Tide Trio Earns Northwoods League Title
8/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 12, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Three University of Alabama baseball players - outfielder Alex Kubal, pitcher Austin Evans and infielder Jon Kelton - led the Thunder Bay (Ontario) Border Cats to the best record in the Northwoods League, clinching the Northern Division title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, which begin Tuesday night.
The Border Cats posted a league-best 42-26 overall record, including a 23-11 mark in the second half, en route to the Northern Division title. The Border Cats will take on Mankato in a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs. Wisconsin and Madison will meet in the other first round series. The two winners will meet in a best-of-three series for the 2008 Northwoods League championship, beginning Friday, Aug. 15.
Kubal played in 46 games for the Border Cats and hit .274 (46 for 168) with five extra base hits, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored in the wooden-bat league. He started 43 games in the outfield and committed only one error all summer. Kubal will be a senior for the Crimson Tide this season.
Kelton played in 52 games and hit .225 with six extra base hits, including one home run, 19 RBI and 24 runs scored. He started 29 games in the outfield and 14 games at second base. Defensively, Kelton made only error the entire summer. Kelton will be a redshirt freshman for the Tide in 2009.
Evans posted a 3-1 record and 2.95 ERA in his 13 appearances on the mound this summer. He also made four starts. The right-hander worked 39 2/3 innings and allowed 13 earned runs and 27 hits with 22 walks and 31 strikeouts. Evans was third on the team in total appearances. He will be a sophomore at Alabama this season.
