The Messenger

Braun Pee runs the ball during Sardis' spring scrimmage against Southside.

Sardis tops Southside in spring scrimmage

By Shannon J. Allen/Sand Mountain Reporter

The Class 4A Sardis High varsity football team wrapped up its third spring practice under head coach Gene Hill by knocking off Class 5A Southside 14-10, on Monday (May 20) at Southside.

Sardis’ defense forced a third-and-26 situation on the opening series of the varsity game, but the Panthers responded with a tackle-breaking touchdown run of

Sardis High’s Krista Hubbard hustles to first base during the Lady Lions’ 7-3 loss to Alabama Christian in the Class 4A state softball tournament on May 16 in Montgomery. (Courtesy of Sand Mountain Reporter)

Lady Lions go 0-2 in Montgomery

By Shannon J. Allen/Sand Mountain Reporter

The 2013 Sardis High softball team will be remembered as one of the best in school history, but that seemed to be little consolation last Thursday (May 16) at Lagoon Park.

The fourth-ranked Lady Lions were swept out of the Class 4A state tournament following losses to Corner, 10-1, and Alabama

Westbrook’s Mikhail Cazenave steals second base during the Warriors’ 5-0 loss to G.W. Long in the Class 2A baseball state championship series on Friday (May 17) in Montgomery.

Westbrook falls in Class 2A championship series

By Chris McCarthy/Editor

After outscoring the opposition 85-15 over the first four rounds of the high school baseball postseason, Westbrook Christian finally ran into a pitching staff capable of holding the Warrior offense in check.

Westbrook suffered a sweep at the hands of G.W. Long in the best-of-three Class 2A state championship series in Montgomery, losing 3-2

By Cole Frederick

In & around SEC baseball

Week 9 review

Auburn

The Tigers traveled to Gainesville last weekend and picked up a huge series win over Florida. Auburn won two out of three games, improving to 31-21 overall and 11-16 in conference play. The Tigers’ chances to make the 12-team SEC tournament field improved drastically over the weekend. Auburn closes out the regular season at home versus Arkansas.

Alabama

The Crimson

Westbrook Christian senior Alex Perkins signs a letter-of-intent on Tuesday (May 14) to play basketball at Birmingham Southern College. Pictured sitting with Alex is dad Mike and mom Pam. Standing is Westbrook boys basketball coach Seth Ford.

Westbrook’s Perkins signs with BSC

By Chris McCarthy/ Publisher/Editor

Alex Perkins’ focus on the present is helping Westbrook Christian win a state baseball championship this week as the team’s starting shortstop, but the Warrior senior recently looked a bit into the future.

Perkins signed a letter-of-intent on Tuesday (May 14) to play basketball at Birmingham Southern College.

A four-year starter at point guard, Perkins last season averaged 11.1

Glencoe High senior Austin Hancock signs a letter-of-intent on May 13 to play basketball at Birmingham-Southern College. Pictured, sitting, from left: brother Corey, dad Tom, Austin, mom Pam, brother Baylor. Standing, from left: former GHS boys basketball coach Ryan Barkley, current GHS boys basketball coach Tommy Stanley.

Glencoe’s Hancock signs with BSC

By Chris McCarthy/ Publisher/Editor

Austin Hancock is taking his cage skills to the Magic City.

On Monday (May 13), the Glencoe High senior guard signed a letter-of-intent to play for Birmingham Southern College.

Hancock, who also lettered in football and track, last season helped the Yellow Jacket basketball team post a 19-11 record and make it to the substate round of

Pictured, front row, from left: Sarah Slater Hicks, Lauren Brewer, Kinsleigh Hamrick, Kendall Lindsey, Abagale Vingers, Cayia Wright, Ansley Hicks, Ashlyn Strahan, Tori Wallace. Back row, from left: coach Craig Smith, Alexis Beard, Landry Stephens, Madison Smith, Presley Johnson, Katie Smith, Mattie Castor, Rene Shipman, Mary Kinley Hill, Hannah Murphy, coach Kerry Smith.

U13 Fusion girls win state title

 
The Gadsden-area U13 00 Premier Lady Fusion girls soccer team won the Alabama State Championship on May 11 in Decatur. The team went undefeated in the tournament in two weekends of competition, posting victories over the Decatur Raptors, 3-1; Trussville, 4-0; the Lady Ambassadors Gold, 3-0; USC 00, 2-0; and Vestavia Attack 00 White, 2-1 in overtime. The Lady Fusion will

Head coach Angie Sanders will lead the Southside High softball team in the Class 5A state tournament this week in Montgomery.

Lady Panthers primed for state tournament

By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent

Making the Elite Eight means two things - the eight softball teams that have fought their way through a couple of playoff rounds are truly elite, and any of the eight has a good chance to win a state championship.

Making it this far is tough enough that the last time Southside High made it,

Kameron Carter is one of four seniors on the Sardis High softball team

Sardis back in Montgomery for second time in three years

By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent

Two years ago, Sardis High went to the state softball tournament for the first time in school history. 

Now, the Lions back in Montgomery.

“Everyone is very excited,” coach Mary Beth Gilliland said. “Especially the seniors, who know this is their last chance to play together and last chance to do something big for the

Kyle Leonard and the Westbrook Christian baseball team takes on G.W. Long for the Class 2A state title beginning tomorrow (May 16) in Montgomery.

Warriors set to take on G.W. Long in 2A championship series

Class 2A championship series

No. 4 G.W. Long (30-8) vs. No. 6 Westbrook Christian (25-13)

Thursday 4 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.; 1 p.m., if necessary

By Gene Stanley/Correspondent

Knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's door.

How many times must a team knock before opening the proverbial door? For Westbrook Christian's baseball team, the brass ring is finally in sight.

After

Westbrook Christian’s Matthew Reaves connects for one of his two three-run home runs during the Warriors’ sweep over Randolph County in the Class 2A state baseball semifinals on May 10 in Rainbow City.

Better late than never for Westbrook’s longball explosion

By Matthew Martin/Sports Correspondent

Westbrook Christian had been in this spot before several times over the last five years.

A month into the Alabama High School Athletic Association state baseball playoffs, the Warriors were one of the last teams left standing.

It was a familiar position, one Matt Kennedy's squad knew all too well, as the Westbrook coach had

Westbrook Christian’s Mikhail Cazenave delivers a pitch during the Warriors’ sweep over Randolph County in the Class 2A state baseball semifinals on May 10 in Rainbow City.

Westbrook hammers Randolph County, will play for state title

By Matthew Martin/Sports Correspondent

After coming so close the last four seasons, the Westbrook Christian baseball team will finally get to play in the state championship series. 

No. 6 Westbrook embarrassed No. 2 Randolph County, 19-0 and 15-1, in the Class 2A state semifinals last Friday (May 10) to advance to the Class 2A state title series in Montgomery.

Head coach Angie Sanders will lead the Southside High softball team in the Class 5A state tournament this week in Montgomery.

Southside, Sardis qualify for state softball tournament; Glencoe, Gaston fall in regionals

Southside High will compete in the Class 5A state tournament this week after finishing runner-up at the North Regional Tournament last weekend in Huntsville.

The Lady Panthers begin the state tournament with a game against Saraland on Friday in Montgomery.

Southside opened the regional tournament on May 10 with a 9-4 win over Arab, then defeated Cullman, 5-1, on

By Cole Frederick

In & around SEC baseball

Week 8 review
Auburn

The Tigers won a pivotal series over SEC West foe Ole Miss last weekend. After losing the first game of the series, Auburn rallied and won the next two games. The Tigers have 18 come-from-behind victories this season. Auburn improved to 28-19 overall and 9-15 in conference play. Head coach John Pawlowski’s team travels to Gainesville this weekend

The Gadsden-area U-12 Fusion 01 Black soccer team won the Alabama Youth Soccer Association state championship on May 4 in Decatur. Pictured, sitting, from left: Mattison Brewster, Lili Brandon, Hallie-Kate Smith, Makenna Beard, Avery Bane, Anna Motley, Savanna Knighten. Standing, from left: head coach Bruce Williams, Ashley Morgan, Lauryn Williams, Grace McClellan, Savanna Blackwell, Makayla Moore assistant coach Mike McClellan.

Local soccer squad wins state

The Gadsden-area Lady Fusion U-12 01 Black soccer team won the Alabama Youth Soccer Association state championship last weekend in Decatur.

In the championship game against Birmingham Legends, the Lady Fusion took a 2-0 lead into halftime. The Lady Fusion then scored early the second half to go up 3-0. After surrendering a goal midway through the second half, the Lady

Glencoe High sophomore Thomas Ozmint won the gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles event at the recent Class 3A boys state track and field meet.

Area athletes medal at state meet

Several local student-athletes turned in medal-winning performances on May 3-4 at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A-2A-3A state track and field meets at Selma and the Class 4A-5A-6A state meets in Gulf Shores.

Glencoe sophomore Thomas Ozmint won the area’s lone first-place medal with his time of 43.10 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles event in the Class 3A

Etowah senior Darius Bush recently signed a basketball scholarship with Gadsden State.

Etowah’s Bush signs with Cardinals

By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent

Darius Bush possesses some really good assets, assets that have combined to hand the Etowah High senior a basketball scholarship at Gadsden State Community College.

Bush was in one of those quandaries that college coaches hate. GSCC men’s basketball coach Todd Ginn wanted to sign Bush but wasn’t sure if he had the room available.     

That

The Southside Athletic Foundation recently inducted five members into the Southside Hall of Fame. Pictured, from left: Southside Athletic Foundation Nominating Committee member Jimmy Owens, inductee Tom Griffith, inductee Dexter Wood, inductee Brett Boner, Southside Athletic Foundation Board member Stace Beecham.

Five new members inducted into Southside Wall of Fame

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Members of the Southside Athletic Foundation gathered May 5 to add names to Southside High School’s Wall of Fame with the induction of five new members into the SHS Hall of Fame.

In doing so, the hall of fame added more than names and statistics. Southside High athletic director and head football coach Marty Smith said when he

Westbrook Christian’s Jake Kilgo delivers a pitch during the Warriors’ 6-1 win over Ranburne in the Class 2A state baseball quarterfinals on Tuesday (May 7) in Rainbow City.

Warriors dispatch Ranburne, will host Class 2A semifinal

By Matthew Martin/Sports Correspondent

Westbrook Christian's bats seemed to match the weather in its Class 2A quarterfinal baseball series against Ranburne.

On Friday, with cool air and plenty of rain, the Warriors failed to match the Bulldogs at the plate in Game 1, losing 8-3. Westbrook took a 5-0 lead in the second game before the heavy rain causing

Southside High’s Alex Pondick delivers a pitch during the Panthers’ 4-0 loss to Pinson Valley in Game 1 of the Class 5A best-of-3 state quarterfinal series on May 3 in Pinson.

Panthers come up just short in 5A state quarterfinals

By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent

The Southside High baseball team’s run at a possible Class 5A state championship came to an abrupt end on Saturday (May 4) at the hands of the Pinson Valley in the state quarterfinals.

In the deciding Game 3 of the best-of-3 series, the host Indians diffused a Panther rally in the top of seventh