BY D. MARK MITCHELL
OPINION — Opelika’s varsity track and field team was unable to compete in the “River Region Invitational” because the meet was canceled. The girls and boys team will compete in the “Friday Night Lights presented by Love 2 Run” Friday, March 29, at the AHS track.
The Bulldog runners are preparing for the section and state meets which take place next month.
The OHS soccer team lost to rival Auburn 6-1 despite scoring first and controlling the first 20 minutes of the game. The Tigers scored six straight goals to continue their unbeaten streak against OHS. Opelika’s David Cruz scored the lone goal.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog softball team (10-13) finished with three wins and three losses during spring break last week.
Rogers Heritage High School defeated OHS 13-7 in a tournament last week. Despite the loss Jade Jones, Katie Johnson and Kali Harper recorded two hits each while KG Soltau, Jamiah Williams, Emily Birmingham, Katie Harrelson and Jas Smith added hits.
Opelika beat Jo Byrns 8-2 behind two hits apiece from Jones and Smith. Soltau, Birmingham and Harrelson added hits.
OHS beat Beauregard 9-4 behind good pitching from Birmingham (two innings) and Cailyn Morgan (three innings) combined to hold BHS to four runs on six hits. The Lady Dogs used three hits from Williams and two hits from Soltau and Smith to score nine runs.
Goodpasture Christian beat OHS 7-1 behind 12 hits. Opelika scored its only run in the first inning.
The Lady Dogs bounced back with a 10-0 win over West Memphis. Opelika’s Cailyn Morgan earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings of scoreless softball and helped her team at the plate with three hits, six RBI’s and scored two runs.
Brewbaker Tech slipped by OHS 3-7 to finish the week. Williams led OHS offensively with two hits.
BASEBALL
Opelika baseball coach Zach Blatt knows his team must finish in the top two teams in the area in order to make the 7A baseball AHSAA State Playoffs. The season boils down to three “best of three game series” between Area opponents: Auburn, Smiths Station and Central.
Blatt planned a difficult lineup prior to the Area schedule which included games with teams from out of state and good schools across Alabama. Last week was no different, Blatt scheduled a trip to Gulf Shores during spring break so his team could play games and enjoy time close to the beach.
The Dogs won three out of four games in the tournament at the beach.
OHS beat Tushka (OK) (1-0), Paragould (11-0), Southside Bee (10-0) and lost to Lonake HS (4-5)
The Bulldogs beat Tushka 1-0 in two innings because THS coach pulled his team off the field after the second inning and forfeited after arguing with umpires.
OHS beat Paragould 11-0 in a five inning mercy rule game. Chris Floyd earned the win, throwing 4 and 2/3 innings of shutout baseball and allowed one hit while striking out 10. Brody Jones and Jackson Killcreas led at the plate with 2-hits each. Ty Hudson, Will Brandon and Tyler Johnson added hits.
Opelika continued the win streak, shutting out Southside Bee 10-0 in six innings behind a strong pitching performance from Davis Ford. The senior earned the win by pitching five innings of shutout baseball, allowed one hit and struck out six batters. Brodie Jones led OHS with three hits, followed by two hits from T. Hudson and hits from J. Killcreas, Ford, Hank Hudson, Floyd, Slade Clayton and Russell Copous.
Lonoke spoiled OHS from going undefeated after beating the Dogs 4-5 in the last game of the trip. The Dogs scattered four hits on the day while three pitchers allowed three earned runs on five hits. The Dogs made two costly errors.
Opelika plays at Dothan Thursday, March 28, at 6 p.m., and will host Elmore County Friday, March 29, at Bulldog Park at 4:30 p.m. The Dogs open area play April 3 versus Central at Opelika, with the first pitch set for 5 p.m. The two teams play a doubleheader in Phenix City, April 4 at 4:30 p.m.
OPELIKA DBB REC BASEBALL HOLDING REGISTRATION FOR PLAYERS AGES 13-14-15 YEAR OLDS
The Opelika DBB baseball league is holding registration at the Opelika Sportsplex and online at www.opelikasportsplex.com for those ages 13 through 15 that are interested in playing summer baseball. The cost to register is $45 for Opelika residents and $50 for nonresidents and covers jersey and cap. Players must provide, glove, pants and baseball cleats. All players registering will be on a team and play. If you have questions, please email D. Mark at foxonthemark@yahoo.com
LEE-SCOTT BASEBALL
The LSA Warrior baseball team (13-6) won four games in a row last week. Lee-Scott beat Glenwood (7-3), North Bay Florida (10-0), Lakeside (7-0) and (14-0).
The Warriors have received excellent pitching from Jake Cummings, Garrett West and Jack McKay. Cummings pitched six innings against Lakeside, allowing no runs, three hits and struck out 10 batters to earn the win. West pitched five innings of shutout baseball, allowed five hits and struck out six to earn the win against North Bay Haven. McKay and Braden Martin combined to pitch seven innings in a 7-3 win over Glenwood.
At the plate the following players have recorded multiple hits in games: John-David Tillman Burns, Sam Jackson, Pelzer Reaves, West, Hardee and Sam Short.
LSA will host Bessemer Thursday, and Lakeside for two games Saturday, March 30, at John Meals Field.
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.