By D. Mark Mitchell

The OHS girls and boys soccer teams are heading to the second round of the AHSAA 6A playoffs. The Lady Bulldogs beat Hillcrest 2-0 while the boys beat Helena 6-0.
Head girls coach Kori Skinner has guided her team to a historic season! The girls won their third- straight region championship and won a state playoff game for the first time in school history.
Head boys coach Derek Hovell continues to make history in his fourth year. The Dawgs won a school- record 16 games and three-straight region championships.
Both teams, girls and boys, travelled to Birmingham last night for second-round games.
The girls played John Carroll Catholic while the boys played at Homewood. Neither results were completed by press time.

OPELIKA BASEBALL
The OHS varsity baseball team lost two games last Friday night, 3-0 and 3-1, to the Helena Huskies at a packed Bulldog Park. The two losses knocked the Dawgs out of the 6A baseball playoffs.
Opelika’s starting pitchers Mitch Myers (Alabama signee) and JR Reynolds (Southern Mississippi commit) allowed one earned run apiece in their games.
Helena, 32-5, knew they were in for a dog fight. The Huskies head baseball  coach, PJ Guy, said Opelika was a tough and talented team prior to the start of the series. “We need to play our best to have a chance to win. Opelika has good arms and a very good head coach (Richardson). It will be tough,” Guy said.
The Bulldogs finished with a 22-15 record and a second-round trip to the playoffs. This marks the fourth-straight season OHS has advanced in the 6A AHSAA playoffs.
Congratulations, Coach Richardson, staff and team.
OPELIKA TENNIS
The OHS girls and boys tennis teams’ seasons came to an end last week in Decatur. Coach Adam Massey led his teams to another successful season. Both teams fought through a tough draw and finished among  the top 10 teams in the state.
Congratulations to Coach Massey and both girls and boys tennis teams on their successful seasons.
SOFTBALL
The OHS Lady Bulldog softball team played in the area tournament in Wetumpka yesterday. Opelika opened the double-elimination tournament against Benjamin Russell. The top two teams advance to the state playoffs.
GIRLS/BOYS TRACK ADVANCE TO STATE MEET
OHS coach Jimmy Johnson and his staff took the two OHS track teams to Mountain Brook to participate in the section meet.
The OHS girls finished second behind Homewood. The following young ladies were among the top scorers at the meet: Diondra Larkin-first place in both 100 meters and 200 meters; Ghania Warren – first place in long jump; Marquania Rowell – first place in triple jump; Lazoria Yancey – first place in discus.
The OHS boys won their meet. The following athletes took firsts: Brantan Barnett – first in the 100 meters; Ben Garner – first in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters; CJ Jordan – first in both the long jump and the triple jump ; Tristan Black- first in the discus; and Zachary Yancey – first in the shot put.
Both teams will head to the state meet in Gulf Shores  this weekend.
The boys are trying to win their fourth-straight championship including both indoor and outdoor track. The meet will start Thursday.
FOOTBALL
Head football coach Caleb Ross started conditioning for spring practice this week. The first year head coach met with parents Monday night. The team will begin working out this week before spring practice starts next week.  Spring practice will conclude with a game scrimmage at Stanhope Elmore on May 19.
Coach Ross has named Jonathan Chandler offensive coordinator and also announced the addition of Jamie Williams to the football staff.Williams was the head coach at Gulf Shores  High School prior to joining Opelika. Go Dawgs!
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the  A-O Sports Council.