Kyle Parmley
Spain Park vs. Oak Mountain Softball
Oak Mountain's Abi Brown is shown in a game last season.
Over the course of the year, 280 Living will keep you up to date on the various local high school athletic teams. For previous weekly updates, click here.
BASEBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood baseball team finally began its season last Tuesday with a 12-1 loss to Pelham. Both teams scored a single run in the first inning and that score held until the fifth, when Pelham strung together two big innings to inflate the margin. Carson McKinney’s RBI single in the first accounted for the Lions’ lone run. McKinney also got the start on the mound and went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits while striking out six.
The Spain Park baseball team knocked off Briarwood 8-3 last Thursday evening. The Jags plated all eight of their runs over the first three innings to roll to a comfortable victory. Colton Ledbetter set the table nicely for the Jags offense from the leadoff spot, as he notched two hits, two walks, three runs and three RBIs. Adam Wygle and Chris Mancill notched RBIs for Spain Park as well. Bryce Perrien, McKinney and Christian Ferguson drove in the runs for Briarwood. On the mound, Eli Copenhaver was stellar for the Jags, allowing just one run on one hit in 4 1/3 innings, while striking out nine.
Briarwood was edged out by Pelham 3-2 on Friday evening. Parker Hutson’s single and Perrien’s RBI groundout tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth, but Pelham scratched across the go-ahead run in the fifth and went on to win.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team began its week of action last week with a 4-2 loss to Mountain Brook on Monday. After Chelsea notched two runs in the first inning on RBIs from Carter Frederick and Will Peacock, the Spartans battled back to tie the game before going ahead for good on Beau Hubbard’s two-run single. Clark Griffin pitched the final two frames in hitless fashion to pick up the save for the Spartans. John Marks notched three hits and scored a run for Mountain Brook as well. Connor Ball started on the mound for Chelsea and went four innings, surrendering a lone unearned run on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
The Hornets were back in action on Tuesday and picked up a 9-3 win over Pell City. They jumped ahead with a three-run third inning and scored five over the final two innings to pad the lead. Peacock and Turner Griffin each notched two RBIs in the victory. Bennett Horton gave the Hornets 4 1/3 strong innings on the mound, surrendering just a hit and an unearned run while accumulating five strikeouts.
Chelsea took to the road on Saturday and split a doubleheader at Benjamin Russell. In the first game, the Hornets used a great performance from Brock Hill on the mound to roll to a 6-0 victory. Hill gave up just two hits and struck out nine in six innings of work. Nolan Forehand and Peacock homered in the game for the Hornets as well. Benjamin Russell edged out a 3-2 victory in the second contest. Peacock led the way offensively with two hits and two RBIs.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain baseball team got its week off on the right note with a 5-0 win over Pelham last Monday. The Eagles scored all five runs in the first three innings, and Jackson Kimbrell took care of the rest. The left-handed hurler threw the complete seven innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out 13 batters in the game. He also delivered a home run to lead off the bottom of the first. Jake Rivers went 2-for-3 for the Eagles, hitting a homer as well and driving in two runs. Caleb Ragland was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
The Eagles picked up a 12-5 win on Friday over Helena. Rivers went 4 2/3 innings on the mound, striking out 10 batters to earn the win. He also drove in two runs at the plate. Landon Cato, Dylan Fraser and Turner Hughes homered in the contest as well.
SOFTBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood softball team suffered a 12-5 loss to Pelham on Tuesday evening. Caroline Campbell led the way offensively for the Lions with a 3-for-4 night, as she tripled, drove home a run and scored two more. Taylor Wheat and Blakley Watts also had two hits for the Lions.
Briarwood competed in the Rumble on the River at Pell City over the weekend. The Lions began pool play on Friday with a 3-1 loss to Shades Valley and a 5-2 defeat to Cleburne County. On Saturday, Briarwood fell to Southside-Gadsden 11-1 and dropped a 6-0 decision to Pell City.
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team was back in action last week, beginning with a thrilling 4-3 walk-off victory over Oak Mountain in eight innings. Chelsea rallied to tie the game at 2-2 in the sixth, tied it again in the seventh, and Camryn Smith drove home Chloe Eidson in the eighth to win it. Skylar Baker doubled home a run, and Eidson had an RBI groundout to tie the game for the Hornets in the sixth. After Oak Mountain scored another run in the top of the seventh, Olivia Bergert’s single scored the tying run in the bottom half. Abigail Bryars gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings in the circle, and Tyler Erwin surrendered just one run in the final 3 2/3 innings.
Chelsea competed in Spain Park’s Jaguar Classic over the weekend. The Hornets began things on Friday with a pair of losses in pool play. In a 3-1 loss to Hartselle, Chelsea tied the game in the fourth on an RBI double from Karson Rich, but Hartselle plated two in the bottom half to win. The Hornets fell 5-1 to Dothan in the second contest. The remainder of the tournament was altered due to rain.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team finally got its season underway last Tuesday, as the Eagles fell to Chelsea 4-3 in eight innings. Camryn Smith’s walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth sealed the outcome. Oak Mountain jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on M’Kiyah Mitchell’s two-run single. Emily Hart drove in the Eagles’ other run in the sixth inning. Lacy Marty went the distance in the circle for the Eagles, as she gave up four runs (three earned) on 11 hits. Dawn Autry and Abi Brown each recorded three hits.
Oak Mountain played a pair of games on Saturday as part of a tournament at Wallace State, but the Eagles dropped both contests. Autry and Riley Sullivan each had two hits in a 3-2 loss to Hazel Green, while Mortimer Jordan made its early runs stand up in a 3-1 victory over the Eagles.
TENNIS
Last week, the Briarwood tennis teams dominated the competition. The boys and girls swept all nine spots at the Shelby County Championships. Both teams then swept Homewood, with the girls winning 8-1 and the boys winning 9-0. Both teams picked up 9-0 victories over Opelika.
SOCCER
Briarwood
The Briarwood boys soccer team, now 7-0-1 on the season, picked up two more wins this past week. The Lions defeated the Westminster School at Oak Mountain 1-0 on Tuesday, thanks to a goal from Daniel Windham, and beat the Altamont School 1-0 in a rain-shortened game on Thursday.
This week, Briarwood will open up Class 4A-5A, Area 7 play. The Lions will play at John Carroll on Tuesday and host Indian Springs on Friday.
The Briarwood girls (0-5) did not have a game last week but will also open area play at John Carroll on Tuesday and host Indian Springs on Friday.
Chelsea
The Chelsea boys improved to 5-3 this week after notching a pair of wins over McAdory, 4-2, and Pinson Valley, 4-0.
Tony Nettuno recorded a hat trick against Pinson, while Lando Nichols had three assists. Nichols’ contributions helped him become Chelsea’s all-time assists leader.
The Hornets will host Helena on Tuesday in their Class 6A, Area 8 opener. Then, they will play non-area matches at Talladega on Thursday and against Park Crossing on Friday.
The Chelsea girls kept their perfect record intact last week with a 3-2 win over Mountain Brook. Kailey Littleford scored two goals early, and Haley Duca netted the winner late in the second half.
The Lady Hornets were supposed to play Pinson Valley on Thursday, but their match was canceled. They will open area play at Helena on Tuesday before hosting Homewood on Thursday.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain girls won three more games last week to improve to 8-0 on the season. The Lady Eagles beat Huntsville 5-1 on Monday before earning a pair of Class 7A, Area 5 wins in shutout fashion later in the week.
They blanked Tuscaloosa County 12-0 on Wednesday and Thompson 7-0 on Friday. This week, the Oak Mountain girls will play three more games. They’ll host Mountain Brook on Tuesday and Trinity Presbyterian on Thursday before playing at Auburn on Friday.
The Oak Mountain boys (5-2) also won three games last week. They earned area wins over Tuscaloosa County, 10-0, and Thompson, 1-0, before downing Guntersville 5-0 on Saturday.
This week, the team will host area opponent Hoover on Friday and travel to Enterprise on Saturday.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Briarwood Christian School track and field team opened its outdoor season at the Five Team Battle Royale, hosted by Mountain Brook.
Jay Kynerd (150 meters) and Jake Nunn (500 meters) won events for the Lions.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.
