Alabama Thrower Ruben Banks Wins Silver Medal at SEC Championships: Roll Call, March 1, 2025
Welcome to March. Buckle in for one of the craziest months on the collegiate sports calendar with winter and spring sports overlapping and spring football starting up.
Alabama track and field continued in competition at the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas on Friday. Ruben Banks captured a silver medal in the weight throw to highlight day two of action. The second-place finisher launched a throw of 22.44-meter (73-7.50) on his second attempt.
With one day of competition to go, the men’s team is in a tie for fourth place with 32 points. The women’s track and field team is in 11th place with eight points.
Today’s Crimson Tide Schedule:
- Track & Field, Cross Country at SEC Indoor Championships, College Station, Texas, All Day
- Rowing vs. Eastern Michigan, 9 a.m. CT, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Softball vs. SIUE, 11 a.m., Tuscaloosa, SEC Network+
- Softball vs. Furman, 1:30 p.m., Tuscaloosa, SEC Network+
- Baseball vs. North Dakota State, Tuscaloosa 2 p.m., SEC Network+
- Men’s basketball at No. 5 Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., 3 p.m., ESPN
Crimson Tide Results:
- Women’s tennis: Alabama 4, Missouri 1
- Softball: Alabama 15, UAB 1 (Five Innings)
- Baseball: Alabama 12, North Dakota State 4
- Men’s tennis: Alabama 4, Georgia 3
- Softball: Alabama 12, Furman 2 (Five Innings)
- Gymnastics: Alabama 197.650, Arkansas 197.425
Did You Notice?
- Alabama wheelchair tennis beat Cincinnati and Michigan on Friday.
Countdown to Crimson Tide’s 2025 Football Season Opener
On This Day in Crimson Tide History:
March 1, 1952: With Bobby Marlow out with an injury, Crimson Tide coach Red Drew said he had been impressed with Corky Tharp, Bobby Luna, Bob Conway and Clell Hobson during spring drills. Drew also noted that center Ralph Carrigan had excelled during the spring.
March 1, 1981: Crimson Tide cheerleader Susan Ingram appeared on the cover of Alabama Monthly.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The old adage states, ‘It’s not how you start that matters, it’s how you finish.’
That’s true. But in the Alabama softball team’s case, it sure does feel good to start the season off with some offense.
The Crimson Tide swept the first day of the Crimson Classic on Friday, beating UAB 15-1 in five innings, and taking down Furman 12-2 in five innings, setting a school record for consecutive run-rule wins with six.
Through its first 18 games, Alabama (12-6) has scored 138 runs and has 49 stolen bases. Compare that with last year. The Crimson Tide started a perfect 18-0, but scored 80 runs. And Alabama finished the season with 41 stolen bases. Alabama faded away the rest of the season and finished 39-20.
“We spread the wealth,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “There are 17 players on our roster that can play at any time. The thing is, when they get their chance they take advantage of their opportunity.”
Six Alabama players have scored 10 or more runs and every player with more than two at-bats has at least one run scored.
Freshman Audrey Vandagriff leads the Crimson Tide with 20 stolen bases while Kristen White is 8-for-8 and Larissa Preuitt is 7-for-7 on stolen bases.
It all adds up to a positive outlook for the rest of the season.
“It’s good when your entire team is hot,” Alabama shortstop Brooke Ellestad said. “When we are in practice, we are intentional about the process and making adjustments early. If have an inning where we don’t get it done, I have full confidence we can adjust.”
