To start the 2013 baseball season, the W.S. Neal Eagles won their own Eagle Classic. From there, it was Escambia County Tournament champions then the Opp Spring Break tournament champions. Following a perfect 6-0 area record, the Eagles then clinched the class 3A area 1 championship. Now, the only thing left is a state championship.
The 23-0 Eagles, who have been ranked No. 1 in class 3A the whole season this year, will host Straughn in round one of the playoffs Friday in East Brewton at 5 and 7:30 p.m. If the two teams split Friday, a third and deciding game will be held Saturday in East Brewton at 1 p.m.
“We have Straughn (in round one), but I don’t know a lot about them,” W.S. Neal head coach Coy Campbell said. “I know they are coming from area two as their runner-up. We didn’t get a chance to play them in the spring break tournament in Opp. Like we have talked about earlier, in a three-game series, I like my chances. Whether we win or not, we don’t know, but in a three-game series, I feel good about it. The kids feel good about it and they are confident.”
Of the 23 games this year for the Eagles, W.S. Neal has posted seven shutouts. The Eagles have outscored their opponents 215-42 and have outscored their opponents by 10 runs or more in 13 games. W.S. Neal has won nine games by the 10-run rule. Their closest games have come with a 4-2 win over St. Paul’s and a 10-8 win over Brewbaker Tech in the Opp Spring Break tournament.
“It is unbelievable to be 23-0 through the whole baseball season,” Campbell said. “It is a great accomplishment for these kids. I don’t want any credit for myself. These kids are working hard and putting up with me. That is a task in itself. Just credit them for coming out to work everyday. It is very easy for 15, 16, 17, 18-year-old kids to get off task, but they have been on task all year and I am really proud of them.”
For some time now, Campbell has been looking forward to the 2013 baseball season in East Brewton.
“These seniors this year, we knew with that group as a freshman, we knew if they all stayed together, we would have a good ball club that year,” Campbell said. “Not necessarily just that group because it has taken a lot of those players over the last five years to combine with this group to get us where we are at. It has not just been a one-group team that has come through. We have had a lot of good players over the last three or four years that have contributed to our success that we are having now. It has just been a process over this time. We felt like we were going to get there. This team has just continued to do what they have done.”
In 2008, as seventh graders, the team went 15-12 and won the area championship but lost to Thomasville in round one. In 2009, W.S. Neal went 10-9 and failed to make the playoffs and in 2010 failed to make the playoffs after going 13-13.
In 2011 as sophomores, the Eagles went 21-8 before losing to state champion UMS-Wright. Last year, W.S. Neal finished 23-12. The Eagles defeated Saraland in round one before losing to UMS-Wright in round two.
“As ninth graders, we were in there with Thomasville and Jackson and getting our brains beat out,” Campbell said. “In 2011 and 2012, they win the area as sophomores and juniors. They have been battle-tested. We played the Saraland’s and the UMS’ and it is nothing new to them in my opinion. It is no easier this year with Miller and Bayside. It always seems like in every region we are in, there is always three teams trying for those two spots. As freshman, we were always that third team looking to get in. Now our kid’s mindset is it is the other guys trying to get in. That is how the whole transformation has taken part. Our kids believe that they are going to win. Whether we do or not, that has yet to be seen.”
So what makes this team different from others and so special?
“I have been around some of the players on this year’s team since they were in the ninth grade and even the eighth grade for some of them,” Campbell said. “I know what I am going to get with these guys. They give me everything that that have got until it is all said and done. And that is what is special about this group this year. They play hard every time they go out whether it is a game or practice. They give me what they got.”
The winner of the series will advance to round two and play the winner of Opp and Bayside Academy. If W.S. Neal advances, they will travel to Opp because W.S. Neal is the top team in the bracket and the team on bottom is the host team since both Opp and W.S. Neal hosted in round one. If Bayside Academy wins, W.S. Neal will host the Admirals since the Eagles were No. 1 seed in the area and Bayside finished as the area runner-up.
In the quarterfinal round three games, if W.S. Neal wins, they will play the winner of Leeds/Fayette County versus Indian Springs/American Christian.
As of Wednesday, according to the Andalusia Star-News, Straughn had a record of 15-18 overall and went 4-4 in area play. The Tigers finished their regular season Monday night with a doubleheader loss against the Andalusia Bulldogs. Straughn lost game one 14-4 in five innings and game two 3-2.
The most wins in a season in AHSAA baseball history belongs to Hartselle in 2009 when they went 50-9.
The most consecutive wins in AHSAA history belongs to Cottonwood. Cottonwood won 54 consecutive from 1985-1988 and Tallassee won 40 consecutive from 1990-1991.
“There area a lot of champs over here,” Campbell said. “We are just missing one and we’re headed after that one.”

UPDATE: On Wednesday, WSN head coach Coy Campbell said that if Friday’s has to be postponed due to expected weather conditions in the area, the series would be pushed to 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The third and deciding game, if needed, would be played at 5 p.m. Monday.

Here is the 2013 First Round Baseball Playoff Pairings. (All times are CDT.)

Class 1A
South
Southeastern at Fayetteville, Fri., 2 and 4 p.m.; (Sat., 11 a.m., if needed)
Shades Mountain Christian at Appalachian, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)
McKenzie at St. Luke’s, Fri., 2 and 4 p.m.; (Sat., 11 a.m., if needed)
Fruitdale at J.U. Blacksher, Fri., 2 and 4 p.m.; (Sat., 10 a.m., if needed)
Wadley at Billingsley, Fri., 4 and 6 p.m.; (Sat., noon, if needed)
Maplesville at Verbena, Fri., 1 and 3:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Geneva County at Florala, Fri., 4 and 6 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Red Level at Brantley, Fri., 4 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
North
Shoals Christian at Hackleburg, Fri., at Hamilton HS, 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Tharptown at Athens Bible, 1:30 and 3:45 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Marion County at South Lamar, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Berry at Sumiton Christian, Fri., 12:30 and 3 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Donoho at Addison, Fri., 4 and 6 p.m.; (Sat., 4 p.m. if needed)
Decatur Heritage at Ragland, Fri., 4 and 6 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Skyline at Cedar Bluff, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 10 a.m. if needed)
Spring Garden at Woodville, Fri., 1 and 3 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)

Class 2A
South
Montgomery Academy at Hale County, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 11 a.m. if needed)
Francis Marion at Prattville Christian, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Millry at Flomaton, 4 and 6 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Mobile Christian at Sweet Water, Fri., 4 and 6 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Highland Home at Zion Chapel, Fri., 3 and 5:30 p.m.; (Sat., 10:30 a.m. if needed)
Elba at Luverne, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Ariton at Providence Christian, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Houston Academy at G.W. Long, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)

North
Colbert Heights at Sheffield, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Hatton at Phil Campbell, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 4 p.m. if needed)
Fultondale at Randolph County, Fri., 1 and 4 p.m. (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Horseshoe Bend at Vincent, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Pleasant Valley at Lamar County, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Oakman at Ranburne, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)
Fyffe at Westbrook Christian, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon, if needed)
West End at Section, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m. (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)

Class 3A
South
Indian Springs at American Christian, Fri., 4 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Fayette County at Leeds, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Straughn at W.S. Neal, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Bayside Academy at Opp, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 12:30 p.m., if needed)
Gordo at Trinity Presbyterian, Fri., 1 and 3:30 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Thorsby at Sipsey Valley, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Sat., noon if needed)
Abbeville at Slocomb, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Geneva at Montgomery Catholic, Fri., 1 and 3:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)

North
Deshler at Madison Academy, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1:30 p.m. if needed)
West Morgan at Mars Hill Bible, Fri., 4 and 6 p.m. (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
White Plains at Glencoe, Fri., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m., if needed)
Cleveland at Piedmont, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m. (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
New Hope at Plainview, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Sat., 1:30 p.m. if needed)
Pisgah at J.B. Pennington, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Cordova at Danville, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1:30 p.m. if needed)
Good Hope at Winfield, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m. (Sat., 2 p.m. if needed)

Class 4A
South
Oak Grove at Bibb County, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)
Jemison at Corner, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Monroe County at Thomasville, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)
UMS-Wright at Andalusia, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Elmore County at Beauregard, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Handley at Childersburg, Fri., 4 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 11 a.m. if needed)
Brewbaker Tech at Charles Henderson, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Headland at Alabama Christian, at AUM Complex, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m. if needed)

North
West Limestone at Brooks, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon, if needed)
Priceville at Central-Florence, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Munford at Oneonta, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m. if needed)
Fairview at Cleburne County, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m. if needed)
Sardis at Alexandria, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Jacksonville at Guntersville, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 11 a.m. if needed)
Pope John Paul II at Madison County, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m. (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
North Jackson at Ardmore, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)

Class 5A
South
Parker at McAdory, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Brookwood at Pleasant Grove, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 11 a.m., if needed)
Gulf Shores at Faith Academy, Fri., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
St. Paul’s at Spanish Fort, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Selma at Marbury, Fri., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Valley at Demopolis, Fri., 4 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Rehobeth at Satsuma, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Jackson at Russell County, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat. noon if needed)

North
Muscle Shoals at Cullman, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 3 p.m. if needed)
Hartselle at Russellville, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 4 p.m. if needed)
Sylacauga at Homewood, 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Briarwood Christian at Chilton County, City Park, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m., if needed)
Walker at Pinson Valley, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m., if needed)
Springville at Mortimer Jordan, Fri., 5 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon, if needed)
Scottsboro at Southside-Gadsden, Fri., 5 and 7:15 p.m.; (Sat., 2 p.m. if needed)
Etowah at Arab, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)

Class 6A
South
Spain Park at Thompson, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Prattville at Pelham, Fri., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
McGill-Toolen at Baker, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Alma Bryant at Mary Montgomery, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Sidney Lanier at Smiths Station, Fri., 5 and 7:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Auburn at Lee-Montgomery, Paterson Field, Fri., 2 and 4:30 p.m.; (Sat., 3 p.m. if needed)
Enterprise at Fairhope, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Foley at Northview, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
North
Decatur at Bob Jones, Fri., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Sparkman at James Clemens, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Hueytown at Tuscaloosa County, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m. (Sat., noon if needed)
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Hoover, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Gardendale at Vestavia Hills, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., noon if needed)
Mountain Brook at Hewitt-Trussville, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1:30 p.m. if needed)
Grissom at Clay-Chalkville, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)
Oxford at Huntsville, Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; (Sat., 1 p.m. if needed)

Class 3A brackets:
http://www.ahsaa.com/Sports/Baseball/History/2013BaseballPlayoffResults/2013BaseballBracketClass3A/tabid/4305/Default.aspx