DECATUR — Following his team’s win against Sylva Bay Academy Sept. 1, Newton County Academy tight end/defensive end Kemp Alderman flew to Fort Myers, Fla., the next day and exchanged his football helmet for a baseball cap.

Alderman was one of 40 players selected to Perfect Game USA’s 14U baseball festival the weekend of Labor Day. A pitcher, catcher and third baseman for the Generals’ baseball team, Alderman pitched and played first base in the tournament as a member of the West squad along with 19 other players. He was just one of two kids selected from Mississippi to participate, and the event helped raise money for Miami’s children’s hospital.

Perhaps the biggest moment was when former NCA assistant football coach Rob Roberts, who now coaches at Newton High School, was able to capture footage of Alderman on Fox Sports South as he came in to close for his team, retiring the side.

“Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad,” Alderman said of being on TV. “If you do well, you’re happy, but if you do (poorly), you’re like, ‘Well, everyone saw it.’”

Perfect Game USA, which boasts itself as the “world’s largest baseball scouting service,” selected Alderman to play after the organization’s Jeremy Brown watched Alderman play. The experience was worthwhile, not only for the travel aspect, but also for helping Alderman continue to develop as a player. 

“I got to play with the top 40 kids in my age group,” Alderman said. “I played against a lot of those kids before, and then some of them were on my team… and it was on TV, so of course it was really fun.”

Though Alderman said he wasn’t able to visit the children’s hospital in Miami, his teammates were, and he was happy to help out a good cause by being there.

“It means a lot,” Alderman said. “Some of the players got to go there and give autographs for the kids, give them some shirts and hats, play with them and show them we’re there for them.”

Alderman’s father, Kelly Alderman, who coaches NCA’s baseball team, said he was proud of his son for getting to attend the tournament and hopes the experience will pay off in the future.

“You’re going to fail a lot at that level, and I think that’s good for him, to learn a little bit about failure,” Kelly Alderman said.

Said Kemp Alderman, “It makes me a better baseball player and a better person.”

While Kemp Alderman was able to make the tournament for two days, he had the option of playing all five days, but that would have made him unavailable for the Generals’ game against Sylva Bay Academy. Kemp Alderman refused to miss that game, and Perfect Game USA allowed him to play football and still compete on the team. It’s a difficult balancing act, but Kemp Alderman said his parents have been helpful and supportive.

“I just try to make time,” Kemp Alderman explained. “They’ve been really supportive. They take me to wherever I want to go and help me get seen.”

Kemp Alderman recently committed to Ole Miss to play baseball. The Rebels’ coaching staff doesn’t know if he’ll pitch or catch at that level yet, but Kemp Alderman said he’s grateful just to have the opportunity, especially since it’s his dream school.

“I’m a big Ole Miss fan,” Kemp Alderman said. “I’ve always wanted to play at the Division I level, especially at Ole Miss.”

The elder Alderman said the most important thing for his son to do between now and college was to continue to improve.

“I’m proud of him,” Kelly Alderman said. “He has to get better if he’s ever going to play there.”

Kemp Alderman agreed, saying now wasn’t the time to get complacent.

“It’s pretty nice, knowing you don’t have to worry about (my college decision) that much, but you can’t stop working, and you have to remain humble,” Kemp Alderman said.

Kemp Alderman is also the son of Sha Alderman.