Lions hope preparation pays off in Area 9

The Briarwood Christian School baseball team faces Class 6A-quality teams in AHSAA Class 5A, Area 9 play. Naturally, the Lions have been playing 6A schools all winter to be ready for the challenge.

Briarwood went 6-5 before beginning area play in March. The Lions beat Pelham, lost to Hoover and split two games against Spain Park in some of their notable matchups against 6A squads.

“We’ve got to prepare for a tough area run, so hopefully that will help us,” head coach Steve Renfroe said.

The Lions will be up against former 6A member Homewood and John Carroll, whom Briarwood beat 17-4 in their season opener.

“Homewood is outstanding,” Renfroe said. “They’ve got a great team coming down from 6A, and everybody has told me that they’re the best team around in 5A.”

Ramsay fills out the region. Briarwood hammered the Rams 12-1 in the area opener March 12.

The Lions will finish their season with Area games against Homewood and John Carroll in April, as well as doubleheaders against 6A squads Oak Mountain and Gardendale. Renfroe looks forward to the challenge, and he hopes his team has what it takes to make the Alabama playoffs.

“I think we’re on track,” he said. “We’re scrapping and getting better. We’re playing maybe the toughest schedule in the state, and the challenge for us is that we have got to get better in the next two weeks.”

Remaining Schedule:

Briarwood

April 2 – at Homewood, 6:30 p.m.

April 5 – Homewood, 6:30 p.m.

April 6 – at Oak Mountain, 1:30 p.m.

April 9 – at John Carroll, 6:30 p.m.

April 12 – John Carroll, 6:30 p.m.

April 13 – Gardendale, 11 a.m.