By D. Mark Mitchell
I have never witnessed what we are experiencing with the COVID-19 Corona irus. News continues to change hourly because information is coming in so rapidly. President Donald Trump declared a “National State of Emergency” Friday at a 2 p.m. news conference. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey followed, declaring a “State of Emergency” for Alabama. State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey announced the closing of all K-12 schools beginning the end of day on March 18. The closings will continue through April 6.
Alabama High School Athletic Association Director Steve Savarese sent each member school a memo relating to the virus. Savarese followed Dr. Mackey’s wishes, stopping all sporting events March 18. The AHSAA will continue to monitor and evaluate health conditions and determine the status of spring sports championship play.
OHS athletics played games/matches last week, including Saturday.
SOCCER
The girls and boys soccer teams won two games apiece last week. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Russell County (10-0) and Central (6-0).
Opelika shutout Russell County 10-0. Amiya Brown and Abby Noon scored three goals apiece, Erica Mathews scored two goals, Eleanor Wilson and Ana Garcia scored one goal apiece. Abby Noon recorded two assits, Eleanor Wilson and Erica Mathews added one apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs beat Central 6-0 behind three goals from Brown. Kaitlyn Goodman, Scarlet Posadas and Wilson scored one goal each. Noon recorded two assists, and Brown, Mathews and Ashley Hilyer added one assist apiece.
Emily Lux and Phoebe Darcey played great defense at the keeper position.
Opelika’s boys team defeated Russell County (2-1) and Central (5-2) last week.
The Bulldogs slipped by area opponent Russell County 2-1 behind a Caleb Rujana goal in overtime. Landon Faison scored the first goal for the Bulldogs.
OHS defeated Central 5-2 behind three goals from Charlie Garcia. Tykell Jones and Rujana scored a goal and added an assist each. Said Rujana and Landon Faison added assists.
TENNIS
OHS boys (4-3) and girls (3-5) tennis teams beat Smiths Station last week.
The following boys won matches for their team: Dawson Rush 8-6, Ben Estes 8-1, Connor Mullins 8-3, Andrew Hudson 8-1 and Jack Whatley 8-3. Double winners were Estes/Whatley and Parker/Rush.
The following girls won matches for their team: Hope Bearden 8-0, Laney McTier 8-5, Vera Smith T 8-6 and Allison Beardon 8-1. Doubles winners were Bearden/Kathlene Trotter 8-6 and Hope Bearden/ Smith T 8-3.
BASEBALL
Opelika High baseball team went 3-1 in the East Alabama Classic last weekend. The Bulldogs beat Daphne 5-2, Theodore 3-1, Faith Academy 6-5 and lost 10-6 to Saraland.
Daphne
Andrew Parr pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs while striking out 10 batters to earn the win. Brooks Bryan led at the plate with two hits while Brayden Thomas, Latrelle Gullate, Jackson Harris and Paul Goodman recorded hits.
Saraland
Saraland beat OHS 10-6 behind 14 hits. Offensively the Bulldogs recorded 12 hits, three from Bryan, two each from Gullatte, Parr and Kory McCoy.
Theodore
OHS beat THS 3-1 in a defensive game. Jackson Harris recorded the win on the mound, pitching 5 1/3 innings, striking out five while allowing one earned run.
Faith Academy
Opelika scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Faith Academy 6-5. McCoy drove in three runs with two outs in the sixth to win the game. Hunter Weston earned the win, pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bulldogs collected three hits for the game.
D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iheart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.