Good Monday morning update

It’s that time again to take a daily look at what is making news in the Alabama athletics universe.

• Former Alabama basketballer Yamene Coleman isn’t done with the college game just yet. He is headed to Troy to play out his final season of eligibility after picking up his undergraduate degree from Alabama in May. He will be allowed to play right away, according to the AP, because the NCAA granted a waiver. Troy offers a sports and fitness management program that Alabama does not.
• The ace of the Crimson Tide pitching staff has started his professional career on a hot streak. Austin Hyatt has a 0.69 ERA in his first 24 appearances as a reliever for the Class-A Williamsport Crosscutters in the city that hosts the Little League World Series every summer. Read more about Hyatt’s season here.
• SEC football media days is just more than a week away so expect the football coverage to ramp up. Don’t forget to vote on the poll on the left-hand side of the page. So far, it’s a runaway.

Bama baseball loses NCAA opener

Throwing ace pitcher Austin Hyatt sounded like a good idea for Alabama as it played its first game in the NCAA Clemson Regional (read this). It didn’t work so well for the Tide as Hyatt didn’t make it out of the third inning as Oklahoma State scored eight quick runs before finishing off a 10-6 win to send the Tide to the losers’ bracket.

The loser of the Clemson/Tennessee Tech game will be waiting in that elimination game.

Read more in Saturday’s edition of the Daily for complete details.

Alabama lands three on baseball All-American team

Kent Matthes headlined the three Alabama ballplayers who landed on the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper/Louisville Slugger All-American teams. The slugging right fielder was named to the 17-member first-team.

Teammates Austin Hyatt and Jake Smith both made the third team.

If you need Matthes‘ credentials repeated, you probably don’t read this blog very often. He is the national co-leader with 28 home runs (a school single-season record) and was named the Southeastern Conference player of the year.

Smith will not get to show why he is an All-American this week in the NCAA Regional thanks to his left-leg injury suffered at the SEC Tournament. A team spokesman said he did not travel with the team to Clemson but will be attending the games. When healthy, he was an SEC All-Defensive team member by making just five errors in 112 chances at third base.

Hyatt is the ace of the pitching staff with an 8-2 record and a 3.14 ERA in 14 starts.