History in making for Brewton campus
The Coastal Alabama Community College North baseball team in Brewton has won the Alabama Community College Conference tournament and is now one step away from punching its ticket into the College World Series. It’s been 26 years since the Brewton-based team won the state’s first community college national tournament, also under Head Coach Keith Griffin, who returned to the dugout in Brewton in 2022.
In winning the ACCC championship, the Coyotes fulfilled one of their primary goals despite a slow start to the season. But when it counted, in the final contest against Central Alabama Community College on April 28, freshman Ethan McAnally hit a walk-off double to secure the conference title, 5-4.
“It's amazing how teams mature,” Coach Griffin said. “There's always a corner to turn in a baseball season. And on Championship Sunday, I reminded the players I've been in this game 16 times and won it 14 times, to try and build their confidence.
“So I'm convinced if we do and play right, we will make it to the finish line.”
Once again, Griffin’s wisdom and experience paid off, and next week the Yotes will head to the NJCAA Region Championship in Palatka, Fla., thanks to timely hitting, consistent defense and solid pitching. With a victory in that tourney, the team will be heading to Oklahoma and the College World Series.
During the offseason, Griffin said he was confident in the team he recruited, and was proud when the players shook off their lukewarm start and started peaking at the right time. He credits the players’ confidence with that, and what he calls the “fifth tool” in baseball, in addition to running, hitting, fielding and throwing.
“The fifth tool is player toughness. How tough are you?” Griffin said. “And I think we did a really good job of enhancing and making our guys get close to their maximum potential.
“We did a really good job of developing that and getting those guys better. Now we need to play good baseball next weekend so we can earn a trip to the World Series.”
