Vinemont BB presents intersquad game before the 4th of July:
Eagles moving onward following a great 2025 baseball season:
GDW Analysis:
VINEMONT: Memories of an outstanding 2025 baseball season at Vinemont High School will continue in the minds of those who made it happen back in the spring.
Coach Hunter Cornelius endures the moment for it being the best season on the diamond at the 3A school. A first time trip to the quarterfinal round of the AHSAA playoffs, 26 victories and a regular season crown in 3A, Area 11.
Now the Eagles move onward.
That was the case Thursday evening in Vinemont presenting an intersquad matchup from Mike Cupp Field.
Gameday Weekly learned of this event and was on hand for the first of two games with the squad that will take the field for 2026.
Vinemont lost a quality group of seniors by graduation.
But the Eagles will have experience returning, especially at a key position, the mound.
Ryan Dalton, Josh Rhodes, Banks Borwick, Carson Drummond were part of the staff in 2025 and also impact performers during the Eagles' playoff run that included victories in Game 3 of the series with Randolph County in Round 1 and Phil Campbell in the 2nd round.
Cornelius divided the squad of veterans in their red uniforms and others wearing gray.
Newcomers were given their opportunity with the backstop of Cupp Field providing a fan base of moms, dads and grandparents.
Each pitcher worked an inning under sunny skies with game time temperature in the upper 80s and a slight breeze.
The first game of two scheduled was 5 innings and played in 1 hour, 20 minutes.
Dalton got the start for the red team then Rhodes worked the bottom part of the 1st.
Borwick and Drummond were sent to the mound in the middle portion of the game.
Getting a chance to show his stuff was Tucker Mauter, a regular in the outfield last season.
Preparing for their upcoming senior season in this game were Dalton Bryan, Christopher Knight and Easton Thompson.
Will Conquest will be in his junior season with Hayden Robinson to patrol the outfield in giving the Eagles consistency and speed.
Like 2025, the Eagles will pair up with JB Pennington, Hanceville, Holly Pond and Locust Fork in their area.
Vinemont swept everyone except Pennington as the Eagles won a tiebreaker that gave a 2 & 1 record to finish ahead of the squad from Blountsville in Blount County.
The Eagles have soared like their mascot with 44 victories over 19 losses in the last two years with Cornelius.
With summer workouts and a chance to see the team perform in game like conditions, Cornelius approaches 2026 with optimism for Vinemont to once again be a team to be seen by others as a true competitor when it comes to postseason play next April.
Photo of the fans watching the Vinemont BB intersquad game Thursday at Mike Cupp Field.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
