Alabama snags another top recruit. Alabama Football/Facebook
Originally appeared on Vype.com
Every athlete dreams about their national signing day ceremony. Episcopal football players Jaylen Waddle and TayJon Martin finally got to experience theirs on Wednesday. Both chose different paths, but are happy with their decisions.
Waddle, a highly sought four-star receiver, grabbed the hat of college football dynasty Alabama, instead of Texas A&M, Florida State, TCU and Oregon.
“I had to remember why I liked Alabama so much,” said Waddle. “Just the culture behind there, it’s a great place to be. Really a great university.”
There’s a lot to be excited about, but he also plans to contribute once he gets to Tuscaloosa.
“I’m just trying to do me,” he added. “I’m not going try to do too much. Whatever the universe will want me to do, I’m ready for.”
TayJon Martin, another Division I recruit, chose Pennsylvania-based FCS program Lafayette College over in-state and FBS offers because he felt it prepared him the best for life ahead.
“Setting myself up for the future,” Martin said of the opportunity. “Setting myself up with the right people, and God has a plan for me.”
Even though Lafayette’s 1,500 miles away, it shares some similarities with his current school, which will make him feel right at home.
“It has an Episcopal feeling, so I’m already used to the environment,” he added. “I know how it is. I know what to expect coming in, and I think it will be a good experience for me.”
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.