CHILDERSBURG, Ala. – Friday afternoon, May 19, Childersburg High School (CHS) baseball players Lane Dennis and J.D. Oakes signed scholarships to continue their careers on the baseball diamond with the Central Alabama Community College (CACC) Trojans.
Lane Dennis, a skilled pitcher, has been an integral part of the CHS program for several years.
“Baseball’s played a big part in my life,” Dennis said. “All throughout high school, I played five years on varsity, and it’s really been a blast to play with all my friends. That was a big deal for me.”
That deal will continue into college as J.D. Oakes, who has been a catcher for the Tigers for four years, will join Dennis at CACC.
“I’m just extremely grateful for Childersburg and all the coaches that have come through here and all the lessons I’ve been taught,” Oakes noted. “I’m just grateful for another opportunity to continue playing.”
Oakes acknowledged the valuable lessons he has learned at Childersburg, emphasizing the importance of humility in his position as catcher and recognizing that a single pitch can make or break a performance.
Lane and J.D. not only share a teammate bond but also a strong friendship which factored into their decision to attend CACC together.
The fact that their home games will be just 30 minutes away from Childersburg in Alexander City is an added bonus. It allows their families to support and cheer them on throughout their continued college careers.
Additionally, the presence of Chad Slayton, a former two-time state champion, as their pitching coach at CACC further solidified their decision to join the Trojans. Both players have known Coach Slayton for a long time and greatly admire his expertise in the game.
When asked if they considered other options besides CACC, both Lane and J.D. affirmed their unwavering commitment to the Trojans. They viewed this opportunity as a chance to pursue their dreams together, and they are determined to make the most of it.