Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Justin Hunter
Local young talents Brady Jones and Hampton Hall have been making waves in the world of baseball. Their exceptional skills and dedication to the game allowed the two to be featured on state and national stages.
Brady Jones participated in the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Underclassmen All-Star Game on June 27. This prestigious event featured the top 120 players in the state of Alabama, and Jones was one of the standout performers. Given the opportunity to pitch for two innings, he made the most of it by striking out two opposing players and allowing only one hit. Jones is a tenth grader and pitches for the Oakman High School varsity team.
“I love the game of baseball. All I can do is play the game to the best of my ability and let God align the rest,” Brady says.
Hampton Hall earned a spot on the highly competitive USA Baseball Southeast National Team Identification Series 14-and-under Champions Cup team. This achievement is no small feat, as the team only accepts the top 36 players from a pool of exceptional talent across the Southeastern United States. Hampton started on the Oakman varsity team as a seventh grader and will continue to play on the team this year as an eighth grader.
“The game is going to be at the Team USA Training Complex in North Carolina, and they are going to select the national team to go to Mexico and play against different countries in the World Cup,” Hampton says. “I love baseball. It’s my favorite sport, and I get excited when I get to play. No matter where I’m playing, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to play.”
Oakman High School’s head baseball coach, Ryan Hall, said that these accomplishments for the two young men were well-earned by their hard work and that the community is excited to see them succeed in a larger arena.
“We’re very proud of both Hampton and Brady. These are exposure opportunities for them, but also opportunities for them to develop and grow, and we’re extremely proud of them for getting these opportunities.” WL
