Photo by Sam Chandler
Oak Mountain Soccer
Oak Mountain High School senior Nicole Payne (11) dribbles during her team's game at Vestavia Hills on Tuesday, March 19.
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 picked up its first victory of the season on Tuesday evening, with a 4-2 area win over John Carroll. The Lions broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning, as Bryce Perrien scored on a wild pitch and Sam Hamner drove in another run on a groundout. Noah Whatley pitched the final three innings for Briarwood in scoreless fashion, allowing two hits and striking out four. Jake Willett and Brock Sanders drove in the runs for John Carroll.
Briarwood earned another victory over John Carroll on Friday, as the Lions broke through in the third inning and went on to a 10-0 win. Jonah Carroll threw a no-hitter for the Lions, striking out seven and walking just one in five innings of work. Carson McKinney doubled twice for the Lions and drove in three runs to lead the offense. Perrien notched two hits.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team knocked off Calera 8-4 last Tuesday. Nolan Forehand and Brady Morgan each drove in two runs and Bennett Horton had four hits, an RBI and scored three runs. Connor Ball got the win and JT McGregor earned the save.
Chelsea earned another win over Calera on Thursday, as the Hornets rallied in the seventh inning to win 7-6. Chelsea started strong with four runs in the first inning but surrendered that lead in the fifth. Will Peacock’s two-run triple in the top of the seventh propelled the Hornets back to the lead, and they hung on.
The Hornets suffered a pair of tough, one-run defeats to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa on Saturday. In the first game, Hillcrest scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off with a 9-8 victory. Offensively, Carter Frederick and Nolan Forehand each tallied three hits, with Frederick driving in two runs. In the second game, Chelsea scored three in the seventh but the rally fell short in a 6-5 loss. Jacob Tinnell doubled home two runs to lead the way.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain baseball team played a pair of games at Choccolocco Park in Oxford on Tuesday. In the first game, the Eagles dispatched Booneville (Mo.) 10-0 behind Hansen McCown’s no-hitter. He struck out 12 batters and faced just one over the minimum. Ryan Reuse and Dylan Fraser paced the offense with two RBIs apiece. The Eagles cruised by Austin 6-1 in the second game of the day. Jack Wilson doubled among his two hits and drove in two runs. Jackson Kimbrell allowed just three hits and a run in the complete game effort, striking out 13.
Oak Mountain took a 4-1 win over Northridge on Thursday. The game was tied entering the bottom of the fourth, when Luke Percer hit a two-run single to give the Eagles the lead for good. Turner Hughes, Blake Sandidge and Hunter Hall combined to allow just one run over seven innings on the mound.
Homewood earned a 4-2 win over Oak Mountain on Friday. Oak Mountain jumped on the board with a pair of second-inning runs, but the Patriots took a 3-2 lead in the third on consecutive run-scoring hits from John Hall, Daniel Patton and Michael Kash. The Patriots tacked on an insurance run on a Crawford Doyle hit in the fifth. Hall earned the win with four shutout innings of relief and Justin Perreault struck out two in a scoreless seventh to notch the save. Jake Rivers notched three hits and an RBI for the Eagles.
SOFTBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood softball team’s rally fell short last Monday in a 6-4 loss to Marbury. The Lions scored all four of their runs over the final three innings. For Briarwood, Caroline Campbell registered two hits and an RBI in the contest, while Cameron Fountain allowed just four hits in seven innings pitched, with all six runs unearned.
Briarwood lost to McAdory 11-7 on Tuesday. McAdory jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the contest before the Lions rallied to score five in the fifth inning and make it interesting. Taylor Wheat had a big game at the plate for the Lions, as she went 3-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBIs.
The Lions fell to Marbury 7-0 on Thursday.
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team improved to 3-0 in area play with a convincing 11-0 win over Calera last Monday. Abigail Bryars had a big game, in the circle and at the plate. She pitched all five innings for the Hornets and allowed just one hit while striking out five. She also contributed a pair of hits and two RBIs as well.
Chelsea surrendered the tying and go-ahead runs in the final inning to fall 4-3 to Springville on Tuesday evening. The Hornets took the lead in the fifth on a two-run single by Chloe Eidson before the Tigers hit a two-run homer in the seventh.
Oak Mountain picked up an 8-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday. Abi Brown did almost all the damage singlehandedly, as she drove in six runs for the second time in three days. She finished the game 3-for-3 with two home runs, a walk and two runs scored as well. M’Kiyah Mitchell drove in the other two runs, as she homered as well. Lacy Marty was sharp in the circle, allowing an unearned run on three hits while striking out four. Karson Rich drove in the lone run for the Hornets.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team started last week on a high note with a 16-2 win over Mountain Brook on Monday. The Spartans scored a run in the top of the first but the Eagles put up nine in the bottom half and cruised to the five-inning win. Grace Hummel homered for Oak Mountain and Abi Brown went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Clara Fuller doubled and drove home three runs as well. Dawn Autry, M’Kiyah Mitchell and Julia Tucker all knocked in two runs. Hannah Atwood surrendered one hit and struck out 10 in five innings in the circle.
Oak Mountain knocked off Class 7A, Area 5 opponent Hoover 12-6 on Tuesday, as the Eagles scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings to cruise to the win. Brown led the way offensively, as she went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, six RBIs and four runs scored on the night. Hummel knocked in three runs, while Mitchell, Atwood and Tucker all had two RBIs. Tennyson Guffey led Hoover’s offense with three hits, including a double, and an RBI.
Oak Mountain was unable to back up the area win with another on Wednesday, as the Eagles fell to Thompson 4-3. Riley Sullivan homered and drove in two for Oak Mountain, Brown drove in a run and Dawn Autry racked up three hits.
The Eagles got back in the win column on Thursday with an 8-1 win over Chelsea. Brown did almost all the damage singlehandedly, as she drove in six runs for the second time in three days. She finished the game 3-for-3 with two home runs, a walk and two runs scored as well. Mitchell drove in the other two runs, as she homered as well. Lacy Marty was sharp in the circle, allowing an unearned run on three hits while striking out four. Karson Rich drove in the lone run for the Hornets.
SOCCER
Briarwood
The Briarwood boys soccer team beat Calera 6-0 on Tuesday to improve to 11-1-2 on the season. The Lions, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A in last week’s poll, will be off this week for spring break.
Chelsea
The Chelsea girls soccer team tallied three shutout wins last week and is now 11-1 on the season. The Hornets blanked Chilton County, 10-0, Pelham 10-0, and Gadsden City 3-0. They were ranked No. 1 in Class 6A in last week’s poll. This week, they will be off for spring break.
The Chelsea boys soccer team also had a successful week, picking up a pair of wins over Chilton County, 7-2, and Pelham, 2-1. The Hornets beat Pelham, an area opponent, on penalty kicks thanks to clutch goals from Chris Nettuno, Wilson Parker, Lando Nichols, Cooper Neal and Matt Reinsch.
Chelsea is now 9-7 on the season and will be off this week for spring break.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain boys soccer team knocked off Fort Payne 6-3 on Tuesday. Corbitt Grundhoefer scored three goals and Patrick Guffey scored two goals in the victory.
The Eagles then fell to Mountain Brook 2-1 on Thursday before rebounding with a 4-0 win over McGill-Toolen on Friday. Cody Wells recorded two goals in the victory.
Oak Mountain, now 10-4 on the season, was ranked No. 1 in Class 7A in last week’s poll.
The Oak Mountain girls fell to Vestavia Hills 6-3 on Tuesday. Oak Mountain entered ranked No. 1 in 7A, while Vestavia Hills entered ranked No. 2. Danielle Retief scored two goals for the Eagles in the loss. On Thursday, Oak Mountain beat The Westminster School at Oak Mountain 3-1.
All proceeds from the game were donated to the Headley Mercy Fund, formed in memory of Ken Headley. The former Westminster girls soccer coach passed away earlier this year.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Briarwood and Oak Mountain track and field teams competed on Thursday at the Briarwood Invitational. Four Oak Mountain athletes won multiple events.
Nicole Payne won the girls 100, 200 and 400 meters; Aaron Brooks won the boys 200 and 400 meters; Trey Allen won the high jump and long jump, and Harrison Dimick won the shot put and discus.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.
