One of the framed photos on the table in the middle of the Cottonwood gym Friday morning was of Braylon Morris with a baseball in his hand when he was two or three years old.
Now a Cottonwood High senior, Morris will continue to have a baseball in his hand as a pitcher for the Wallace College Govs for the next two seasons after signing to play for the Dothan community college.
Cottonwood’s Braylon Morris signs with Wallace College baseball as family members and Cottonwood coaches watch.
“It’s a blessing to be able to sign a scholarship to play baseball,” Morris said. “I want to thank my parents and the Lord above. It’s a blessing to have a great program (Wallace) to work out with. Everything they do is to get you to the next level, so it’s a blessing to have an opportunity.”
Morris has been a standout pitcher for the Bears in the last few years. This past spring, the right-hander amassed a 5-3 record and 2.93 earned run average with 73 strikeouts over 55 innings.
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He also starred at the plate with a .342 batting average and a .569 on-base percentage, highlighted by drawing 34 walks and being hit by nine pitches.
His success both as a pitcher and hitter earned him Dothan Eagle Super 12 honorable mention recognition and helped Cottonwood to a 16-15 record and the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs.
In addition to his role as a pitcher, Morris also plays third base and second base for the Bears.
While he excels on both offense and pitching, Morris is expected to be a pitcher only at Wallace.
“I would love to hit or DH, but as of right now, I am going to go pitch,” Morris said.
On the mound, Morris says he has four main pitches – two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, a change-up and his go to pitch – a slider. His velocity is usually around the 87 mile per hour range, said Morris.
“His location is what makes him great as a pitcher,” Cottonwood head coach Danny Coachman said. “He studies the batters If he knows what a batter can’t hit, that batter is going to get that pitch. He has control of his pitches. He can throw a 3-2 breaking ball, a 3-2 change-up or 3-2 off speed. He can place the pitch really well.”
Coachman said a strong work ethic has made Morris a standout baseball player.
“He is a dedicated hard worker,” Coachman said. “I know it is a cliché, but he really is the first to come and last to leave. He displays his leadership skills on the field by doing what is supposed to be done. He is just a great kid – a great kid that I have enjoyed working with for the last five years.
“I know he will do well at Wallace because he is going to work to be a great player.”
The Bears’ senior credits his baseball success to his older brother, Brody, who was a pitcher and infielder at Cottonwood before graduating in 2021.
Cottonwood’s Braylon Morris thanks teammates, family members and friends for their support during a ceremony after signing with Wallace College baseball.
“My brother has blessed me. I spent most of my weekends watching my brother (play baseball),” Morris said. “I watched him, and I picked up a lot of things and that is what has made me so successful.”
Morris has shown himself to be a big-time pitcher in the pressure situations. As a sophomore, he had a three-hit shutout over six innings in a playoff game against Pike Liberal Arts. This past spring, he allowed only four hits and a run, while striking out 11 in a 10-1 opening-playoff win over Ranburne. A week later, he gave up only five hits and three runs over six plus innings with eight strikeouts and only two walks against Pike Liberal Arts before hitting the 120-pitch limit and having to come out of the game.
In addition to baseball, Morris has also starred at Cottonwood in football. For the past two years, he has been the Bears’ starting quarterback. This past season, the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder threw for 1,587 yards (122.1 a game) with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions off 77-of-115 (66.9 percent). He also rushed for 1,009 yards (77.6 yards a game) with 13 touchdowns on 154 carries (6.6 yards a carry). Combined rushing, passing, receiving, he accounted for 2,614 yards (201.1 yards a game) and 30 TDs.
He also recorded 37 tackles on defense as a linebacker with 11 tackles for loss and three QB sacks, while helping Cottonwood to a 12-1 record, a region title and to the Class 2A state quarterfinals.
Morris
“Going into high school, I didn’t think I would be a quarterback,” Morris said. “I was more of fullback. I was a heavier set kid. Over the years, I put on some muscle and got a little slender. Last year, another quarterback went down (with an injury), and I said, ‘Give me a shot.’ They put in there and the rest is history.”
Morris said he chose to play baseball at Wallace for several reasons.
“The coaches are great people,” Morris said. “It is closer to home. It is a great program and why not stay home when you have a great program around you.”
He added, “I am blessed that they picked me. They make kids from the Wiregrass great athletes and develop them a lot better than some others do. They were the No. 2 JUCO in the nation last year for a long time and I think they can help me reach my goals after I get done playing with them.”
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