Photo: Westbrook Christian senior Hugh Windle signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Alabama at Huntsville on November 17 in Rainbow City. Pictured, from left: Hugh’s sister Sara Cate,Hugh’s mom Cate, Hugh, Hugh’s dad and Westbrook head baseball coach Jerry Windle. (Not pictured: Hugh’s brother Trey). (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Hugh Windle will be taking his talents to the Rocket City next year.
The Westbrook Christian senior and baseball standout signed a scholarship with the University of Alabama at Huntsville on November 17.
“I’ve always dreamed of this moment since I was little,” said Windle, who plans on studying business at UAH. “I’ve worked so hard for this, and it’s great to see that hard work pays off. I want to thank my dad for all the countless hours he spent working to help me improve.
“UAH was my first option, and honestly, it felt like home right when I got there. Coach [Hunter] Royer and Coach [B.J.] Holloway really made me feel like they wanted me there.”
Windle helped the 2022 Warriors win the program’s 15th straight area championship and qualify for the Class 2A state quarterfinals. He batted .287 with 28 hits (including five doubles and four triples), 28 runs, 19 RBI and 20 steals with only 11 strikeouts. On defense, he finished with a .901 fielding percentage. In 70.1 innings on the mound, he went 8-3 with a 1.194 earned run average and 112 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .187 average.
Windle was a first-team member of the Class 2A ASWA All-State and All-Messenger baseball teams and participated in the North/South All-Star baseball game this past July in Montgomery.
“It’s a real blessing to be able to be on the field with your son on a consistent basis,” said Hugh’s dad and Westbrook head baseball coach Jerry Windle. “Hugh’s helped us consistently on the field, at the plate and on the mound. But where Hugh influences us most is his leadership on the field and in the dugout. It’s exciting to see Hugh have the opportunity to do something he’s always wanted to do, which is to play college baseball.”
Windle, who transferred from Springville prior to his junior year, said his teammates and classmates were welcoming from the moment he stepped onto the school’s Rainbow City campus.
“I felt like a family atmosphere right when I got here, so it was an awesome feeling,” he said.
The 2022 UAH baseball team went 28-25 while making it to the finals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Windle will join 2022 Westbrook graduate Will Noles and 2021 Hokes Bluff graduate Payton Lemons on the Blazer roster.
“Hugh is the smoothest infielder I’ve ever seen,” said Westbrook athletic director and head coach Drew Noles. “He makes hard plays look easy, and that’s the sign of a great player. But he’s not just going to UAH to play baseball; he’s going to UAH to further his education. I got to coach Hugh in football, and he’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever coached. Hugh’s one of those guys that didn’t have a lot of bad days. He’s a guy that always brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm that makes everyone around him better. Hugh has also turned into such a great spiritual leader as much as he has an athletic leader for us.”