Area teams ranked in ASWA baseball, softball polls
Released Mar. 7
BASEBALL
CLASS 6A
1. Hoover
2. Smiths Station
3. Thompson
4. Pelham
5. Hazel Green
6. Fairhope
7. McGill-Toolen
8. Spain Park
9. Oxford
10. Oak Mountain
CLASS 5A
1. Spanish Fort
2. Russell County
3. Cullman
4. Hartselle
5. Faith Academy
6. Southside
7. Briarwood Christian
8. Etowah
9. Pinson Valley (8-5)
10. Homewood (10-0)
CLASS 4A
1. Charles Henderson
2. Beauregard
3. Thomasville
4. Guntersville
5. UMS-Wright
6. Alexandria
7. Central-Florence
8. Alabama Christian
9. St. James
10. Ardmore
CLASS 3A
1. W.S. Neal
2. Mars
In & around SEC basketball
Auburn Week 9 recap
Auburn lost to both Vanderbilt and Tennessee last week, and the Tigers have now lost 14 of their last 15 games. Auburn dropped to 9-21 overall and 3-14 in conference play. The Tigers’ 21 losses are the most in school history. Auburn travels to Starkville on Saturday (Mar. 3) to take on Mississippi State in a battle
Westbrook Christian’s Leach to run for Troy
By Chris McCarthy/Editor After starting since her seventh-grade year, Rae Leach will not be a member of the Westbrook Christian girls soccer team this season. Leach, however, took home a pretty good consolation prize on last Tuesday (Mar. 4), as the WCS senior agreed to run both track and cross country for Troy University. […]
Coosa Christian names football coach
By Shannon Fagan/Cherokee County Herald It’s always been Scott Clifton’s dream to coach his own high school football program. On Feb. 28, he officially got that opportunity. The former Cedar Bluff assistant was named the new head football coach at Coosa Christian. Clifton replaces Van Owens, who in six seasons with the Conquerors went 28-30. […]
Panthers primed for success in 2013
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent Can Southside High make another big baseball playoff run? Last year, the Panthers finished as 2012 Class 5A state runners-up and made the semifinals the previous season. A strong and talented senior class makes it a good possibility for Southside to do just that – but time will tell. Two of […]
Cardinal softball is freshman-heavy
By Gene Stanley/Correspondent Now that softball is once again upon the agenda at Gadsden State Community College, coach Jeanne Kerr can’t wait to get the program back to where it should be. Two years ago, many junior colleges around the state started cutting some athletics because of funding problems. Softball, baseball, tennis and cross country […]
Payne takes the reigns at West End
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent After one year as assistant baseball coach to Chad Hall, Joe Payne has taken the reins at West End High. Hall stepped down last July after 14 seasons as coach of the Patriots. Hall’s teams made the state playoffs nine times and won six area championships. Under Hall, West End made […]
Lady Pats must replenish offense
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent Talk about taking a hit. West End High’s softball team only graduated four seniors from last year’s squad, but it would be fair to say those four alumni are going to be hard to replace. “We lost our leadoff batter as well as the Nos. 2, 3 and 5 hitters,” coach […]
Jack Floyd remembers
The Vagabond received the most interesting letter from Gadsden attorney Jack Floyd and wishes to share with the reader what he had to say:
“I have been reading with interest the ‘Life Around the Dwight Mill Village.’ The Feb. 15 issue was getting to almost my time in Alabama City.
“I grew up there at 1002 (now 3002) Elliott Avenue (now Meighan