Oak Mountain pitcher with local ties signs at Bevill State

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
Hayden Gaston, a senior pitcher at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, has signed a baseball scholarship with Bevill State Community College in Sumiton.
Gaston is the grandson of Carl Gaston of Russellville and the late Ruth Gaston, and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lewis, Jr. of Spruce Pine.
Gaston posted a 4-1 record with a 2.80 ERA during the regular season, helping Oak Mountain win the Class 6A, Region 6 championship.
The Eagles (24-8) were scheduled to host John Carroll on Tuesday in the first round of the state playoffs.
"Hayden has pitched in our region series all season, and he's done a great job for us," Oak Mountain coach Tommy Youngblood said. "We can always count on a full seven innings from him when he's on the mound. He's one of those guys that always gives your team a chance to win."
Youngblood added that Gaston's consistency will help him continue to be successful at the next level.
"I think that's the biggest thing with Hayden, his consistency," Youngblood said. "He's only had one bad outing all season. Regardless of who we're facing, he goes out and gets the job done.
"He's a major reason why we were able to win our region."