BY D. MARK MITCHELL
OPINION —
GOLF
The Opelika High Girls and Boys Golf teams defeated Valley last Monday at Point University.
Opelika’s girls won 150-155 behind the following low scores: Karly Phatsadavong (-44), Kaylin Ward (-52) and Paige Bales (-54).
The boys golf team defeated Valley 227-238 behind following scores: Kyle Eppperson (-40), Preston Phengsiri (-44), Nolen Wilson (-45), Carter Neese (-49) and Bryan McEntire (-48).
SOCCER
The varsity boys soccer team beat Valley 4-1 on senior night at Bulldog Stadium. Scoring goals for the Dogs were Guillermo Lopez (2), Nolen Wilson and David Cruz, with assists from Talmage Isaacson and Blaze Cutcher.
Opelika’s girls soccer team shut out Beauregard 10-0 at BHS. Scarlet Pasadas led OHS in scoring with a record six goals, followed by two goals from Aimee Alcantara and goals from Kam McDaniel and Skylar Harris. The assists were by Karly Phatsadavong (2), Anna Webster (2), Shayla Alcantara, Scarlet Posadas, Aimee Alcantara, Cindy Hernandez and Bailey Ward. Keeper Maelee Story earned the shutout.
The Bulldog boys defeated BHS 6-2 at Beauregard High school. Opelika was led offensively by Talmage Isaacson, who scored two goals. Danny Morales, Josh Beltran, Nolen Wilson and Freddie Vasquez each scored a goal, assisted by David Cruz (2), Josh Beltran, Guillermo Lopez and K.J. Frazier.
SOFTBALL
Opelika’s softball team beat Dadeville 7-1 last Saturday on the road. K. Foley earned the win by pitching four innings, allowing a run, four hits and striking out six Tigers.
Offensively, Kaitlyn Foley led with two hits. Soltau, Johnson, Birmingham and Thompson also recorded hits.
OHS wraps up the regular season against Valley on Thursday, April 25. The Area tournament will be played the following week.
BASEBALL
Opelika’s season ended with a three-game sweep by Auburn High in the last Area matchup, finishing 0-6 in the Area. Coach Blattt and his staff honored AHS coach Matt Cimo prior to the doubleheader at Bulldog Park. The packed crowd stood to pay tribute to Cimo’s 32 years as head coach.
Central won the Area with a 5-1 Area record, followed by second place Auburn with a 4-2 record. Smiths Station finished third, followed by Opelika.
TRACK & FIELD
Opelika’s Track and Field team participated in the Wayne Murphy Invitational presented by Kona Ice. Following are the girls Top 10 results.
100 METER DASH
13.12 Tyra Pitts 6th
13.19 Kahliya Cloud 7th
13.35 Ca’Niya Mitchell 10th
200 METER DASH
26.82 Kahliya Cloud 5th
27.81 Harper Threat 8th
27.95 Arianna Thomas 9th
400 METER DASH
59.51 Ava Thomas 3rd
1:02.56 Alieah Nelms 6th
1:05.18 Jada Coleman 9th
800 METER RUN
2:26.75 SB Caroline Couey 4th
2:41.58 SB Caylyn Moore 9th
2:45.57 SB Lillie Flenniken 10th
1600 METER RUN
5:16.40 SB Caroline Couey 1st
6:20.34 Lillie Flenniken 8th
6:25.49 SB Alyson Culberson 10th
1600 METER RUN
5:16.40 SB Caroline Couey 1st
6:20.34 Lillie Flenniken 8th
100 METER HURDLES
16.97 SB Makiah Paschal 3rd
17.34 SB Lauren Waits 7th
300 METER HURDLES
51.77 SB Londyn Gardner 6th
53.25 SB Kimora Rowell 10th
300 METER HURDLES
51.77 SB Londyn Gardner 6th
53.25 SB Kimora Rowell 10th
HIGH JUMP
4-10 Calieya Dowdell 3rd
4-8 Kyndall Brundidge 6th
LONG JUMP
17-0.5 Kyndall Brundidge 1st
16-3 Calieya Dowdell 2nd
TRIPLE JUMP
38-0 Kyndall Brundidge 1st
34-3 Memshallyah Weaver 3rd
32-4 Kimora Rowell 8th
POLE VAULT
8-6 Jada Frazier 2nd
7-6 D’Nya Williams 6th
6-6 Ayannah Edwards 8th
DISCUS
86-11.5 Kaysee Dexter 1st
64-3.5 Talaja Chambers 8th
63-11.5 Alicia Frazier 9th
JAVELIN
90-5 Khalia Williams 3rd
82-2 Tyra Pitts 7th
80-1 Lizavia Edwards 9th
SHOT PUT
29-6.5 Talaja Chambers 7th
Following are boys results.
100 METER DASH
11.39 SB Emonte Richardson 10th
200 METER DASH
22.81 SB Michael Swanson 7th
22.92 SB Leland Bell 9th
800 METER RUN
2:01.92 SB Brantley Turnham 3rd
2:07.52 Aiden Stephens 8th
2:13.80 Burch Harris 10th
110 METER HURDLES
16.88 SB Richard Howard 4th
HIGH JUMP
5-10 Jordan Tolbert 10th
TRIPLE JUMP
47-5.5 Davian Jones 1st
41-8.5 Jordan Tolbert 4th
POLE VAULT
12-6 Brannon Massey 1st
11-6 Richard Howard 2nd
8-0 David Smotherman 5th
DISCUS
99-4 Michael Cosgriff 9th
JAVELIN
134-3 Jaxson Freeman 6th
SHOT PUT
46-5.5 Ericson (Moni) Thomas 2nd
The track and field teams will participate in the Sectional meet on Friday, April 26, at the Smiths Station High School track.
LEE-SCOTT BASEBALL
The LSA baseball team finished the regular season 32-6, placing second in their Region behind Glenwood. The Warriors are led by several key players.
John-David Tillman Burns is one of the leading hitters on the team and plays rightfield/catcher. Jake Cummings, one of the best starting pitchers on the team, is consistent and is in the top three in hitting. Sam Jackson plays first base and is a top three hitter (playing with an injured shoulder). Garrett West plays right field and is a very good strike pitcher. Ethan Hardee plays shortstop and as a pitcher throws strikes and plays good defense. Lane Eddins is a pitcher and catcher who does both well, and relief pitcher Harrison Short has a tough side arm pitch that has caused teams trouble late in the game.
Lee-Scott is coached by Jarrod Cook in his first year after leading Trinity Presbyterian (Montgomery) to a 55-21 record in two seasons, including winning the AHSAA 3A State Baseball Championship in 2022. Cook inherited a group of seniors that has played for four different head caches in as many years. Obviously, the seniors have had a tough time with continuity, learning to trust another coach in their last year and learning how to win as a team. They have responded to win 33 games and earned the second seed in the AISA 3A baseball playoffs. The Warriors host Monroe Academy in a doubleheader in the first round of the AISA state baseball playoffs on Thursday, April 22, at John Meals Field. The first pitch of game one is scheduled at 4 p.m.
LOCALS UP FOR BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lee-Scott Sophomore basketball player, Haiden “Shooter” Harper won the Alabama Sports Writers Association AISA Basketball Player of Year last Tuesday at the Renaissance in Montgomery. Harper led the Warriors in scoring on their way to a state championship. Joining Harper was LSA classmate Madison Davis, who was one of the three finalists for Female AISA Player of the Year.
Glenwood’s Takala Davis won that award, and Valley’s Cam Dooley won the 5A ASWA AHSAA Baseball Player of the year.
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.