For the first time since 2008, the W.S. Neal Eagle baseball team will be making an appearance in the class 4A state playoffs.
The No. 4-ranked Eagles (20-6) will host defending 4A state champion UMS-Wright in the first round Friday in a doubleheader in East Brewton. Game time is set for 5 and 7:30 p.m. with the best two-of-three series having the “if necessary game” Saturday at noon in East Brewton.
UMS-Wright is 14-14 losing their last five out of six games and is the defending 4A state champion.
W.S. Neal head coach Coy Campbell said despite their record, the Bulldogs are a good team.
“UMS-Wright has good pitching,” Campbell said. “They have the Williamson kid that signed with Auburn. He is their No. 1 and we will probably see him in game one I am guessing. They have good pitching though. They are the defending 4A state champs so they have been in the playoffs and they have some history. We have not been there since 2008. We talk about being a young team, but I will go to battle with these guys no matter if it is the first round or whatever, these guys have been battling all year and I told them I would go to war with them. That is what we are going to be in this weekend. I like our chances.”
Campbell said for his team to get a win over the Bulldogs, his pitchers would have to do their job.
“First off, our guys on the mound have to throw strikes,” Campbell said. “We have to throw strikes and stay ahead in the count. We can’t make mental mistakes and leave runners on. We have to move them over and when we get runners in scoring position, we have to come up with some big hits. I think if we come up with some runs early against them, they have played some tough competition. Their record will not indicate how good of a ball club they are. I think us doing the little things, I had a coach tell me one time that if you do the little things make a big difference in this game and that is so true. If we can do the little things and execute, I think we will have a good chance.”
W.S. Neal is the class 4A area 2 champion and UMS-Wright is the area 1 runner-up to Saraland. Thomasville finished as the area 2 runner-up. With a win in the first round for the Eagles, W.S. Neal will get the winner of Saraland and Thomasville next Friday at home in East Brewton. Thomasville and W.S. Neal are regular season area opponents.