By D. Mark Mitchell
sports columnist
TRACK
The OHS boys track team won the King of the Mountain Meet at Vestavia High School Friday and Saturday. Opelika was 40 points ahead of the second place team, Hoover.
The following placed in the top three of their events:
Ben Garner won the 1600 meter run.
Anatanavious Butler won the 300 meter hurdles and was third in the 110 meter hurdles.
Devin Guice won the high jump. Will Boler won triple jump and finished second in the long jump.
Ladarius Foreman was third in the 400 meter event. Isaiah McKissic was third in the high jump, and Kingston Frazier was third in 400 meter race.
The OHS girls finished second their half of the same meet. Ghanai Warren won the 100 meter hurdles and was second in the 100 meter dash, while Diondra Larkin was third in the 200 meter sprint.
TENNIS
The Opelika girls tennis team improved to 2-0 in the sectional after beating Benjamin Russell, 7-2.
Singles match winners were Sam Herring , Emma Grace Scullen, Sara Hollis Smith T, and Tay Wilson. Doubles winners were Herring/Scullen, Smith T/Watson and Levins/Matlyn Grouby
The boys swept BRHS, 9-0, improving their sectional record to 2-0.
Singles winners were Kevin Lazenby, Andre Bizilia, Scot Carpenter, Connor Pruitt, Henry Smith T and Andrew Goss. Doubles winners were Lazenby/Bizilia, Carpenter/Pruitt and Smith T /Jack Slay.
SOCCER
Opelika’s boys soccer team lost 4-7 to Benjamin Russell.
J. Arthur Grubbs scored three goals, earning his first hat trick of the season, and Arturo Ramos scored the other goal.
The OHS girls soccer team battled BRHS to a 2-2 tie. Clarke Lawrence, goalkeeper, shut out the Wildcats until late in the first half. Benjamin Russell scored a goal in each half. The Lady Bulldogs battled back to tie in the second half.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Bulldog softball team lost two games in as many days, losing to Beauregard and Valley.
The Hornets beat OHS 0-6 despite a great defensive game by Jaylen Snipes and TV Veasley.
Valley beat Opelika 10-0 in the first area game of the season. Payton Powers struck out three and allowed one earned run during her three innings in the circle.
First year Opelika coach, Tina Deese, is continuing to move players around to evaluate individual and team skills.
BASEBALL
The OHS baseball team (11-8) lost two of three to rival Auburn High and swept Dadeville in a double header last week.
The Dawgs beat AHS 4-3 in game one at Sam Welborn Field in Auburn. Jackson Reynolds earned his first win, pitching a complete game.
Cullen Senn, Blake Yountz and Chris Manley had hits for the Dawgs.
Auburn beat Opelika in a double header at Bulldog Park the following day, 1-8, 1-9.
The Bulldogs rebounded with two wins over Dadeville on the road, 11-3 and 9-3. OHS pounded 13 hits in the 11-3 win.
Jared Bartlett had four hits, while Mitch Myers, Tyler Robinson and Blake Yountz added two hits apiece. Jesse Baker, Cullen Senn and Kent Bugg added singles. Bugg earned the win, allowing three runs, five hits and striking out six in five innings. Jackson Grigsby pitched a perfect two innings in relief.
OHS finished the sweep with a 9-3 win. Chris Manley, JD Worth, Cullen Senn, Mitch Myers, Tyler Robertson and Jesse Baker all recorded two hits apiece. Tommy Jackson and Blake Yountz added singles.
Jared Bartlett earned the win on the mound, allowing one earned run on eight hits.
DIXIE BOYS
BASEBALL
The Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball League is now taking registration at the Opelika Sportsplex. The league is for 13,14 or 15 year-olds.
This is the first year 15-year-olds can play. The Dixie Boys League added the age group to allow more kids the opportunity to play.
Registration ends March 30. Cost is $45, and all players will be placed on a team. The registration fee includes a game jersey and a cap.
For more information or questions, please email D.Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo.com.
D.Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.