HS sports update: Lions, Hornets move on in playoffs
BASEBALL
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain baseball team celebrated its seniors on Tuesday and came away with a 7-6 win over Pell City in nine innings. Gene Hurst scored the game-winning run to cap off a four-hit night, including a double and two RBIs. Landon Cato went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Kade Sanders picked up the win in relief, hurling 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six.
The Eagles were forced to play Mountain Brook on Saturday in the Class 7A, Area 6 championship game, and the Spartans won the game 2-1 on a walk-off home run by Clay Stearns. Jackson Kimbrell was sensational on the mound, nonetheless, allowing just two hits and a run while striking out 10 in seven innings.
This week, Oak Mountain travels to Bob Jones for the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. A doubleheader is set for Friday at 5 p.m. with a third game set for Saturday if necessary.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team capped off the regular season with a 5-4 win over Homewood on Tuesday. William Root scored the game-winning run along with notching two hits and an RBI.
On Friday, Chelsea earned a sweep of Stanhope Elmore in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Read about the series win here.
This week, the Hornets will host Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in the second round. A doubleheader is set for Friday afternoon with a third game to be played Saturday if necessary.
Briarwood
The Briarwood baseball team began the Class 5A playoffs with a series against Beauregard on Friday. Click here to read about the Lions’ split in Games 1 and 2 on Friday.
The Lions pulled off an improbable comeback on Saturday to win, 9-8. Click here to read how Briarwood managed to advance to the second round.
This week, Briarwood will travel to Calera in the second round. A doubleheader will be played on Friday with a third game set for Saturday if necessary.
Spain Park
The Spain Park baseball team shut out defending Class 6A champion Helena, 5-0, on Monday. Dylan Best hit a home run and drove in two runs and Colton Ledbetter went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Six Jags pitchers combined for the shutout.
The Jags were denied a playoff bid with a 5-3 loss to Mountain Brook on Thursday. Their season came to a close on Friday in a 16-6 loss to Mountain Brook on Friday. Brody Richey went 2-for-2 with three RBIs in the game.
SOFTBALL
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team fell to defending Class 5A state champion Springville, 11-5, on Monday. The Hornets were led offensively by Sarah Cespedes, who went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Karson Rich, who racked up three hits and an RBI.
Chelsea picked up a thrilling 4-3 win over area foe Pelham on Thursday. Pinch hitter Carly Taylor tied the game in the top of the seventh inning with a three-run home run and Rich hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth.
This week, the Hornets will host Sumiton Christian on Monday and Vestavia Hills on Tuesday before going to Mortimer Jordan on Thursday and finishing the regular season at Cullman’s Pre-State Blowout over the weekend.
Briarwood
The Briarwood softball team nearly knocked off area foe Moody on Tuesday, but fell 5-4. Riley Coyne hit two home runs in the game for the Lions. On Thursday, the Lions beat Pleasant Grove, 2-1.
This week, the Lions host Montevallo on Monday, head to Calera on Tuesday, and are at Mountain Brook on Thursday before wrapping up the regular season by hosting the Lady Lion Classic over the weekend.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team earned a 7-4 win over Cordova on Monday. Torie Denkers homered in the game and four players picked up multiple hits. Clara Fuller allowed one earned run in a complete game performance in the circle.
The Eagles earned a share of the Class 7A, Area 6 title with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Spain Park on Tuesday. The game was scoreless until Denkers launched a home run over the left field fence to lift the Eagles to the walk-off win. Lacy Marty was stellar in the circle, allowing just four hits in a shutout performance. The win was also coach Kaitlin Griffin’s 100th career victory. Immediately following the game, the two teams flipped a coin to determine the host of the area tournament and break the tie atop the area. Oak Mountain won the toss and will host the tournament.
Oak Mountain used an eight-run seventh inning to pull away and beat Hoover, 13-3, on Thursday. Jenna Galloway and Bryson Campbell drove in two runs each, while Denkers and Maddie Katona each registered three hits and an RBI.
This week, the Eagles host Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa on Tuesday and travel to Prattville on Thursday to wrap up the regular season.
Spain Park
The Spain Park softball team fell to Class 7A, Area 6 rival Oak Mountain, 1-0, on Tuesday, on a Torie Denkers walk-off home run in the seventh inning. Aside from the homer, Annabelle Widra was fantastic in the circle, allowing just six hits in six innings. The loss put the Jags and Oak Mountain in a first-place tie and Oak Mountain won the coin toss and the right to host the area tournament.
This week, the Jags finish the regular season. They play their annual End Alzheimer’s game against Chelsea at Birmingham-Southern College on Wednesday, and play at Vestavia Hills on Thursday. They will play in Cullman’s Pre-State Blowout over the weekend.
SOCCER
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain soccer teams took the field on Tuesday night, with the girls coming away with a 4-4 tie with Montgomery Academy and the boys shutting out Chelsea, 4-0.
On Friday, both teams entertained McIntosh (Georgia), with the visitors notching a pair of one-goal victories. The boys lost 1-0 and the girls lost 2-1.
Briarwood
The Briarwood boys soccer team came away with a 4-3 win over Pelham on Tuesday night. The Lions moved to 19-2-1 on the year with their 17th straight win on Thursday, with a 4-0 win over Oxford. Seniors Thomas Amster and Bryant Wood scored for Briarwood.
This week, the Lions begin playoff action, with dates and times to be determined.
Chelsea
The Chelsea boys soccer team fell to Oak Mountain, 4-0, on Tuesday. Thursday night proved fruitful for the Hornets. Not only did they pick up a 2-0 win over Gardendale, but Helena upset Pelham to give Chelsea the area title. The girls team also beat Gardendale, 2-0, on Thursday. On Friday, the boys team fell flat in a 5-0 loss to Thompson.
This week, the Chelsea teams will begin their runs in the Class 6A playoffs. The boys will host John Carroll at 7 p.m. Thursday, while the girls will host Homewood at 6 p.m. Friday.
Spain Park
The Spain Park girls soccer team celebrated its seniors on Tuesday night and came away with an 8-2 win over Westminster-Oak Mountain. The boys team was shut out by Mountain Brook, 4-0. On Friday, the girls cruised past Huffman, 10-0.