By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Things could not be much better for the Alabama Southern Eagles baseball team these days, and a big part of that success is due to a pair of former T.R. Miller Tigers.
Freshman outfielder Jacob Salter and sophomore righthanded pitcher Eli Cook have both made significant contributions to an Alabama Southern squad that has won 21 straight games and sports an overall 24-3 record. Alabama Southern has raced out to an early lead in the Alabama Community College Conference with a 5-0 record after last week's sweep of Enterprise-Ozark.
At the time ACCC play started last week, Salter was hitting a robust .338 (19-for-80). Most of that average has been comprised from hitting in the leadoff position although he has batted in the number nine spot a few games.
Salter has stolen seven bases in nine attempts, which includes a steal of home.
Salter admits he has had to step up his game in order to adjust to the tougher pitching he has faced.
Meanwhile Cook has compiled a 2-0 record with a 4.40 earned run average through 28 and two-thirds innings. Cooks has struck out 13 and walked five.
Cook's development of his changeup has helped him a lot this season.
Cook was among the mass exodus that transferred out of the Jefferson Davis Community College program last summer after coach Jim Morrill was released as part of a job consolidation move by the school. Current JDCC head coach Darrell Blevins had not yet been hired by the school at the time Cook decided to transfer.
One other former T.R. Miller graduate, sophomore righthander Patrick Sorrells, is also at Alabama Southern. Sorrells, who has not pitched since February 22, is out indefinitely with a cracked sternum.
Like Cook, Sorrells played last season at JDCC and transferred to Alabama Southern during the summer after Morrill was released.