Kyle Parmley
Hoover vs. Oak Mountain Softball
Oak Mountain's Julia Tucker (22) catches a fly ball during a Class 7A, Area 5 game between Hoover and Oak Mountain on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham.
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 began an area series last Tuesday evening with a 13-4 win over Ramsay. The Lions bats were hot, led by Carson McKinney’s three hits and four runs batted in in the contest. Wesley Helms, Blake McKenna and Eli Steadman all drove in two runs as well.
The Lions finished the area sweep of Ramsay with a 14-3 win on Friday. The Rams jumped on top with three runs in the top of the first, but it was all Lions after that. McKenna finished a triple shy of the cycle, with a double, home run and two RBIs. He also pitched four innings and allowed just one hit. Carson McKinney racked up three doubles and three RBIs in the game. Bryce Perrien tripled and had three RBIs as well.
On Saturday, Briarwood jumped on Hewitt-Trussville with six first-inning runs and rode that to an 8-5 victory. McKenna and Sam Hamner drove in a pair of runs each for Briarwood, while Jacob Bishop knocked in a pair for Hewitt.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team rolled to a 14-4 win over area foe Pelham last Tuesday, thanks to a huge 10-run second inning. Carter Frederick finished the game with a team-high four RBIs and Austin Frye drove in three runs. Jacob Boyle and Jacob Tinnell brought home two runs apiece.
Chelsea clinched a playoff spot on Wednesday with its 8-6 win over Pelham, as the Hornets improved to 4-0 in area play with the victory. Frederick had a big game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Nolan Forehand struck out two batters in the seventh to pick up the save.
Oak Mountain
Single runs in the first and fifth innings were enough to push Thompson past the Oak Mountain baseball team in the opener of an area series last Tuesday. The Eagles scratched together eight hits but were unable to get on the board. Jackson Kimbrell pitched well, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings, while striking out 10 batters.
Oak Mountain won the second game of the series but dropped the third on Friday. The Eagles picked up a 10-3 victory in the first of the doubleheader, with Jake Rivers doubling twice and driving in three runs along with hurling the complete game. Landon Cato also knocked in two runs. The Eagles’ bats went quiet in the second game and a pair of late runs gave Thompson a 2-0 win.
SOFTBALL
Briarwood
John Carroll grabbed an area win with a 10-2 victory over Briarwood on Thursday afternoon. Charlotte Phillips had a big game, as she went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and two RBIs. Emma Bauer notched two hits and three RBIs as well. Abigayle Parker was sharp in the circle, as she allowed just two runs on five hits in seven innings. Briarwood’s runs came on a two-run home run from Taylor Wheat.
Briarwood had a breakthrough of sorts over the weekend, winning Jemison’s Panther Classic. The Lions split their pool games on Friday, beginning with a 3-0 win over Horseshoe Bend. The only runs came in on Wheat’s three-run homer in the first inning, while Caroline Campbell allowed just two hits in a five-inning shutout. Briarwood then fell to Jemison 7-3.
The Lions began play on Saturday with a 15-0 victory over Dallas County. Jaddin Glenn had a huge game, notching her first homer of the year in a three-hit, four-RBI performance. Julia Vincent and Cameron Fountain each drove in two runs as well. They then rallied for a 12-10 win over Chilton County to advance to the final. Glenn went 4-for-4 with another home run and four RBIs, while Wheat homered and drove in three as well.
Briarwood then avenged the previous day’s loss with a 14-12 victory over Jemison to win the tournament. Glenn posted another homer, Blakley Watts went deep and Meredith Kellum went 4-for-4 with six RBIs.
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team fell behind early and never caught up in a 15-6 loss to Thompson last Tuesday. The Hornets were led offensively by Camryn Smith, who homered and drove in two runs for the game.
Chelsea blanked Benjamin Russell 6-0 on Wednesday, as Abigail Bryars allowed just four hits and struck out nine batters in the complete game. Bryars also drove in two runs at the plate to support Brooke Burback’s big game as well. Burback went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain softball team picked up an area win last Tuesday in blowout fashion, beating Tuscaloosa County 11-1. Hannah Atwood was the star offensively for the Eagles, as she doubled twice and drove in five runs. Lacy Marty was stellar in the circle, as she allowed just one run on three hits in six innings.
Hoover notched a Class 7A, Area 5 victory over Oak Mountain on Wednesday afternoon, 6-5. The Bucs struck first on an Abby Fortner solo home run and Jordan Moore followed with a two-run homer in the third inning to put the Bucs ahead 3-0. Abi Brown homered for the Eagles to cut into the deficit, but Hoover put up three more runs in the fifth inning and held on despite a late surge from Oak Mountain in the final frame. For Hoover, Moore finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. For Oak Mountain, Hannah Atwood and M’Kiyah Mitchell each had two RBIs.
SOCCER
Briarwood
The Briarwood boys soccer team went 2-1 last week to improve to 13-1-3 on the season. The Lions beat Spain Park 3-1 on Monday, Chattanooga Christian School (Tenn.) 3-1 on Friday and tied the Baylor School (Tenn.) 3-3 on Saturday. Briarwood is ranked first in the Class 4A-5A state coaches’ poll.
The Briarwood girls fell to the Westminster School at Oak Mountain 4-2 on Friday. They are now 1-8-1 on the season.
Chelsea
The Chelsea girls soccer team went 3-1 last week. The Lady Hornets blanked Gardendale 4-0 on Tuesday before competing over the weekend at the Southern Coast Cup in Foley. They fell to Rockwood Summit (Mo.) 4-1 but rebounded with wins over Fairhope, 5-1, and Union (Okla.), 3-2. Chelsea is now 14-2 on the season and is ranked first in the 6A state coaches’ poll.
The Chelsea boys soccer team split its games last week, losing to Oak Mountain 2-0 on Tuesday and shutting out Gardendale 3-0 on Friday. The Hornets are now 10-8 on the season and are ranked ninth in the 6A coaches’ poll.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain boys soccer team (11-5) beat Chelsea 2-0 on Tuesday and lost to 7A, Area 5 opponent Hoover 2-0 on Friday. The Eagles are ranked second to the Bucs in the 7A state coaches’ poll
The Oak Mountain girls soccer team competed over the weekend at the Southern Coast Cup in Foley. The Lady Eagles tied Eureka (Mo.) 0-0 and lost to Brookwood (Ga.) 2-0. Oak Mountain is 13-2-1 and is ranked second in the 7A state coaches’ poll behind Vestavia Hills.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.