By By Bruce Hixon Standard Sports Editor
T.R. Miller Tigers pitcher/infielder Baxley Raines has advanced to the second tier in the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Underclassman Regional Workouts.
Raines was one of approximately 100 players who competed in the South Region Underclassman Showcase for juniors and seniors at the University of Mobile.
The south region drew participants from Escambia, Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.
Participants were timed in both the 60-yard dash and the 90-feet base path. They were also put through defensive position workouts where they were judged on their fielding and throwing ability.
Pitchers worked on different types of pitches and were clocked on every pitch.
The competition was run by both college coaches and professional scouts.
Raines, who will be a junior at T.R. Miller in the upcoming school year, was among the 20 players who were selected to participate in the next round of workouts and competition that will be held at Troy University June 30 through July 3. Players from the south region will compete against players selected from the north region.
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More postseason honors have been awarded to now former T.R. Miller Tigers baseball players Jacob Salter and Jordan Ball for their achievements on the diamond this spring.
Both have received Honorable Mention to the Mobile Register All-Area Team.
Salter, used primarily as a centerfielder, hit .466 with five homers and 17 RBIs. He was 29-for-31 in stolen base attempts. Salter is headed to Alabama Southern next season.
Ball, a catcher who will also play next year at Alabama Southern, hit .431 with five homers and 35 RBIs.
Earlier Ball was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State First Team and Salter received Honorable Mention.
Former T.R. Miller Lady Tiger basketball standout Deanna Jackson is having mixed success in her second season with the WNBA's Indiana Fever.
Through 11 games so far, Jackson is averaging six points and 2.9 rebounds a
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game. Those numbers are down slightly from the 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds she averaged last season.
On the flip side, Jackson is shooting 41.5 percent (22-for-53) from the floor and 81.5 percent (22-for-27) from the free throw line. Those numbers are up from last season where she shot 36.7 percent from the floor and 71.2 percent from the free throw line.
Jackson's season high was a 12-point performance against Charlotte. She has had a season high five rebounds twice.
Jackson's role has changed dramatically with Indiana from a year ago. Last year she started 32 of 34 games. This season all of her appearances have come from off the bench.
This is Jackson's fourth season in the WNBA. After graduation from Alabama-Birmingham, Jackson spent two seasons with Cleveland before that franchise folded. She was picked up by Indiana with the fifth pick in the 2004 supplemental draft.
Jackson, a 1998 graduate of T.R. Miller, is the daughter of Lady Tigers basketball coach Ron Jackson and Gwinn Jackson of Brewton.
The T.R. Miller Quarterback Club will hold its next meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Field House.