ON THE MARK
D. MARK MITCHELL
The Alabama High School Athletic Department is hosting its annual “All-Star Week” in Montgomery this week. Each sanctioned sport will have a match, game or contest this week. The city of Montgomery hosts all-star week, including providing venues for each sporting event.
The AHSAA hosts numerous coaches meetings, clinics and guest speakers designed to educate coaches. The week ends with the “Championship Banquet” and awards. Each team to win a State Championship will be announced and receive a plaque as a memento for winning a state title.
This is the first official event for new Executive Director Alvin Briggs, who took over July 1. Briggs restructured the staff at the AHSAA including the following: naming Kim Vickers as associate executive director, promoting Jamey Lee as assistant director, moving Brandon Dean to lead the High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association, hiring Devin Booth as assistant director /AHSADCA and hired Jeff Seegers as assistant director. Briggs could announce one or two more moves before having his staff completed.
The AHSAA mandates this as a “dead week”, allowing teams to workout and condition, but restricting use a football or the holding of team drills. Most schools start fall practice Aug 2.
KICKOFF CLASSIC
The AHSAA announced the four teams appearing in the 16th annual Kickoff Classic, at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. Last year’s 4A State Champion Handley will battle Guntersville Thursday, Aug. 19, and Dothan will play Bob Jones, Friday Aug 20. The classic is played the first week of games and is the “official” start to the high school football season.
DIXIE BASEBALL SUMMARY
All three Opelika Dixie Youth teams – Pee Wee, Minor and Ozone — were eliminated in their respective state tournament last week. All three fell in walk-off, one-run losses. The following are game results from district tournaments and stats tournaments.
Ozone All-Stars (11-12 year-olds): Opelika swept Auburn in the District 10 tournament played at Duck Samford Park in Auburn. Opelika won the first game 10-6, the second 10-0. In the state tournament, Opelika finished 2-2. Opelika won the first game against East Tuscaloosa, winning 15-1. They then lost 3-2 to Troy, before beating Rogersville 8-3. Opelika was eliminated by Gordo in the next game, losing 9-8.
Minor All-Stars (9-12 year olds): Opelika split two games with Auburn in the District 10 tournament at Duck Samford park. Opelika won the first game over Auburn Blue, 22-9. Auburn Orange got revenge in the next game, beating Opelika 11-8. The Minor All-Stars then went 1-2 in state. Opelika lost the first game to Andalusia 22-9. They then bounced back with a dominant 16-0 win over Gordo. Taylor-Rehobeth ended Opelika’s season with a 3-2, seven-inning win.
Pee Wee All-Stars (7-8 year olds): The Pee Wee All-Stars played in the state tournament hosted by Greenville. Opelika finished 3-2, losing on a walk-off single in the elimination game. Opelika first won, 5-3, against Mobile Municipal American. They then lost 16-9 against AUM Green. The following game was a 3-1 win over Clanton; That was followed by a 6-4 victory over Hueytown. Opelika was eliminated by losing 8-7 in seven innings to Troy.
OPELIKA BASEBALL CAMP
OHS baseball coach Zach Blatt, s hosting a youth baseball camp July 26-28 at OHS baseball field. The cost of the three-day camp is $75. Each participant receives a cap and t-shirt and will have snacks and drinks during the four hours each day. You can pre-register for the baseball camp by going to twitter @baseballopelika. You can pay the entree fee in cash or check.
HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA DAYS
Twenty high school football teams will be on hand for the fourth annual “FOX Sports the Game High School Media Days” presented by the Orthopedic Clinic, at the Event Center Bottling Plant in downtown Opelika.
AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs will lead off Tuesday morning while AISA Athletic Director Roddy Beck starts Wednesday. Teams include, Opelika, Auburn, Lee-Scott, Beauregard, Smiths Station, Loachapoka, Beulah, Springwood, Valley, Lanett, LaFayette and many other schools within a 90-mile radius.
Fans can listen on FOX Sorts the Game 910-1310 am, online at foxsportsthegame.com and can be seen LIVE on WOTM TV (Channel 80 on Charter). Media Days start at 8 a.m. each day.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, the host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.