HS sports update: Local teams finish pre-spring break action
BASEBALL
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain baseball team dropped its fifth straight game on Tuesday, losing 2-0 to Hartselle in a game at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park. Jackson Kimbrell went the distance in the loss, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out 10 hitters.
The Eagles got back on track on Friday, as they swept Pinson Valley, 8-0 and 9-0. In the first game, Carlton Lucas allowed just one hit in five innings of work. Andrew Heiberger went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. Landon Cato picked up a double and two RBIs as well. In the second game, Cato doubled, homered and knocked in two runs. Hunter Hall drove in two. Heiberger, Boston Smith and Caleb Ragland combined for a three-hit shutout on the mound.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team fell in an extra innings contest to Vestavia Hills on Wednesday, falling 4-3 in nine innings. The Rebels scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and Chris Dugas’ walk-off hit in the ninth gave them the win.
Brendon Case surrendered just two hits and three walks in a 2-0 shutout win over Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa on Friday. Case struck out seven hitters and Turner Griffin and Riley Watkins drove in the two runs.
Briarwood
The Briarwood baseball team secured an important Class 5A, Area 8 victory over Sylacauga on Thursday, as the Lions won 8-7 in eight innings. In the eighth inning, Sylacauga scored two runs but the Lions rallied to score three, winning in walk-off fashion when Blake McKenna was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Michael Hiers doubled and drove in two runs in the game.
The Lions beat Sylacauga again on Friday, winning 10-1. Eli Steadman homered, doubled and drove in four runs, with Hiers and Carson Eddy also hitting homers. Hiers pitched five innings in relief, allowing four hits, one run and striking out 10.
Briarwood played a doubleheader on Saturday and came away with a pair of wins, one easier than the other. The Lions began the day with an 11-1 win over Ramsay. In that contest, Wesley Helms was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, with Sam Hamner plating a pair of runs as well. In the second game, Briarwood outlasted Winfield, 6-5, in 13 innings. Briarwood scored two runs to tie the game at 4-4 in the seventh and neither team scored again until the 13th. Helms was 3-for-6 with two RBIs and Parker Scott knocked home two as well.
Spain Park
The Spain Park baseball team held on for a 6-5 win over Gadsden City on Tuesday night. Cooper White led the way offensively, as he went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and scored two runs. Matthew Moser and John Kennington knocked in runs as well.
The Jags were no-hit by Vestavia Hills’ Colton Lewis on Wednesday night in an 11-1 loss. They rebounded on Friday, picking up a 10-0 win over Pelham. Jarrod Kennington allowed just two hits in four innings of work in the win. Moser drove in two runs.
SOFTBALL
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team cruised to a 13-0 win over Mountain Brook in a Class 7A, Area 6 game on Wednesday. Lacy Marty hurled a two-hit shutout in the circle and M’Kiyah Mitchell cemented a big day at the plate with a walk-off grand slam in the fifth inning to enact the run rule. Mitchell drove in six runs in the game, while Abi Brown doubled twice and knocked in three runs.
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team had a rough start to the week, allowing seven runs to Pelham in the first inning on Tuesday before the game was suspended due to weather. The game will be resumed on April 5. The Hornets fared much better on Thursday, as they defeated Sumiton Christian 9-3. Brooke Burback supplied plenty of offense, going 3-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs. Karson Rich drove in two runs as well. Abigail Bryars got the start in the circle and hurled three scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits while striking out eight hitters.
Spain Park
The Spain Park softball team pulled away late in a 5-1 win over Thompson on Wednesday, totaling four runs over the final three innings. Annabelle Widra allowed just an unearned run in a complete game performance in the circle and finished the game’s scoring with a two-run double in the seventh. Bailey Bowers was 3-for-4 with a double and Caroline Kendrick notched two hits and an RBI.
UAB’s Destini England won Conference USA Player of the Week for her stellar performance the week of March 11-17. The Spain Park alum went 9-for-13 (.692 average) with eight RBIs, three doubles and scored four runs in three games.
"Destini came through in the clutch all weekend long, both in getting on base and setting up the offense and getting hits with runners on to drive in runs," head coach Amanda Ellis said, via UABsports.com. "She is really hitting her stride this season and we are looking for her to continue to be a tough at-bat for our opponents."
Another Spain Park softball alumna, Julianna Cross, notched her first career college hit for Samford. On March 17, she singled in a pinch-hit appearance against Tennessee State in her first collegiate at-bat.
SOCCER
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain boys soccer team fell to Spain Park, 4-3, in penalty kicks on Tuesday evening. The Eagles tied the game late in regulation but faltered in penalty kicks after two scoreless overtime periods. The Lady Eagles also fell to Spain Park on Tuesday, losing 6-2.
Oak Mountain’s girls rebounded to pick up an area win over Mountain Brook, beating the Lady Spartans 2-1 on Thursday. The boys team fell to Mountain Brook, 1-0. On Friday, the girls settled for a scoreless draw with McGill-Toolen.
Chelsea
The Chelsea girls soccer team shut out Briarwood on Tuesday, beating the Lions 4-0. The boys team also won on Tuesday, taking down Calera 6-2.
The Lady Hornets beat Pelham, 3-0, on Thursday, clinching the area title. The boys team also won, pulling off a 2-1 upset win over Pelham. The game was scoreless at halftime, but Chelsea scored the first two goals of the second half and held on to win.
Briarwood
The Briarwood girls soccer team fell to Chelsea, 4-0, on Tuesday. On Thursday, Briarwood’s boys team won its 11th game in a row with a 4-1 win over Cullman. Cullman opened the scoring in the contest, but the Lions scored the next four to pull away.
Spain Park
The Spain Park boys soccer team grabbed a big win over Oak Mountain on Tuesday evening, winning 4-3 after penalty kicks. The Jags held a 2-1 lead at halftime and took a 3-2 lead in the second half, but Oak Mountain tied things late to force overtime.
On Thursday, the Lady Jags picked up a 3-2 win over John Carroll. The boys also won, knocking off John Carroll 5-1. Brooks Rice scored three goals to lead the way.
The Spain Park girls also notched a victory over Oak Mountain on Tuesday, winning 6-2. The Lady Jags took a 4-1 lead into the half and cruised to the victory.