Belcher, Walker, Johnson Shine in Recent Intrasquad Games
2/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A veteran pitcher and a pair of newcomers shined on the mound for the University of Alabama baseball team in a couple of recent scrimmages at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Senior right-hander Seth Johnson (5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K) tossed five shutout innings with eight strikeouts in his most impressive outing of the preseason camp to date.
Junior college transfer Andrew Walker (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) also tossed six shutout innings, allowing only two singles as he and Johnson combined for 11 shutout innings in a 14-3 win for the White team over the Red team on Wednesday afternoon.
“Johnson bounced back from a tough outing last time and really pitched well,” Alabama head coach Jim Wells said. “He and Walker were the real highlights to me. Walker continues to pitch well and threw better than he did last week.”
The White team pounded out 18 hits in Wednesday’s win, led by junior second baseman Aaron Tennyson’s three hits. Freshman center fielder Brandon Belcher had two hits, including his first home run of the preseason. Junior Allen Rice added two more hits and four stolen bases.
Sophomore Evan Bush homered and drove in three runs and freshman Greg Paiml also homered in the win.
“Rice is swinging the bat better,” Wells added. “If we played tomorrow, we would probably run him out there at third base. Bush is doing fine, too. Rice gives us something that we really need in the infield.”
Freshman Michael McCallister hit a two-run home run for the White team on Wednesday, who managed only five hits in the game.
In addition to his hitting performance on Wednesday, Belcher also continued to be impressive on the mound in Tuesday’s scrimmage.
The Ruston, La., native worked six innings and allowed one unearned and three hits, helping the White team to a 7-6 win on Tuesday.
“Belcher swinging the bat better now,” Wells said. “If he was not pitching, he’d probably be that third outfielder a lot. He is a tough kid and is going to be a good player for us. He will be a two-way guy for us. We are just trying to protect him (now) because of the pitching. He could be playing a lot more. I just don’t want him to get his arm run down.
“Coming out of this week, we have Belcher, Johnson and Walker all pitching well. Belcher is in a position to be a Sunday starter, middle of the week starter or a guy out of the pen. He is good.”
Junior Rocky Scelfo had two hits and two RBI for the White team on Tuesday, while junior first baseman Zac Welch added a two-run home run in the first inning.
Trailing 4-0, the Red team scored all six of its runs in the final five innings only to fall by a run when Scelfo doubled home the game winner in the bottom of the 12th inning.
Senior Carlos Sosa and sophomore Matt Downs led the Red squad with three hits each, while freshman Matt Bentley and junior Matt Grooms had two hits each.
Alabama will hold two more intrasquad games this Sunday, Feb. 8 and Monday, Feb. 9 at the Joe.
The Sunday game will begin at 3 p.m., following the annual GrandSlammers preseason barbecue at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The barbecue and “Fan Day” will be held from Noon until 2 p.m. in the Scholarship Room on the east side of the stadium. Admission if free to GrandSlammer members and $10 each for non members.
The Monday intrasquad game will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m.
