ON THE MARK
D. MARK MITCHELL
The Opelika High School girls’ and boys’ soccer teams swept Russell County in Seale, Alabama, last week.
The boys won 9-0, behind three goals from Said Rujana and two goals from Dexter Graham. The following scored goals: Geoge Meyers, Jadon Gamble, Ethan Newman and Moe Forbes. Gamble and Forbes added two assists apiece, while Luke Roberts, Newman, Nathan Faison and George Meyers added one assist apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs shutout the Lady Warriors, 7-0, last week. Scarlet Posadas and Ashley Hilyer led the offense, scoring two goals apiece. Amiya Brown, Liseth Vera and Morgan Watts scored single goals. Karly Phatsadavong recoded two assists while Aimee Alcantara, Maelee Story, Diana Ramirez and Maricela Cruz added an assist.
TENNIS
Opelika’s girls’ tennis team went 2-1 last week, beating Smiths Station (6-3) and Wetumpka (8-1), while losing to Brookstone 0-5.
The boys went 2-0, with wins over Brookstone (3-2) and Smiths Station (9-0).
The following are results against SSHS: winning matches for the girls were Vera Smith T (10-4), Emma Brown (11-9), Joanne Smith T (10-1) and Nicholson (10-1). Double winners: Smith T/ Kemp and Brown/Montel.
Boys winners: Conner Mullins, Jake Walters, Will Fuller, Charles Gagliano, Roman Gagliano and Devam Patel. Double winners: Charles Gagliano/Roman Gagliano, Fuller/ Mullins and Walters/ Drue Gagliano.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog softball team (6-8) won three games and lost three games last week. OHS beat Valley (10-3), Dothan (13-4) and Park Crossing (11-1), but lost 1-0 to AHS, and lost twice to Smiths Station (5-19 and 0-13).
The 0-1 loss to Auburn at West Ridge was a pitching duel between McKay Yountz and Auburn High’s starting pitcher, Roberts. Yountz pitching seven innings, allowed one run, struck out 13 batters and allowed three hits in the loss. AHS pitcher Alley Roberts earned the win, pitching five innings without allowing a run or a hit.
Yountz earned the win against Valley, allowing three earned runs while striking out 13 batters. OHS recorded seven hits, two from Lyles and Yountz.
OHS thumped Dothan, 13-4, behind two hits from Yountz, Jones, Stringer and Thompson.
BASEBALL
The OHS varsity baseball team lost two games to AHS and swept two games from RE Lee last week.
Auburn swept the two-game series, 7-4 and 5-2. In game one, the ‘Dogs were led at the plate by Taylor Fields’ three hits. Harrison Long and Jake Smith added two hits apiece.
In game two, Brooks Bryan belted two home runs to lead OHS, while Fields and Brody Jones added hits.
The Bulldogs swept Lee, 11-3 and 14-1, last Saturday at Bulldog Park. In game one, both Bryan and Harris recorded a home run and added singles. Goodman, Fields and Chase added singles. Brantley Davis earned the win on the mound, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out 10 Lee batters.
In game two, Chase led offensively with three hits, and Goodman added two hits. Ford, McArdle, Smith, Harris and Davis recorded singles. Fields earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit.
OMS SOFTBALL
The Opelika Middle School Lady Bulldog Softball team finished third in the Opelika Invitational at West Ridge Park. The girls picked up three wins against Tuskegee, Prattville and Sanford. The girls lost 4-2 to Floyd in the semifinals. The defense was led by pitchers Cailyn Morgan, striking out 13, and Emily Birmingham, striking out seven. Several players contributed to the offense with big hits. Kennedy Soltau and Jasmine Smith both had six hits each, followed by Birmingham with three, Morgan and Hannah Holley with two and Claire Barber, Mylee Bordeaux, Alaina Thomas, Erin Kem and Malia Jeter all with one on the weekend. The Lady Bulldogs dropped two games against Auburn after the tournament, but put things back together with a 13-4 win over Sanford. Morgan picked up the win in the circle recording 10 strikeouts. The offense played a big part in the win. Soltau, Smith, Birmingham and Barber all had two hits each, while Morgan, Alaina Thomas, Erin Kemp, Hannah Holley, Kinsley Norton and Mylee all had one apiece.
TIDBITS
Crews have started turfing one softball field at West Ridge Park. The group will turf one field at a time, allowing OHS and OMS to continue playing on the other field. Once the first field is completed, the second field will be turfed. Mayor Gary Fuller told “On the Mark” radio show on FOX Sports the Game 910am, all the fields at West Ridge will eventually be turfed. The two Dixie Boys Fields should be the next two that are turfed.
DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL
Registration is underway for Dixie Boys Baseball, ages 13, 14 and 15, at the Opelika Sportsplex through April 15. If you are interested in playing, cost is $45 if you live in Opelika and $50 if you live outside of Opelika. Every player will be on a team. Registration covers the jersey and cap. For more info, contact D.Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo.com.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, 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 Youth Baseball state director.