Falkville Baseball Preview

Seven returning starters with playoff experience are being counted on to give Falkville High School’s baseball team another Class 2A contender in 2018.

Last year’s team compiled an 18-13 record and finished first in area competition before losing to eventual state champion Fayetteville in the first round of the playoffs.

“Hitting should be a team strength since we have several players back who hit in the upper .300s,” said fourth year head coach Jonathan Lacy. “Some of them are also capable of playing more than one position and have competed against multiple talented teams in both regular season and playoff games. Defensively, we should be solid.”

However, the Blue Devils are going into the season with a questionable pitching staff.

“Pitching has gotten a lot of emphasis in pre-season training because we have limited experienced there,” added Lacy.

Four of the seven returning starters are listed as both pitchers and position players.

“We may start assigning starters by committee and see how that works out,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have two or three step up and give us the strength we need on the mound.”

“Rainey weather has been a reminder of how fortunate we are to have an indoor practice facility,” Lacy pointed out. “Our playing field is located in a low lying area and doesn’t drain as well as we’d like. As a result, we were only able to practice on it twice before we played our first game with Danville on the road Feb. 20.”

The Blue Devils’ returning varsity starters are: seniors Alex Fowler, shortstop/pitcher, Jackson Nichols, catcher and Dustin Greenfield, third base/first base; juniors Jacob Holladay, outfielder, and Austin Smith, pitcher/outfielder; sophomore Braden Burnett, second base/pitcher; and freshman Mikell Philyaw, outfielder/pitcher.

Varsity newcomers are junior Noah Holmes, freshman Wyatt Tomlin and eighth graders Colton Hooper Andrew Jones and Camden Reid.

The Blue Devils will compete with Cold Springs, Winston County and St. Bernard for the right to advance to the state playoffs. Cold Springs was runner-up to Falkville in 2017.

“Our goal is to win the area and make a deep run in the playoffs,” Lacy stated.

Working with Lacy as assistant coach is Greg Tomlin.

Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Falkville Baseball Schedule

Feb. 20               @Danville 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 22               @Addison 4:30 p.m.                   

Feb. 24               @Holly Pond 10 a.m.

Feb. 26               @Vinemont 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 1                @Pennington 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 5                VINEMONT 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 6                ATHENS BIBLE 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 8                @Brewer 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 10              DANVILLE 10 a.m.

Mar. 12              ST. BERNARD 4:30 p.m.&

Mar. 13              @St. Bernard (DH) 4:30 p.m.&

Mar. 15              @Good Hope 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 17              WEST MORGAN 10 a.m.

Mar. 19              @Clements 4 p.m.

Mar. 20              @Elkmont (DH) 11 a.m.

Mar. 26              DECATUR HERITAGE 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 27              TANNER 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 29              @Athens Bible 3 p.m.

Mar. 31              @West Morgan 4 p.m.

Apr. 2                 @Cold Springs 4:30 p.m.&

Apr. 3                 COLD SPRINGS (DH) 4:30 p.m.&

Apr. 6                 HANCEVILLE 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 9                 @Winston County 4:30 p.m.&

Apr. 10               WINSTON COUNTY (DH) 4:30 p.m.&

Apr. 13              PENNINGTON 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 16               HOLLY POND 4:30 p.m.

Games in CAPITAL LETTERS represent home games

& Denotes an area game

Falkville Baseball Roster

Mikell Philyaw

Jackson Nichols

Alex Fowler

Dustin Greenfield

Jacob Holladay

Austin Smith

Braden Burnett

Noah Holmes

Wyatt Tomlin

Colton Hooper

Andrew Jones

Camden Reid

Caleb Vinson

Jordan Pace