball opens the 2021 season on Friday against McNeese State! A limited number of tickets are available for $10 each. All three games can be streamed on SEC Network+.

Friday 3 p.m. | SEC Network+
Saturday 2 p.m. | SEC Network+
Sunday 1 p.m. | SEC Network+

Hoping Connor shines in the spotlight:

No surprise: Connor Prielipp tabbed as Alabama's Opening Day starter

Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon, to no surprise, announced sophomore Connor Prielipp will be the Crimson Tide’s starting pitcher when it opens the 2021 season Friday.

“Connor got off to a great start last year as a freshman and has really separated himself from the rest of the pack,” said Bohannon during a Zoom call with local reporters. “I don’t have any doubt that he’ll give us a great start on Friday and give us a chance to win.”

Bohannon announced on Tuesday that Connor Prielipp, Antoine Jean and Dylan Smith will all be starting on the mound this weekend against McNeese State

Previewing Alabama Baseball's Opening Weekend Starting Pitchers

Alabama's Opening Day starter ranked as top 5 college pitcher in the country

Alabama baseball is set to begin a new season, and after a hot start to the 2020 season that was cut short due to COVID, the team is back and ready to pick up where they left off.

The 2021 Crimson Tide baseball season will begin on Friday, Feb. 19 with a three-game series at home against McNeese State, where sophomore pitcher Connor Prielipp will get the Opening Day start on the mound.

“Connor got off to a great start last year as a freshman and has really separated himself from the rest of the pack,” said head coach Brad Bohannon. “I don’t have any doubt that he’ll give us a great start on Friday and give us a chance to win.”

Prielipp, a 6-foot-3 lefty from Wisconin, was named National Freshman Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball News after a 2020 freshman season that featured 21 innings, strikeout 35, walk six, only give up 5 hits and four wins.

Baseball America ranks Alabama as the No. 25 team in the nation heading into the season, and they have also announced their top-five pitchers prior to the season beginning – Prielipp comes in at No. 4.

An interesting note: All five of the pitchers are from SEC programs, which should make for a very competitive conference schedule.