By D Mark Mitchell
sports columnist
SOCCER
Boys:
The OHS boys soccer team is 7-0 overall and 2-0 in Area matches.
The Dawgs beat Lamp, 2-1, Brookstone, 5-0, and Russell County ,7-0, this week.
In the game against Lamp, the opponents took a early 1-0 lead on a first half goal. Opelika rallied to score two goals in the second half to win.
Khalil Bell scored both goals for the Bulldogs. OHS defense was led by Will Overstreet, Hunter Weygand, Chaz Blackmon, Giving Clark, Lois Alcantara and goalie Alec Thompson.
Against Brookstone, Marco Vega and Kahill Bell scored two goals apiece, while J Authur Grubbs added a goal. Austin Black, Hunter Weygan and Joseph Jong all had assists.
The Bulldogs shut out Russell County 7-0, improving to 2-0 in Area play. Khalil Bell and JAuthur Grubbs scored two goals each. Palmer Long, Arturo Ramos and Austin Black added goals for OHS. Alec Thompson, goalkeeper, earned his fifth shutout of the season.
Girls:
The Lady Bulldogs soccer team defeated Russell County, 10-0.
Estephany Alba and Savannah Jacobs scored two goals apiece. Clarke Lawrence, Alex Bailey, Katelyn Goodman, Adrianna Anthony, Kim Kiger, and Daziah Kelley all scored single goals for Opelika. The game lasted only 47 minutes due to the mercy 10-goal rule. (90 minutes is a game.)
BASEBALL
The OHS varsity baseball team is off to another hot start (13-3) under Coach Billy Jones. The Bulldogs beat Northview, 4-2, and Dadeville 9-4 last weekend.
Mathew Christian earned the win over Northview and added two hits including a two-run homer. Gage Young earned the save. Blake Yountz went 3 for 3 with a double and drove in two runs.
Bryant Norrell improved to 3-0 on the mound after earning the win over Dadeville. Norrell added a double to help his cause.
Christian added a solo home run and Gage Young was 2 for 3 Chris Manley and Jesse Baker also added hits.
JV BASEBALL
The JV baseball team defeated Benjamin Russell, 7-1, Dadeville, 13-6, and Central, 10-4, to improve to 11-3 overall.
Jared Bartlett picked up the win against BR, allowing one hit and a run while adding two hits at the plate. Carter Milner added two RBIs.
Against Dadeville, Christian Collins was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate. Dalton Jenkins was 2 for 2 and Jalen Miller added a single and two RBIs. Taylor Jones earned the win.
Jared Bartlett picked up the win on the mound against Central and added two hits at the plate. Carter Milner and Dalton Jenkins both had three hits while Henry Smith T and Jalen Miller had two hits apiece. Nolan Goodman and Bartlett singled.
SOFTBALL SCHEDULE CHANGE
The Opelika/Auburn softball game scheduled for Wednesday , March 10, at Jane B. Moore field on the AU campus has been postponed until April 22. The two teams were forced to cancel due to a lighting problem.
OHS hosted Auburn at West Ridge yesterday. Results were not available at press time.
SCHEDULES
Baseball- 3-13 OHS at Auburn 6 p.m.
3-17 OHS hosts Benjamin Russell, 5 p.m. (first Area game)
3-9 OHS at Benjamin Russell, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Softball- 3-16, OHS at Woodland, 5 p.m.
3-17, OHS hosts Russell County, JV at 4 p.m., V at 5:30
Soccer- 3-13, OHS hosts Carroll, girls 5 p.m. and boys 7 p.m.
3-17, OHS at Valley. JV at 5, V at 6
Tennis- 3-16, (girls & boys) Wetumpka at Lagoon Park 3 p.m.
3-17, (girls & boys) host Brookstone at Calhoun Tennis Center.
FOOTBALL
Opelika head football coach, Brian Blackmon is trying to secure a tenth game for the 2015 season. Blackmon is close to signing a contract to play Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa on the road August 21. This would give Opelika five home games and five road games. You’ll recall OHS only had nine regular season games last year.
Schools sign two-year contracts and the 2015 season is second year of two-year contracts so the tenth game was the only adjustment needed for the ‘Dogs. Opelika will be free to play different non-region games in 2016.
Auburn will come to Bulldog Stadium on August 29 for the 2015 home opener.
SYMPATHIES
I want to send condolences to OHS student-athlete Chris Collins. His father, Christopher Collins, was killed in a car wreck last Sunday night. Collins is a sophomore who plays both football and baseball.
ON THE MARK ON THE RADIO
You can listen to “On The Mark” radio program weekdays 7-9 a.m. on WTLM 1520AM and online at ihearyradio.com/wtlm Jeff Sasser and I host the two-hour show centered around local sports.
The show is guest driven, with coaches from Opelika, Auburn, Beauregard and Lee-Scott typical guests.
Dan Washburn (M & W), Joe Wilson (Thursday) and Larry Gore(Tuesday) are guest hosts. Other guests range from former Auburn coaches Sonny Smith and Pat Dye to Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
You can keep up with the latest news about Opelika Athletics with my Twitter account @voiceofthedawgs
OPELIKA FOOTBALL ON FACEBOOK
Opelika football has a Facebook page, Opelika Football. You can find information about Opelika football.
DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL
The Opelika Dixie Boys baseball league is conducting registration at the Opelika Sportsplex. The league is for players 13 and 14 years old. The cost is $40 which includes jersey and cap. Everyone will be placed on a team. For more information call D.Mark Mitchell, (334) 319-0467.
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.
