OPELIKA —
Opelika High School spring athletics — baseball, softball and soccer — were all in action last week.
BASEBALL
Opelika’s varsity baseball team (13-10) won two games, beating Handley and Dothan on the road last week.
The Bulldogs defeated Handley, 8-4, in nine innings last Thursday in Roanoke. The game was tied at four in the top of the ninth when Davis Ford singled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs.
Ford earned the win on the mound, pitching three and two-thirds innings in relief, allowing one hit, no runs and striking out four.
Jackson Killcreas started the game on the mound, going five and a third innings, allowing three hits and four runs while striking out two.
Parker Killcreas, Christopher Floyd, Taylor Fields, Bryce Speakman and Ford all had one hit to lead the Dogs.
The Dogs scored 14 runs on 11 hits to down Dothan 14-7 last week on the road. Ford led the offense with three hits, followed by two hits apiece from Brodie Jones, Jake Smith and Speakman. Fields and Trent Henderson added singles.
Floyd earned the win, pitching five innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out eight and yielding no runs.
Opelika started area play Wednesday against Central in Phenix City, but the game was not completed by press time. Central travels to Opelika for two games Thursday, April 6. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Bulldog Park.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog softball team (10-11) lost to Brewbaker Tech and beat Russell County last week.
Brewbaker Tech downed OHS 14-1 in a 5-inning mercy rule game. Brewbaker Tech slapped 14 hits and scored 14 runs in five innings while only allowing OHS one run on four hits. Sanai Stringer recorded two hits for Opelika, followed by singles from Karsyn Yountz and KD Lee.
The OHS Lady Dogs thumped Russell County, 17-2, last week in Seale. Opelika scored five runs in the first inning, two runs in the second and 10 runs in the third to win by 15 runs in three innings. The following players recorded hits for OHS: Lee, Kennedy Soltau, Jade Jones, Katie Harrelson, Yountz, Jancyn Thompson and Kali Harper.
SOCCER
Opelika’s boys soccer team (8-3) lost to St. James, 1-4, in Montgomery last week. Dexter Graham scored the lone goal on an assist from Nathan Faison for the Dogs. St. James scored two goals in the first and second halves.
Opelika girls and boys traveled to Dothan Thursday night.
FOOTBALL UPDATE
Opelika head football coach Erik Speakman appeared on my morning show, “On the Mark,” last week. The AHSAA announced last week that Opelika and Thompson will play in the AHSAA Kickoff Classic, to be held at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery Aug. 25. OHS lost the opening game with Callaway because Georgia’s start date does not match up with Alabama’s start date, which left the Dogs without an opening game.
Speakman said playing Thompson in the opening game of the season is a great opportunity for the Bulldogs. The Warriors are coming off four straight 7A State Super 7 championships.
The Dogs are running and lifting while awaiting spring practice. Speakman said the Dogs will practice seven days and have a RED/BLACK scrimmage at the end of spring, May 19. He added that spring is mainly for the young guys, not the returning starters.
“We know what our returning starters can do, so it helps to see the younger kids,” he said.
Speakman, starting his sixth season as head coach, said he hopes to have 100 players at the start of spring, not counting the kids that will try out.
OPELIKA DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL
Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball league is currently holding registration for anyone ages 13, 14 or 15 years old that is interested in playing baseball. Those interested can register at the Sportsplex or online at opelikasportsplex.com. Registration costs $45 for Opelika residents and $50 for those living outside the city of Opelika. Registration ends April 15. If you have questions, please email D. Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo.com.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.