07-24-2013, 09:33 PM
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Blackwood closed his recruitment just as it was beginning to gain steam. According to Hartselle coach William Booth, Samford was preparing to offer, and Mississippi State wanted to get the shortstop in Starkville on a visit.
Blackwood finished his junior season at Hartselle with stout numbers, hitting .488 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs while helping the Tigers claim the program’s eighth Class 5A state title. His 103 hits set a new Alabama High School Athletic Association state record.
Blackwood was The Daily’s Class 4A-6A baseball player of the year, and the Alabama Sports Writers Association selected him as the Class 5A hitter of the year. He was also named to the MaxPreps All-America team.
Even though Blackwood has not taken any of the five official visits allotted by the NCAA, the Hartselle slugger said his commitment with UAB is firm and he doesn’t regret closing his recruitment early.
Blackwood said the opportunity to play home games at Regions Field, the new $64 million facility built for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league baseball team, helped draw him to UAB. In March, UAB athletics director Brian Mackin and Barons managing partner Stan Logan announced that the Blazers would play as many games at Regions Field as the two teams’ schedules allowed.
Blackwood closed his recruitment just as it was beginning to gain steam. According to Hartselle coach William Booth, Samford was preparing to offer, and Mississippi State wanted to get the shortstop in Starkville on a visit.
Blackwood finished his junior season at Hartselle with stout numbers, hitting .488 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs while helping the Tigers claim the program’s eighth Class 5A state title. His 103 hits set a new Alabama High School Athletic Association state record.
Blackwood was The Daily’s Class 4A-6A baseball player of the year, and the Alabama Sports Writers Association selected him as the Class 5A hitter of the year. He was also named to the MaxPreps All-America team.
Even though Blackwood has not taken any of the five official visits allotted by the NCAA, the Hartselle slugger said his commitment with UAB is firm and he doesn’t regret closing his recruitment early.
Blackwood said the opportunity to play home games at Regions Field, the new $64 million facility built for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league baseball team, helped draw him to UAB. In March, UAB athletics director Brian Mackin and Barons managing partner Stan Logan announced that the Blazers would play as many games at Regions Field as the two teams’ schedules allowed.