Each Monday for the duration of the Alabama baseball and softball seasons, DailyBamaBlog.com correspondent Brett Hudson will track outstanding individual performances with the Star Series. Three players from each team will get 1-star, 2-stars or 3-stars with a running season tally.
The Crimson Tide began the 2013 season by winning the UNI Dome Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this weekend with a perfect 5-0 record. Alabama started the tournament with a 7-2 win over Illinois and an 8-1 win over Northern Iowa. Those were followed by an 8-2 victory over Drake, a 10-7 win over Green Bay and a 10-0 win in five innings over North Dakota State.
3-Star Player: Freshman outfielder Haylie McCleney. McCleney completed her first weekend of collegiate softball with a 13-18 record at the plate, including nine runs scored and another four RBIs. McCleney, who started all five games at center field to replace senior Jan Fenton, stole five bases. McCleney was named SEC Freshman of the Week.
2-star Player: Junior pitcher Jackie Traina. Traina pitched three times, with two complete games and one relief performance. Both of Traina’s starts were complete games: the first a seven-inning, three-hit performance giving up one earned run and 12 strikeouts, and the other a five-inning shutout giving up four-hits and striking out eight batters. Traina’s relief appearance was 2.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts and two hits allowed. At the plate, Traina was 4-6 with 3 RBIs and one run.
1-star Player: Senior outfielder Keima Davis. The highlight of Davis’ weekend was a pinch-hit three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to give Alabama its 10-7 win over Green Bay, prompting her teammates to take to Twitter to celebrate.
Yo @runfastkeke is a straight BALLER!!!!! #Clutch #bamaSB
— Haylie McCleney (@hayliemac8) February 10, 2013
“@khuntt10: @runfastkeke3 you are such a STUD! #ballerstatus #2homerunsin2days” she’s so good tho!!!!!! #BEAST
— Leslie Jury (@lesliejury23) February 10, 2013
Davis went 4-11 with 11 RBIs and one stolen base.
2013 Season Tally
Haylie McCleney: 3 stars
Jackie Traina: 2 stars
Keima Davis: 1 star
Contributed by Brett Hudson
