Tide Softball Defeats Gamecocks 3-1 Last Night
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
It was a close one Friday night for Alabama Crimson Tide softball. But a close one is just fine when it's a win. Bama's belles defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 3-1 last night at Beckham Field in Columbia, South Carolina to improve their record to 42-9 overall, 13-6 SEC while dropping S.C. to 33-17, 5-14.
The Tide's Haylie McCleney went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks, passing Georgia’s Alisa Goler (2008-11) for the all-time SEC record with 185 career walks. Chandler Dare went 3 for 4 batting behind McCleney with Marisa Runyon, Reagan Dykes and Sydney Booker driving in the three runs for Bama. Demi Turner came in as a pinch-runner after having been absent from the lineup since her elbow injury against LSU on March
12th. She scored a run for the Tide in the sixth inning.
It was the 20th win of the season for Bama starter Sydney Littlejohn (20-4). She held South Carolina to just one run over 4.2 innings. Alexis Osorio earned her sixth save in relief following Littlejohn with 2.1 innings of shutout ball. Jessica Elliott suffered the loss for the Gamecocks.
Today's game is set for 4 p.m. CT and can be seen live on the SEC Network.
-----------------------------------
J. C. Hampton Considering Crimson Tide Basketball
J. C. Hampton
Photo Credit: Swoophoops.com
----------------------------------
Men's Basketball
J. C. Hampton Considering Crimson Tide Basketball
Photo Credit: Swoophoops.com
According to ESPN, the leading scorer on Lipscomb's basketball team last season, J. C. Hampton, is considering Avery Johnson and the University of Alabama basketball team for his final year of eligibility. Hampton recently announced he was foregoing his final year of eligibility with Lipscomb when he graduates this summer. And because he is graduating, he will be immediately eligible to play for whomever he selects.
The 6' 0" guard out of Gainsville, Georgia averaged 15.9 points per game. Hampton started in 90 of his last 92 games with the Bisons.
"We're
disappointed that J.C. won't finish his career at Lipscomb," said Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander. "But we're very proud that he's graduating
this summer. We wish him the best wherever he ends up."
When talking with ESPN, Hampton said that he is considering playing his final year at Alabama,
Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss or East Carolina.
----------------------------------
Friday Baseball Cancelled Due To Bad Weather
______
Tide Hosts Mississippi State In Double-Header Today
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Last night's baseball game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the third-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs was moved to today due to severe weather. The two will play a double-header, with game one scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the second to begin 30 to 45 minutes following the completion of game one.
UA has announced that tickets for Saturday’s game
will be good for admittance to both games. The ticket for Friday’s contest
is good for the first game of the doubleheader, with fans allowed to
remain in the stadium and at their seat for game two if the seat is
open. If the seat is occupied by a person purchasing admittance to the
second game, then fans from game one are asked to move to general
admission seating.
-----------------------------------
Ragland Drafted 41st By The Buffalo Bills Last Night
Photo Credit: AL.com
He had been heavily considered as the No. 19 pick for the Buffalo Bills, but they ultimately made a different selection. But then, the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League worked the phones, made some trades and still wound up with linebacker Reggie Ragland from the University of Alabama as the 41st selection.
The Madison, Alabama native led the Crimson Tide with 102 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 7 pass break ups and two forced fumbles during his senior season. Coming back for his senior season definitely allowed Ragland to improve his overall skills. He dropped his missed tackles down to three his senior season as opposed to ten as a junior.
Of Ragland, NFL.com says, "Thumping inside linebacker with throwback size and tone-setting mentality."
Bills General Manager Doug Whaley says he believes that though Ragland is considered a heavier, run-stopping linebacker, he believes that Ragland has the potential to stay on the field on third downs to contribute in pass coverage. "He's athletic. Don't let the size fool you." Whaley also said that Ragland will step in day one as the Bills' weak side linebacker.
-----------------------------------
Derrick Henry Is Now A Tennessee Titan
_______
Selected No. 45 Overall In NFL Draft Last Night
Photo Credit: Rivals.com
Former University of Alabama running back and 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry will now make a short move up the road. Henry was selected as the No. 45 overall pick in the 2nd Round of the 2016 NFL Draft last night.
In his lone season as the starting running back at the University of Alabama, Henry amassed 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. During his sophomore year the young man picked up 990 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, and going back to his freshman season add 382 yards and three touchdowns to his totals. So for his 3-season career at the Capstone Henry amassed 3,245 yards on 603 carries. He then went on to impress the NFL scouting combine by running a 4.54-second 40-yard dash as well as a 37-inch vertical leap.
Whereas his 6'3", 247-pound frame provides brute force, the NFL has its doubts about Henry's quickness to compliment his downhill running style. There was also some concern as to his long-term viability having had to carry the ball so many times for the Crimson Tide this past season. NFL gurus say there are only so many plays in the career of a running back.
Henry made a believer out of Alabama fans and opposing defenses in college. He's no stranger to a challenge.
-----------------------------------
A'Shawn Robinson Goes To Detroit Lions As 46th NFL Pick
Photo Credit: Nam Y Huh/AP
Former Alabama defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson is now a Detroit Lion. The Lions selected Robinson as the No. 46 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The 6' 4", 307-pound Robinson played three years for Alabama head coach Nick Saban. In his career Robinson produced a total of 133 tackles, with 49 of those being solo tackles. He successfully man-handled and sacked quarterbacks nine times for 53 lost yards, had five pass deflections and forced one fumble which he himself recovered.
Robinson was named a 2015 Consensus All-American, and was one of the three finalists for the 2015 Outland Trophy (given annually to the nation's top interior lineman whether offense or defense.)
Concerning Robinsion, NFL.com complimented his build as a defensive lineman saying that he is..."well
proportioned with powerful tree trunk legs makes it tough to move him
off the spot." They also praised his tackling and leadership abilities.
-----------------------------------
Jarran Reed Is 49th NFL Draft Selection
_______
Heading To Seattle To Play For Seahawks
Photo Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
In a rare move, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider traded up seven spots to draft former Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed at No. 49 last night in the NFL Draft. A deal with Chicago allowed the Seahawks to move up from the No. 56 slot and very probably miss out on Reed. The Seahawks also gave up a fourth-round pick in order to make the move. Seattle has very sparingly cut these kind of deals under Schneider and Pete Carroll.
Reed was fourth in tackles with the Alabama Crimson Tide last season with a total of 56. In his 15-game start last season he also produced 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He was named Second Team All-SEC last season.
According to Seattlepi.com, Reed immediately endeared himself to Seattle by walking out on the stage at the NFL draft with a bag of candy in his hands. "I was chewing on the Skittles waiting when I got the call," Reed said.
"I was like, 'Man, Marshawn loves Skittles.' I thought it would be kind
of funny."
-----------------------------------
Cyrus Jones Is 60th Overall NFL Pick By Patriots
Photo Credit: TheSunChronicle.com
Though not selected until the No. 60 pick in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, former Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones was the first pick by the New England Patriots of the National Football League last night.
Jones was orginally recruited as a wide receiver by Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. But the defensive genius that Saban is, he saw the great potential of Jones to play on the defensive side of the ball. He was also one of the best punt returners in the country during his senior season with the Tide, coming up just one shy of an NCAA record for punt returns for touchdowns in a single season. He recorded a total of four last year.
NFL.com said that Jones was "Press corner with good build and strong lower half, plus play strength.
Confident and tough. Able to reroute and maintain positioning on
receivers."
-----------------------------------
Kenyan Drake To Dolphins As No. 73 Overall NFL Pick
Photo Credit: proxy.espn.go.com
Former Alabama running back Kenyan Drake is now a Miami Dolphin. Drake was selected last night by the Dolphins in the third round as the No. 73 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Though hampered by injuries while at the Capstone, Drake was a fan favorite when he was healthy displaying his electrifying speed and big-play capabilities. Though he never carried the ball more than 92 times in a single season while at Alabama, he still averaged 6.4 yards per carry on 233 total carries for the Crimson Tide. Hel also averaged 12.4 yards a catch on 46 receptions. Bama fans enjoyed him as a kick returner, with 505 total yards on 19 returns in 2015, a whopping 26.6 yards per return. One of those kickoff returns went for a 95-yard touchdown against the Clemson Tigers in the national chamionship game.
