Opelika Middle and High schools’ spring sport teams are wide open as we head into the first week of March. Following is a summary of last week’s action.
TENNIS
The Opelika High School tennis team swept Lee-Scott Academy last week, with the girls winning 9-0 and the boys winning 8-1.
OHS Girls results:
Joanne Smith T beat Caroline Curtis 8-2
Addison Bryan beat Merrill Hudleston 8-1
Avery Massey beat Savannah Stewart 8-6
Addison Kemp beat Geaorgia Heartsill
Abney Massey beat Anna Riley Marshall 8-6
Lila Cook beat Ellie Prewett 8-1
In girls doubles, Smith T/Bryan won 8-3, Massey/Massey won 8-2 and Kemp/Cook won 8-1.
OHS boys results:
Paxton Blackburn beat Walker Dudley 8-6
Conner Mulliins beat Cannon Ketchum 8-6
Dru Gagliano beat Hunter Crews 8-3
Jake Caldwell beat Hayden Kelley 8-2
Anderson Melnick beat Sebastian Day 8-1.
In boys doubles, Mullins/Blackburn won 8-2, Gagliano and Caldwell won 8-2 and Tatum /Melnick won 8-2.
Note: Lee-Scott’s Anderson Dobbs won the Warriors’ only match of the day.
SOCCER
Opelika boys soccer team dropped a pair of games last week to Stanhope (0-4) and We-tumpka (1-4) playing in extremly cold temparatures. Head coach Derek Hovell said his inex-perienced team continues to get valuable playing time.
In junior varsity action, the Opelika girls lost to Auburn 0-10 and the boys lost 5-0.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog Softball team (2-7) lost five games last week: Wetumpka (7-5), St. James (2-0), Chilton County (16-0) and Pike Road (2-6).
Some of the players had good weeks despite the loses: J.Z. Agee recorded two hits and knocked in three RBIs vs Wetumpka. Emily Birmingham pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs against St. James, and Brealyn Brooks slapped two hits against Chilton County.
Opelika softball will host Glenwood on Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. and will travel to Lee-Scott Academy for a 5:30 p.m. game Thursday, March 6.
BASEBALL
The Bulldog baseball team (4-2) won two of three games last week, beating Russell County 2-1 and Beauregard 3-1 and losing to Northside 3-6.
In the win over Russell County, Davis Ford pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed one earned run while striking out 10 Warrior batters to pick up the win. Bryce Turnham and Judson Cherry pitched scoreless innings to earn the save. Ford, Brody Jones and Hank Hudson each recorded a hit.
Opelika beat Beauregard 3-1 behind Ford’s two hits and two runs. Jones added a hit, scored a run and recorded an RBI, Slade Clayton had an RBI, and Bryce Turnham and Caleb Peoples added hits. Whit Cooper pitched five complete innings in the start, allowing no runs on one hit and recording two strikeouts. Jones earned the win, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out two batters.
Against Northside (Columbus), Opelika scattered five hits but was unable to score enough runs. Jones, Tye Hudson, Will Brannon, Hank Hudson (double) and Peoples added hits.
OHS travels to Phenix City to play Glenwood on Tuesday, March 4, and will host Lee-Scott Thursday, March 6. Both games start at 4:30 p.m. Fans can listen to the OHS vs Glenwood baseball game on iHeartRadio’s FOX Sports the Game 910-1310, foxsportsthegame.com and the iheartradio app presented by the Orthopaedic Clinic. Airtime starts at 4:15 p.m., with the first pitch scheduled at 4:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION FOR OPELIKA REC BASEBALL 13-14-15 YEAR OLD STARTS MARCH 15
The Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball League will hold registration March 15 through April 15 for ages 13, 14 and 15. Registration is available online at www.opelikasportsplex.com and in person at the Sportsplex. Registration fee is $50 per player, with a $5 discount for city of Opelika residents. If you have questions or if interested in coaching, please contact me at dmitchell2@iheartmedia.com.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia and host of “On the Mark” on Fox Sports the Game 910-1319.
