November

Two local players sign to play college baseball

Two Chilton County baseball players took advantage of the college game’s early signing period to ink National Letters of Intent on Nov. 13.

Chilton County High School senior J.D. Minor signed to play college baseball at the University of Montevallo, while Thorsby senior Matt Morgan signed with the University of Alabama.

Morgan said he grew up a fan of UA baseball.

“It’s real neat being able to play for your home-state school,” Morgan said.

December

Volleyball All-Area Team: Griffith grows up to become star

When Landy Griffith was a freshman at Isabella, coach Glen Graham would make the wide-eyed, skinny youngster line up across the net from then-senior Amber Wyatt, the tall, powerful star of the team who now plays for the University of South Alabama.

“I was so scared of Amber, and coach would always put me up against her to try to block her,” Griffith said.

Graham recognized Griffith’s potential, and he wanted her to have the experience early of competing against better players.

The strategy seems to have paid off, as Griffith matured into the best player on this past season’s Isabella team—and The Clanton Advertiser’s volleyball player of the year.

Griffith recorded 237 kills, 42 blocks, 81 aces and 112 digs as a senior, the culmination of a career of growing her skill set and maturity.

Brown, Pickens County run by Red Devils in title game

Maplesville’s drive for its second state football championship in school history ran into a big—well, maybe fast is a better description—roadblock on Dec. 5 at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

In the Class 1A title game, Pickens County defeated Maplesville, 38-18, behind an unofficial 331 yards rushing by Jermarcus Brown. That total would set a new championship game rushing record for the Super 6 era, regardless of classification.

Maplesville limited the damage done by Brown in the first half, holding the junior to 74 yards on 12 carries as the Red Devils (14-1) outgained the Tornadoes (15-0) 220 yards to 131 yards but still trailed 14-12.

Brown ran wild in the second half and finished with a 13-yard per carry average with three touchdowns on 25 attempts.

His last score came when he lined up in punt formation (in addition to carrying the load offensively, Brown punts, kicks, returns kicks and probably drives the team bus). Instead of kicking the ball, Brown outran the Maplesville defenders to the left sideline for a 46-yard touchdown run.