BY D. MARK MITCHELL
OPINION —
Opelika City Council President Eddie Smith threw out the official opening pitch last Saturday at West Ridge Park for opening ceremonies on a beautiful sunny day. The league played two games prior to opening day. I will provide more in the coming weeks on Opelika Dixie Baseball. Find schedules, team rosters and other info at www.opelikadixieyouth.com.
SPRING ROUND-UP
The Auburn and Opelika Soccer teams raised over $3,700 last Friday night at Duck Samford during the annual “Soccer for a Cure” match. The two schools joined together several years ago to raise money to help local cancer patients with expenses. Auburn swept the two varsity games, with the girls winning 9-0 and the boys winning 5-1.
The Opelika boys team tied Tallassee 3-3 last week. David Cruz scored all three goals in the second half to give the Dawgs a tie, with the assist by Rigo Ramirez.
LADY BULLDOG SOFTBALL
The Opelika softball team swept a doubleheader against Eufaula, 8-4 and 6-3.
In game one, the Lady Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh on their way to an 8-4 win. Katie Harrelson pitched seven innings to earn the win, allowing only three earned runs on five hits and striking out seven over seven innings in the circle.
Opelika recorded 10 hits including the following four players that hit a double: Emily Birmingham, K. Harrelson, Katie Johnson and K.G. Soltau.
OHS completed the two-game sweep by winning game two by the score of 6-3. Katelyn Foley pitched seven innings, allowed three runs on five hits while earning the win. Jas Smith led the Dogs at the plate with three hits, followed by two each from Soltau and Johnson. The remaining two hits were from Jamiah Williams and Caitlyn Morgan.
Benjamin Russell stopped Opelika’s two game win streak with a 13-6 win last Thursday at West Ridge Park. Despite recording 13 hits, OHS could not score enough runs to win the game.
Opelika’s Jas Smith and Katie Johnson recorded three hits and Katie Harrelson added two hits.
OHS VS. CENTRAL
The Bulldog baseball team (17-12, A 0-2 ) lost three games to Central (15-2, 0-4, 2-3) to fall 0-2 in the Area despite winning 17 games. (The third game is the tie-breaker and does not count in Area standings).
The AHSAA’s Area format leaves no room for error, because the top two teams in the Area advance to the state playoffs. Opelika probably needs to win the series against Smiths Station and Auburn to make the 7A State Playoffs.
Opelika opened the series at Bulldog Park last Wednesday night. Central scored seven runs in the first inning, one run in the second inning and seven runs in the seventh to beat the Bulldogs 15-2. Brodie Jones, Jackson Killcrease, Slade Clayton, T.J. Arnold and Chris Floyd recorded hits for the Bulldogs.
Central won game two 0-4 and 2-3. The tiebreaker games two and three were held at Darnell-Nelson Field in Phenix City. The Red Devils shut out the Dogs 4-0 in the opener. Opelika’s Brodie Jones, J. Killcrease and Slade Clayton recorded hits.
CHS finished the three-game series by scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in to win 3-2.
I talked to Opelika head baseball coach Zach Blatt Monday morning during my radio show, On the Mark (airing on FOX Sports the Game 910-1310). Blatt was very positive heading into the series with Area foe Smiths Station.
“I am confident in these guys,” Blatt said. “There is no need to panic or make changes. We believe we have a very good team, full of good kids that love the game. I am looking forward to our series with SSHS, this is a tough league.”
OHS VS. HARRIS COUNTY
Opelika baseball team honored the seniors Monday prior to beating Harris County 11-6 at Bulldog Park. Floyd had a record night with three hits including two homeruns, three RBI and scored three runs. Peyton Lovelace added two hits while Jones, J. Killcreas, Rowell, P. Killcreas, TJ Arnold and Copous recorded hits.
OHS VS. SMITHS STATION
Opelika lost the opening game to SSHS Tuesday night, 10-3 in Smiths. The Dogs are now 0-3 in area play with a double-header scheduled Wednesday against the Smiths Station at Bulldog Park. (The results were not available at press time)
The Bulldogs scattered six hits and scored one run in the 5th inning and two runs in the 6th inning while the Panthers scored at least one run in every inning but the second. Three Dogs hit doubles: Copous, Clayton and Hudson while Jones, J. Killcreas and Floyd recorded hits.
Thursday’s double-header at Bulldog Park starts at 4 p.m., weather permitting.
TRACK AND FIELD
Opelika’s track and field teams participated in two meets last week. On Friday night, OHS ran in the Challenge of Champions and in the ProState Meet at Central High School in Phenix City.
MOBILE CHALLENGE of CHAMPIONS
The girls results:
100 METER DASH
12.19 Tierra Agee, 2nd
100 METER HURDLES
17.76 Makiah Paschal, 9th
300 METER HURDLES
45.77 Makiah Paschal, 1st
LONG JUMP
16-9.5 SB Tierra Agee, 3rd
100 METER DASH
13.14 Harper Threat, 3rd
13.18 Kahliya Cloud, 4th
13.19 Ca’Niya Mitchell, 5th
200 METER DASH
27.29 Harper Threat, 1st
27.60 Kahliya Cloud, 3rd
28.18 Arianna Thomas, 5th
400 METER DASH
1:01.92 Jada Coleman, 2nd
1:14.17 Amaia Spratling, 7th
800 METER RUN
2:47.48 Lillie Flenniken, 3rd
1600 METER RUN
5:28.61 Caroline Couey, 1st
6:32.05 Lillie Flenniken, 2nd
3200 METER RUN
11:45.18 Caroline Couey, 1st
100 METER HURDLES
20.16 Ca’Niya Mitchell, 4th
HIGH JUMP
4-10 Calieya Dowdell, 1st
LONG JUMP
15-1.5 Calieya Dowdell , 2nd
13-4 Memshallyah Weaver, 4th
TRIPLE JUMP
31-10 Memshallyah Weaver, 1st
29-8.5 Calieya Dowdell , 2nd
DISCUS
50-2 Alena Maurice, 6th
JAVELIN
79-2 Khalia Williams, 2nd
44-9 Taniya Byrd, 6th
SHOT PUT
23-0.5 Alena Maurice, 8th
The boys results:
100 METER DASH
11.51 Leland Bell, 7th
11.62 Jaxson Freeman, 8th
11.76 Jalen Thomas, 10th
200 METER DASH
11.51 Leland Bell, 7th
11.62 Jaxson Freeman, 8th
11.76 Jalen Thomas, 10th
200 METER DASH
23.03 Leland Bell 4th
23.59 Emonte Richardson
24.75 Sam Washburn, 11th
400 METER DASH
51.58 Jalen Thomas, 1st
52.12 Sam Washburn, 2nd
800 METER RUN
2:03.74 Brantley Turnham, 1st
2:09.43 Burch Harris, 4th
1600 METER RUN
4:42.47 Brantley Turnham, 1st
4:55.93 Alexander Burgess, 2nd
5:41.16 Seth Huling, 5th
3200 METER RUN
10:22.48 Brantley Turnham. 1st
11:19.43 Alexander Burgess, 5th
11:57.65 Drew Schoonhoven, 6th
12:35.87 Seth Huling, 7th
110 METER HURDLES
18.33 Richard Howard, 3rd
300 METER HURDLES
47.26 Richard Howard, 5th
HIGH JUMP
5-10 Jaxson Freeman, 2nd
5-6 Leland Bell, 4th
LONG JUMP
19-8 Leland Bell, 2nd
DISCUS
107-10 Michael Cosgriff, 4th
JAVELIN
142-3 Jaxson Freeman, 1st
120-6 Jahmere Schley, 3rd
SHOT PUT
34-4.75 Michael Cosgriff, 7th
32-2 Reginald Williams, 8th
Opelika hosts the Mike Spain Invitational on Friday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. at Sam Mason Track. Spectators are asked NOT to arrive on campus prior to 4:30 p.m.
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.