ON THE MARK
D. MARK MITCHELL
OPELIKA —
Opelika High spring sports are finishing the regular season with hopes of making the AHSAA state playoffs. The next three weeks will determine which teams advance.
SOCCER
Opelika’s girls’ and boys’ soccer teams swept Russell County and Eufaula this week at W. James Samford Soccer Complex.
The OHS boys’ varsity team (6-4-1) beat Russell County, 2-1, at its home field. George Meyers scored both goals for the Bulldogs with assists from Said Rujuana and Luke Roberts.
The Dogs then beat Eufaula, 9-2, improving their area record to 5-0. Nathan Faison (three goals) and Meyers (two goals) and Dexter Graham (two goals) led Opelika offensively. Jaden Gamble and Ethan Neman added one goal apiece. Meyers led Opelika with three assists; Rujuana, Jake Campbell, Graham and Neman added one assist apiece.
The OHS Lady Bulldogs beat Russell County 4-2. Amiya Brown and Morgan Watts scored two goals apiece to lead the girls. Assists were from Karly Phatsadavong, Ashley Hilyer, Brown and Scarlet Olivia.
The girls then shutout area foe Eufaula, 9-0, at the Sportsplex. Phatsadavong and Brown scored two goals; Maelee Story, Hilyer, Garcia, Watts and Arizela Ambrocio scored one goal apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs are 9-2 overall.
Opelika hosts rival Auburn Friday night at the W. James Samford Soccer Complex. Varsity girls start at 5 p.m., followed by varsity boys at 7 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
The OHS track and field team participated in the “RACE FOR HUNGAR” in Montgomery at Montgomery Academy High School. Below are the final track results.
11.77 – JaClarence Perry – 11th
11.78 – Jakori Thornton – 12th
11.79 – Bailey Williams – 13th
11.79 – Qualik Harry – 14th
200 METER DASH
24.17 – Brennan Reese-Williams – 15th
24.23 – Bailey Williams – 17th
24.24 – Kaden Cooper – 18th
24.29 – Davian Jones – 21st
400 METER DASH
53.19 – Sam Washburn – 5th – Finals
53.70 – Brennan Reese-Williams – 9th
55.25 – JaClarence Perry – 15th
800 METER RUN
2:08.84 – SB Charles Brewer – 1st
1600 METER RUN
4:44.35 – Charles Brewer – 1st
5:25.24 – Zane Sexton – 10th
5:29.16 – SB Zalen Shaw – 13th
3200 METER RUN
11:55.35 – Peyton Weston – 3rd
12:02.71 – Zane Sexton – 5th
12:44.42 – Patrick Seymore – 8th
12:50.53 – Alexander Burgess – 10th
110 METER HURDLES
15.56 – Tykell Thomas – 1st
16.32 – JaClarence Perry – 2nd
17.18 – Theo Hubbard – 4th
300 METER HURDLES
42.83 – Tykell Thomas – 2nd
44.73 – Theo Hubbard – 5th
51.47 – JaClarence Perry – 15th
4X100 METER RELAY
45.48 – Relay Team – 4th
4X400 METER RELAY
3:41.60 – Relay Team – 4th
4X800 METER RELAY
9:39.54 – Relay Team – 5th
LONG JUMP
19-9 – Davian Jones – 3rd
18-6.5 – Kaden Cooper – 8th
18-5 – Charles Hodge – 9th
TRIPLE JUMP
40-10 – Davian Jones – 1st
40-3 – Kaden Cooper – 2nd
38-3 – Kylin Fears – 7th
POLE VAULT
12-0 – Benjamin Royal – 1st
10-0 – Dontarius Alvis – 2nd
10-0 – Kylin Fears – 4th
DISCUS
133-5 – Mikeil Heard – 2nd
112-8 – Ajaden Parham – 4th
111-1 – Marquavian Johnson – 5th
JAVELIN
138-9 – Anthony Edwards – 1st
137-3 – Marquavian Johnson – 4th
114-4 – Jaxon Freeman – 11th
SHOT PUT
42-0 – Marquavian Johnson – 2nd
39-11 – Mikeil Heard – 4th
37-3.5 – Anthony Edwards – 7th
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog Softball team (8-12-1) lost two games last week, falling to Auburn (3-4) and Smiths Station (2-8).
AHS beat rival OHS, 4-3, in Auburn. This was the second one-run win for Auburn over rival Opelika. Auburn won game one, 1-0, at West Ridge Park earlier this year. This time, Auburn scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win. McKay Yountz pitched six complete Innings for Opelika, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out 11 of 18 batters faced. Offensively, Thomas, Lee, Yountz and Jones recorded hits for Opelika.
Smiths Station took advantage of 10 OHS errors to win 8-2. Youtz, pitching in her second game of the week, pitched six innings, giving up two earned runs off five hits. Sania Stringer led Opelika at the plate with three hits, while teammates Thomas and Jones added singles.
BASEBALL
OHS swept a two game series against Russell County in Seale this week, winning 4-3 and 9-0.
On Senior Night, Opelika needed a RBI walk-off double by Harrison Long to beat area foe RCHS at Bulldog Park. The Dawgs (14-7) received a good pitching outing from JT McArdle, who threw five innings, allowed four hits and one earned run. Luke Murray earned the win, pitching the last two innings, allowing no runs on one hit.
KaDylion Ligon led offensively with two hits, while Harris and JD Chase added hits.
The Bulldogs jumped on the Warriors in the second game of the series in Seale, scoring six runs in the fifth inning on their way to a 9-0 win. Brooks Bryan crushed two home runs; Speakman led with three hits, followed by hits from Harris, Long, Goodman, Fields and Jake Smith.
DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL REGISTRATION AGES 13-14-15
Anyone ages 13, 14 and 15 years old interested in playing summer baseball needs to register for Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball at the Sportsplex. Registration fee is $45 if you live in Opelika city limits or $50 if you live outside the city of Opelika. Everyone will be placed on a team and will receive a jersey and game cap. Registration ends April 15. For more info, call D. Mark Mitchell 334-787-1514 or email at foxonthemark@yahoo.com
JAMIE WILLIAMS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, MY THOUGHTS
I was glad to hear coach Jamie Williams was named athletics director for Opelika City Schools. Williams bring a wealth of knowledge in athletics, serving as head football coach and AD in prior jobs. Add that to the fact Williams lives in Opelika and spent a year under Coach Caleb Ross’s staff in Opelika, which allows him to know about the Opelika system.
As Opelika School System continues to grow, having a full-time athletic director is necessary if you want athletics to grow and be important. Congrats Jamie Williams.
D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeart Media, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Youth Baseball state director.