
Week 10 review
Auburn
The Tigers finished the regular season on a positive note as they won their third consecutive series. Auburn defeated Arkansas twice last weekend to improve to 33-23 overall and 13-17 in conference play.
Alabama
The Crimson Tide traveled to Nashville and upset the Vanderbilt Commodores in one game last weekend. Despite losing the series, Alabama became only the third SEC team to beat the Commodores this season. Alabama’s record fell to 33-25 overall and 14-15 in league play.
SEC Tournament recap:
Days 1 and 2
The opening day of the SEC baseball tournament on Tuesday (May 21) was single elimination format. In the first game of the day, Ole Miss defeated Kentucky 4-1. Alabama and Auburn then met for the fifth time this season. The teams played four times in the regular season, with each team winning twice, The Crimson Tide fell behind 3-1 early in the game before storming back for a 6-3 victory.
In the night games, Texas A&M defeated Florida, 6-3, to win its first-ever SEC tournament game.
In the last game of the day, Mississippi State and Missouri squared off in what turned out to be a 17-inning thriller. The Bulldogs tied the game 1-1 in the fifth inning, and then both teams went nearly 12 innings without scoring a run. In the bottom of the 17th inning, Mississippi State’s Mitch Slauter drove in the game-winning run for the 2-1 victory.
On the second day of the tournament, the format changed to double elimination. The first game of the day involved a pitching duel between Arkansas and Ole Miss, with the Razorbacks slipping by the Rebels, 2-1. LSU then knocked off Alabama, 3-0. Texas A&M pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating top-seeded Vanderbilt 5-0. The Aggies hit four home runs in the upset over the Commodores. In the last game, Mississippi State beat South Carolina 5-3.
Final SEC rankings
1. Vanderbilt (48-8, 26-3)
2. LSU (49-8, 23-7)
3. Arkansas (36-19, 18-11)
4. South Carolina (39-17, 17-12)
5. Mississippi State (42-16, 16-14)
6. Ole Miss (37-21, 15-15)
7. Alabama (33-25, 14-15)
8. Florida (29-28, 14-16)
9. Texas A&M (32-25, 13-16)
10. Auburn (33-23, 13-17)
11. Kentucky (30-25, 11-19)
12. Missouri (18-32, 10-20)
13. Tennessee (23-29, 9-19)
14. Georgia (21-32, 7-20)
Tournament predictions
Vanderbilt entered the tournament as the favorite, but the Commodores lost their opening game to Texas A&M. LSU currently is in the best shape, but the Tigers’ road to the SEC championship will not be easy.
Mississippi State has momentum on its side after its exciting opening win, and Texas A&M has beaten both Florida and Vandy.
Arkansas is also dangerous after defeating Ole Miss. The Rebels are in the loser bracket but have the potential to climb their way out if they get a favorable matchup.
SEC champion prediction: LSU
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
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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
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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
Read more »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
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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
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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
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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,
Read more »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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
Read more »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
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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
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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
Read more »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
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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
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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
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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
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