On the Mark
By D. Mark Mitchell
The OHS baseball team is hot, winning six out of the last seven games. Last week, the Bulldogs beat rival Central 4-3 and won two of three games against area foe Russell County.
Against the Red Devils, the Dogs scored the winning run in the the top of the seventh off a hit from Jonathon Chase. Luke Murray started on the mound, pitched three complete innings, allowing one earned run off three hits. JT McArdle pitched the fourth inning and Paul Goodman pitched the last three innings to earn the win.
Jacob Smith and Goodman led offensively with two hits apiece. Brooks Bryan, Brantley Davis and Xander Grilliott added hits, too.
Opelika travelled to Seale on Wednesday, for its first area game against Russell County. The Warriors defeated the Dogs 8-2 behind a complete game from pitcher Landon Russell, who struck out 12 and yielded only nine hits. The Dogs made three costly errors that led to four Russell County runs.
Chase led OHS with three hits followed by two hits apiece from Jackson Harris and Bryan. Smith and Grilliott added singles.
In game two against the Warriors, Opelika beat Russell County by a score of 8-4. Davis pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out eight batters. Murray pitched the final inning, allowing zero runs while striking out two.
Offensively, Goodman led the Dogs with two hits while Bryan, Smith, Duke, Davis and Grilliott added hits.
Ultimately, the Bulldogs won the series after winning game three, 4-0, behind solid pitching from Murray and Harrison Long. The two combined for a shutout and allowed just three hits.
Offensively, Chase led with two hits; Harris and Grilliott added one hit apiece.
The win leaves OHS 2-1 in area play but earned the series win which is important for playoff purposes. The Dawgs played area foe Eufaula, Tuesday night. The Dogs lost a nail biter and were led by bobby Jones McGee who pitched seven innings. The Tigers play OHS in a doubleheader Thursday at Bulldog Park. First pitch is at 4:30. Game two will start after the completion of game one.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog Softball team split games last week, losing to Benjamin Russell 9-3 and beating Russell County 14-4.
In the loss to BRHS, McKay Yountz pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, recording nine strikeouts. At the plate, Raelle Fenn, Daysia Jones, Libby Gaberlavage, Leah Bales and KD Lee added singles for Opelika.
OHS ended the week with a 14-4 win over Russell County in Seale. Sania Stringer earned the win in the circle, allowing four runs on 11 hits and striking out nine Warrior batters. Offensively, Yountz and Fenn led with three hits apiece, followed by two hits from Nylen Thomas, Jones, Gaberlavage and Bales added two hits each. Stringer and Ta’lia Griffen added one hit apiece.
The Lady Bulldog Softball team host the “Opelika Invitational” Friday and Saturday at West Ridge Park. The schedule has undergone numerous changes but, as of now, OHS will play Handley, Friday at 5:45 p.m. and Beauregard at 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady Dawgs will play Vestavia at 11:45 p.m. and Randolph County at 3:30 p.m.. Other teams play each other in the round robin format.
MIKE SPAIN INVITATIONAL
The OHS Track and Field Teams host the annual “Mike Spain Invitational” Saturday at the Sam Mason Track. The meet will start around 9 am.
REGISTER FOR DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL
Registration is underway for the Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball league, ages 13-15. Registration is held at the Opelika Sportsplex and cost $50. The fee covers a jersey and cap. Players must furnish pants, glove and bat. All players will be on a team, regardless of talent.
For questions or more information, contact D.Mark Mitchell 334-787-1514 or foxonthemark@yahoo.com
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeart Media, host of “On The Mark” on Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, Co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state coordinator.