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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.

He also received a full scholarship, which isn't offered that many times.

One of our baseball assistants tweeted the other day the he was excited about getting the best hitter in the state. I guess he meant this guy. The kid has great stats.

Yeah. And to those who think facilities have no bearing on recruiting...

Even if it isn't our direct facilities.

The baseball program at Hartselle has a fanatical level of coaching, practice, player and parent involvement. Like 5:25 a.m. arrival, practice fielding for 90 minutes, shower, go to school, 2 rounds of batting practice in the cages during P.E., shower, go back to class, afternoon game, go home. And practice is 6 days a week from Jan. 2nd until school is out.

And they put 3 to 5 kids into D-1 programs or the minor leagues every year.

(07-24-2013 09:33 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  http://www.decaturdaily.com/sports/high_...eM.twitter



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.

Facilities.

Champlin
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/...short.html

This is why even if / when the dome is built we need to play there instead of Legion Field until our facility is built. Then again we may beat them to it.

Given the effectiveness of the Birmingham City government, we ought to.

Looks like a great recruit. Huge pick up for UAB.

Since FACILITIES has been brought up again, I wonder what would our FB & BB HCs put on their own personal "wish lists" for UAB to ask for besides the OCS?