By Rubin E. Grant
Mountain Brook senior John Robicheaux came through in the clutch once again, as he has done throughout his baseball career with the Spartans.
In the first game of Mountain Brook’s series against Homewood last Friday to determine the Class 6A, Area 9 championship, Robicheaux delivered on the mound and at the plate. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and one walk with 11 strikeouts. He also smacked a bases-clearing triple as the Spartans blanked the Patriots 10-0.
The Spartans clinched the area title with a 3-1 victory in the second game as 6-foot-5 junior right-hander Caleb Barnett pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts.
Mountain Brook coach Lee Gann expected nothing less from Robicheaux.
“John has done a lot of great things for us the last three seasons,” Gann said. “He’s such a dynamic player. He can do so many things offensively, defensively and on the mound. He’s a great runner and strong hitter. He’s very good defensively. He plays center field and makes a ton of plays. He does a fantastic job on the mound with first pitch strikes and getting ahead of the hitters.
“He’s been a leader in our program. Players gravitate toward him.”
Robicheaux, a 6-foot-2 right-hander, has been a starter since he was a sophomore. He has undergone a mental and physical transformation since then.
“I’ve matured not only with my mind and mental approach, but my body too,” Robicheaux said. “I’ve gained strength and weight. As a sophomore, I was about 170 pounds and now I’m 190.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is Robicheaux’s desire to help the Spartans win. That’s why he enjoys being a two-way player.
“I definitely see myself as position player, but I consider myself a pitcher, too,” he said. “I just try to help the team succeed.”
As a pitcher, Robicheaux relies on a fastball that has topped out at 91 mph but sits consistently at 87-88 mph.
“Most people can’t hit my fastball, but I’m able to use my off-speed pitches when I have to,” Robicheaux said. “I can also get outs with my curveball and cutter, which is more of a slider.”
Robicheaux improved his record to 6-2 and lowered his earned-run average to 1.54 with his dominant performance against Homewood. He also has 61 strikeouts and 23 walks in 41 innings pitched over nine starts.
Hitting third in the Spartans’ batting order, his numbers at the plate are equally good. Going into the games against Homewood, he had a .418 batting average and .567 on-base percentage. He had 23 RBI, 27 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in as many attempts.
“I say I’m a very tough out,” Robicheaux said. “Every time I step in the box, I try to hit the ball hard. I can hit for power, but I think of myself as a versatile hitter.”
Robicheaux is headed to Samford to play in college for Bulldogs head coach Tony David.
“I really liked coach David when I visited,” Robicheaux said. “I also liked the campus. I’m looking forward to playing there. I think I’m a good fit for their program.”
David also believes Robicheaux is a good fit.
“John is an incredible athlete that can really swing it,” David said at the time of Robicheaux’s signing. “He is a really good runner and an outstanding defender in the outfield with a great physical frame that projects well.”
Gann expects Robicheaux to become even better in college.
“I think he has a good future ahead of him,” Gann said. “I don’t know what they want to do with him, whether they want to use him as a dual player or just as a hitter. He’ll do a good job however they use him.”
Right now, Robicheaux and the Spartans are hoping to flip their postseason script. The past two years they have been eliminated in the second round by the eventual Class 6A champion, Hartselle in 2022 and Oxford in 2023.
In the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, the Spartans (26-4) are ranked No. 3 with Hartselle and Oxford ranked 1-2. The Spartans will open the playoffs Friday at home against Muscle Shoals.
“I think we’re very capable of winning state,” Robicheaux said. “We’re a very balanced team. We’ve got a good 1-2 punch on the mound with me and Caleb (an Alabama commit), and we’ve got a third starter, Sellers Neuendorf, who is very good. We’ve also got one of the best closers in the state, Kenneth Diddell.
“Offensively, we’ve got guys who get on base and get the job done.
“We play for each other and we refuse to lose. Our motivating cry is the Greek word ‘Arete,’ which means thrive for excellence.”
