James "Nick" Nicholas
Briarwood’s Parker Hutson thows the ball to first base for the out during a game between Hewitt-Trussville and Briarwood on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Jay D. Kynerd Field 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 notched a 21-0 victory over area foe Woodlawn on Wednesday. Guin Renfroe struck out seven batters in three hitless innings to get the win. Christian Ferguson led the Lions offense with five runs batted in.
Briarwood split a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning the day with a 7-4 win over Hueytown. The Lions trailed in the middle innings but scored five runs over the final two innings to pick up the victory. Wesley Helms doubled three times for the Lions and had two RBIs. Eli Steadman racked up a pair of hits and RBIs as well. Noah Whatley earned the save by hurling the final three innings in scoreless fashion. Oak Mountain downed the Lions 8-1 in the second game of the day.
Chelsea
The Chelsea baseball team locked up the Class 6A, Area 8 title on Wednesday with an 8-2 win over Helena. Nolan Forehand led the Hornets offense with three hits and three RBIs in the contest, while Austin Frye drove in two. Connor Ball got the win on the mound with 5 2/3 solid innings and Jacob Tinnell went the final 1 1/3 to earn the save.
Chelsea finished the area series with a 4-3 win over Helena on Thursday. Adam Reaves tripled home two runs to lead the Hornets offense, while Brock Hill earned the win by going five innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. Tinnell went the final 1 1/3 innings for the second game in a row to pick up the save.
The Hornets faced Spain Park on Friday, as Chelsea celebrated its seniors, but Spain Park jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 9-2 victory. Garrett Frye was a bright spot, as he pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain and Hoover baseball teams opened a Class 7A, Area 5 series on Wednesday, with Oak Mountain picking up a 1-0 win in a pitchers’ duel. The lone run in the contest came on Ryan Reuse’s run-scoring double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Both pitchers were outstanding, with Jackson Kimbrell allowing just one hit and striking out 10 batters in his seven innings. Cole Baker struck out nine and surrendered three hits in six innings for Hoover.
Hoover and Oak Mountain split a doubleheader on Thursday, to give Oak Mountain the series win. In the first game, the Bucs notched a 7-0 victory. Peyton Wilson, Robby Ashford and Jesse Kelley all registered two hits and two RBIs for Hoover. Daniel Swatek hurled a complete game shutout, as he allowed just two hits and struck out five.
Oak Mountain rallied to win the second game 5-4, as the teams combined for seven runs in the final frame. Oak Mountain broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the top of the seventh and Hoover nearly came back with three runs of its own in the bottom half on a Wilson home run. Caleb Ragland drove in two runs for the Eagles.
Oak Mountain finished the week with a pair of wins on Saturday. The Eagles began the day with an 8-1 win over Briarwood, as Jake Rivers went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs to lead the way. Kimbrell drove in two runs as well. Cole Sester allowed three hits and one unearned run while striking out seven in four innings on the mound. Oak Mountain then dispatched Hueytown 13-4. Kimbrell homered and drove in three and Rivers hit a homer as well. Ragland and Drew Hill each had two RBIs.
SOFTBALL
Briarwood
The Briarwood softball team notched a 17-0 victory over area foe Woodlawn last Friday.
Chelsea
The Chelsea softball team rallied to pick up a 7-6 win over Calera in eight innings in an area contest on Wednesday night. The Hornets scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 6-6 and Chloe Eidson’s walk-off single in the eighth lifted them to the win. Skylar Baker had three hits and three RBIs in the game as well.
Hoover defeated Chelsea 10-0 on Thursday. Harper Niblett, Jordan Moore and Brookelyn Cannon all drove home two runs for the Bucs, while Cannon allowed just one hit and struck out 10 batters in five innings.
Chelsea won the Stanhope Elmore tournament over the weekend to cap off the week of play. The Hornets split two pool games on Friday, beating Park Crossing 13-2 and losing 2-1 to LAMP. Against Park Crossing, Lexi Serio tallied three hits and three RBIs.
On Saturday, the Hornets concluded pool play with a 1-1 tie to Prattville Christian. Neither team scored until the seventh inning before the game ended in a draw. Tyler Erwin pitched all seven innings, allowing just five hits and striking out eight. To begin bracket play, the Hornets defeated Stanhope Elmore 4-0. Abigail Bryars and Serio each drove in two runs, and Bryars allowed just one hit in four scoreless innings in the circle.
In the semifinals, Chelsea outlasted Prattville Christian 3-2, as Eidson drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Hornets the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Chelsea won the tournament with a 2-0 win over LAMP in the final. Brooke Burback homered and doubled in the game, while Bryars drove in the other run. Bryars was also stellar in the circle, going six innings and allowing two hits with seven strikeouts.
Oak Mountain
A late Tuscaloosa County rally downed the Oak Mountain softball team 6-4 on Wednesday in an area contest. Tuscaloosa County scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for the first time in the game and hung on to win.
Oak Mountain played in Helena’s round robin event over the weekend and won one of the four games it played. In the first game on Friday, the Eagles rallied late to beat Albertville 7-6. The Eagles scored three runs in the sixth inning after Albertville scored four to take the lead in the fifth. In the second game of the day, James Clemens knocked off Oak Mountain 3-1.
The Eagles began Saturday with a 7-2 loss to Prattville, as Prattville took the lead for good with five runs in the fifth and final inning. The Eagles were then shut out by Springville 7-0.
SOCCER
Briarwood
The Briarwood boys soccer team defeated Class 4A-5A, Area 7 opponents Montevallo on Tuesday, 8-0, and Indian Springs on Saturday, 2-1, to improve to 15-1-3 on the season.
Chelsea
The Chelsea girls soccer team blanked Class 6A, Area 8 opponents Helena 10-0 on Tuesday and Pelham 10-0 on Thursday to claim the area title. The Hornets are now 16-2 on the season. The Chelsea boys soccer team (12-8) defeated Helena 1-0 on Wednesday thanks to a goal from Tony Nettuno. On Friday, Nettuno assisted on a goal scored by Lando Nichols that lifted the Hornets to a 1-0 win over Pelham and the Area 8 crown.
Oak Mountain
The Oak Mountain boys soccer team beat the Westminster School at Oak Mountain 2-0 on Tuesday and Tuscaloosa County 6-0 on Thursday to improve to 13-5 on the season. The Oak Mountain girls soccer team defeated Tuscaloosa 10-0 on Thursday and are now 14-2-1.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Oak Mountain track and field teams competed over the weekend at the Mountain Brook Invitational. The boys placed fifth, and the girls placed 11th.
Nicole Payne won the girls 200 and 400 meters in 54.49 seconds and 23.88 seconds respectively. Her mark in the 200 broke a longstanding meet record. Harrison Dimick and Trey Allen captured a pair of first-place finishes for the Oak Mountain boys. Dimick won the discus with a throw of 178 feet, 11 inches, while Allen won the high jump with a clearance of 6-10. Allen’s mark tied the meet record.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.
