By By Adam Robinson – sports editor
Hard work has paid off for five Jefferson Davis Community College baseball players.
The five players - who walked on or transferred to the team at the Brewton school last year - have earned scholarships thanks to some hard work by Coach Darrell Blevins.
Clay Simpson, Ben Negus, Hunter Norris, Terry McClain and Derrick Young are the recipients of scholarships on this year's baseball team.
While appreciative of the scholarship, Negus looked at it from a different approach.
McClain just had one word to describe his feelings: Dedicated.
Norris agreed with Young.
Norris, a fall walk-on from Excel, plays first base and pitches.
Simpson, a sophomore from Flomaton came to the JDCC program last year but was injured most of the season.
Young is a freshman right-handed pitcher who led the team with a 1.10 ERA in the fall.
McClain is from Brantley and hit .327 with 52 at-bats.
Negus is a transfer from the University of South Alabama.
For Blevins, finding the scholarship money was important because the players have given so much to the team.
Simpson batted .323 this fall with one homerun and 11 RBI in 33 games.
McClain batted .327 with 52 at bats with 12 runs and seven RBI.
Norris batted .281 with 57 at bats. He had 16 hits and eight RBI.
Young had a 1.10 ERA and sported a 1-0 record with 41 innings pitched and gave up five earned runs.
Fans can see the players and Blevins in action beginning Friday, Feb. 1, when they open the 2008 season with a nine-inning game at home against Bevill Fayette Community College.
Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at JDCC.