Jacob Edwards and Tanner Elders started playing baseball together in the coach-pitch leagues in Decatur.
Now, they will get to finish their baseball careers together.
Edwards recently announced he will transfer to the University of West Alabama, where he will join up with his life-long friend for their senior seasons.
“After the season got done at Southern, I wanted to see what my options were,” Edwards said. “I have a lot of buddies that are there. It will be cool to play with Tanner one more time. There are some more guys there that I am good friends with from East Central, like Colby Crowley and Wyatt Ball. I was real close with those guys at East Central. I just wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted. I wanted to end on a good note and be around people that I enjoyed being around.”
Edwards played his junior season at Southern Miss after two standout years at East Central but saw very little time on the playing field at USM. The former Newton County standout played in just 14 games and started two for the Golden Eagles. He batted .182 with a double and two RBIs in 11 at-bats.
“I played two games early on and that was it,” Edwards said. “I didn’t really hit the field after that. At the end of the season, I pretty much knew I was going to transfer. I thought it was best to go ahead and transfer and go somewhere where I could play. After the season, I discussed the situation with the coaches, and they told me I was welcome to stay. I just decided it was best for me to move on.”
Edwards batted .347 at East Central in 2018 with 33 RBIs, 11 doubles and three home runs. He led the team with five triples, stole 18 bases and scored 51 runs on the way to second-team All-MACJC honors. As a freshman at ECCC, Edwards batted .316 with five homers, 15 doubles and a team-leading three triples. He also stole 23 bases to lead the team.
Edwards led Newton County High to the Class 4A finals as a senior. He was a first-team 4A All-State selection after batting .450 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, 28 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
He will now be reunited with Elders, who was 3-7 on the mound in nine starts for the Tigers this past season, with a 5.88 ERA in 49 innings pitched. Elders struck out 44 and walked 25.
Edwards has already reconnected with Elders this summer.
“Tanner and I have been lifting and throwing this summer,” Edwards said. “Here in the next week or so, Tanner is going to get on the mound and throw to me. But pretty much, I have been enjoying the summer. I’ve been doing some fishing some but mainly just enjoying my summer for the most part.”
Edwards said he will play shortstop for the Tigers, who finished with a 22-22 record under coach Gary Rundles.
