HS sports update: Lions fall in final, Hornets advance to state
SOCCER
Briarwood
Briarwood Christian School scored the first goal in Friday’s Class 4A-5A boys soccer championship match.
But the defending champions reeled off the next five goals of the match, as the Randolph School came back to roll over the Lions, 5-1, and capture its second straight title.
Logan Frost delivered the opening goal for Briarwood in the sixth minute, as he finished a run down the left touch line, turned the corner toward the Randolph net and scored. Unfortunately for Frost, that was the last offense he and his mates could muster.
Sean O’Hare tied the match eight minutes later on a score from an Ian Krajna assist. It was the first of two goals for O’Hare. Sam Hartley found the back of the net twice for Randolph as well. Parker League gave the Raiders the lead for good in the 37th minute with a goal.
The late barrage of goals took the life out of the Lions attack, and by the time the hydration break at the 60-minute mark came, Briarwood’s hopes for a fourth state championship were gone.
Lions goalkeeper Grant Fielding had three saves for the match.
The Lions finished the season with a 23-3-1 record.
Westminster-Oak Mountain
The Westminster-Oak Mountain boys soccer team captured its second state title in four years, defeating West Morgan 2-0 in the Class 1A-3A final on Friday. Click here for the full recap.
GOLF
The Briarwood boys golf team qualified for the state tournament by placing second in the Class 5A South Sub-State tournament on Monday, May 7. Briarwood finished second behind St. Paul’s, 312-319. Slade McCraw fired a team-best 76, while Drew Schroeder shot 78, Cooper Blevins 79, Matthew Herritt 86 and Andrew McCary 87. Peyton Fox shot 84 as an individual.
Annamarie Thompson qualified for sub-state as an individual on the girls side, and shot an 89.
The state tournament will be held Monday and Tuesday, May 14-15, at The Shoals Golf Club in Muscle Shoals.
SOFTBALL
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2002, as the Eagles were the top qualifier out of the Class 7A North Central Regional. Click here to read about Oak Mountain’s run to state.
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team survived the Class 6A South Central Regional, held Thursday and Friday in Troy, to advance to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
After falling to the loser’s bracket after the first day, the Hornets rallied to win two games on Friday to lock up their state berth.
In the first of three games on Thursday, Chelsea took care of Benjamin Russell, 7-1. Brooke Burback led the way offensively, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Camryn Smith also doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs. Sarah Cespedes dominated in the circle, allowing an unearned run and striking out nine in seven innings.
Two unearned runs cost Chelsea in a 2-0 loss to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. Abigail Bryars allowed just five hits over six innings, but the two gifted runs were too much for the Hornets offense to overcome. The Hornets rebounded to dominate Wetumpka, 14-3, in the nightcap. Karson Rich went 3-for-4 with three runs driven in, while Smith and Lexi Serio each had two RBIs. Cespedes struck out six in a five-inning outing.
On Friday, the Hornets began the day by eliminating Brookwood with a 7-2 win. All nine runs in the game were scored over the final three innings. Burback and Morgan Seay each homered in the game for Chelsea, and Rich, Smith and Chloe Eidson all drove in runs as well. Cespedes went the distance, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned).
Chelsea clinched its state tournament berth with a 7-4 win over Area 8 adversary, Helena. The Hornets had dropped each of their previous four meeting with Helena, but won the game that counted most. Serio had a three-hit day, while Skylar Baker and Smith each had two hits and two RBIs. Cespedes picked up the win by going the complete seven innings.
The 6A state tournament will be played Friday and Saturday at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park. Chelsea last won the tournament in 2016.
- Robert Carter contributed to this report.