by D. Mark Mitchell
The Opelika High Athletic Department is quiet this week due to the Fourth of July holiday.
The OHS football team held workouts with Eufaula High School at Bulldog Stadium last week.
The hiring of a new baseball coach took longer than some expected or anticipated. Opelika hit a grand slam with the hiring of Nick Richardson as head baseball coach. I applaud and appreciate the efforts of athletic director Brian Blackmon and principal Dr. Farrell Seymore for the long hours each spent trying to find the best person to coach and lead our baseball program, hopefully, for many years to come.
They reached out to college coaches, community college coaches and big name coaches from other states. They also talked to several of Alabama’s top coaches to guage their interest and seek their opinions.
All this activity led to Nick Richardson. Now, as we welcome the new coach we look for stability in the baseball program.
Welcome Coach Nick Richardson, wife Holley and your two beautiful daughters to Opelika.
ALL-SPORTS BOOSTER CLUB
The Opelika All-Sports Booster Club is now offering Corporate Sponsorships. The sponsorships include reserved home football tickets, reserved parking at Bulldog Stadium with security personnel at entrance, ad in the Athletic Program, home passes for all OMS and OHS sporting events and coverage on the Jumbo Scoreboard at Bulldog Stadium.
Packages range from $500-$3000. For more information, email me (D.Mark) at foxonthemark@yahoo.com
ON THE MARK
ON RADIO
You can listen to the “On The Mark” radio program weekdays from 7-9 a.m. on WTLM 1520 AM and on the i-Heart radio app or
kickercomfm.com/sports.
Jeff Sasser and I host the local sports show which is driven by guests. We cover Opelika and other high schools in the surrounding area.
You will hear Pat Dye and Gene Stallings on the show this fall along with all Lee County football coaches.
Coach Dan Washburn, former Lanett head football coach, superintendent and former executive director of the AHSAA, guest hosts on Monday and Wednesday. Former Opelika High Head Coach Larry Gore co-hosts on Tuesday, J. Stern on Friday and along with other people involved in the cities of Opelika and Auburn.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller calls in the morning after each City Council to report highlights and Auburn City Council President, Pro-Tem, Ron Anders to recap the Auburn meeting.
On The Mark is broadcast live from Studio D inside the i-Heart Studios in Opelika.
D. Mark Mitchell is the iHeart Media sports director, Alabama Dixie Boys state director and the vice president of the A-O Sports Council.