With some changes for the second half of the 2015 season, the Birmingham Giants teams are beginning to prepare for their second half run. Highlighted by the addition of 2 new teams, a 16u Softball team coach by former Huntindon College player Heather McGuirk, and for the first time ever, a second baseball team, an 11u team.
On the 4 teams, 01,02,03, and 16u baseball teams, the Giants return 98%(all but 1 of 46 players), back to teams that amassed an 88-60-7 record, while producing some tremendous individual seasons.
Coach Steven Rowe’s 03 Giants (40-20-2) :For the 03 Giants, Ali King led the entire organization with a .578 average, with a Home run over the fence, Lauren Dill hit .505, and on defensive side the ball Catcher Kailey Hicks threw out 19 runners, and 21 game winner Julia Petty (21-12), who led the organization with 132 strikeouts, and 15 game winner Chy Barnhill (15-6). A strong offensive team, the team returns the entire line up, Krista Glaze 2b/of, Reese Lowery 2b/of, Abbie Warnick 3b/c/of, Piper Lowery 3b/of, Kadence Ward p/ss/of, and Taylor Simpkins 3b/1b/of.
Coach Kiley Barton’s 02 Giants (26-14-2): The 02 Birmingham Giants return all 10 players, including Ka’Mya Hampton (.424 2 HR) and Elissa Glaze (.563 2 HR) and Hadley Andrews (.421 52 runs). Defensively the Giants return all 3 pitchers (Ka’Mya Hampton(11-3) Blakely Burr(12-7, 1.13 ERA) Ali Parker (3-3) )and both catchers (Kim Livingston, and Lauren Cabiness), a battery that allowed the fewest hits and earned runs in a season in club history. Known as a defensive team, returning second baseman Mollie Freeman and First baseman Kinley Hall lock down the right side and out fielder Kiley Cordell sures up an athletic outfield.
Coach Kristi Harris 01 Giants (15-19): The 01 Birmingham Giants return their 10 game winner in the circle Skylar Street, and leading hitters Allison Roberson (.471) and Sarah Grace Moore (.461) and a solid defensive team that includes Taylor Dawkins (of), Maci Harris c/of, Cassi Williams SS/of, Tori Layfield 2b/of, Turner Cole 1b/3b, Mollie Peoples c/3b, Francis Fowler 3b/of, and Kennedy Jackson of on a team that more than doubled its wins total (15) from the previous fall.
The 16u boys baseball team (7-7-3) return a pitching staff that despite playing up all spring against some elite teams. boasts 4 pitchers that carry sub 3 ERA’s (Noah Hathorn 2.67 , Marshall Clark 2.97 , Mikey McGuire 2.28, Ethan Thrasher 2.15) and 1 under 2, Ben Jackson (1.60). Offensively the Giants return leading hitters Mikey McGuire (.385) and Tyler Miller (.305), and 3 guys including Charles Cobb (18), Brock Shafer (14), and Mikey McGuire (17) that accounted for 49 stolen bases. Defensively the Giants return 3b Hunter Garcia, SS Joe Schramm, 2b Stone Favrot, 3b Gaitlin Roberson, of Jamie Rainer and new comers Cade Cater and Preston Kendrick.
The Giants teams played the spring season, playing at 13 universities in 8 showcase venues, in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The fall season holds more of the same for all 4 teams, with games scheduled for baseball at SW Georgia State, Birmingham Southern, Univ. West Alabama, and Rickwood Field, and softball will play at Southern Union, SW Georgia State, Jacksonville State, Univ Montevallo, and Univ Alabama Huntsville.
The Giants fall campaign will end with the organizational year end banquet at Pine Tree country club on November 14th.
Start Back Dates:
03 Giants : Monday Aug 3
02 Giants : Tuesday Aug 4
01 Giants : End of August
16u Baseball: August 15
