Spring sports roundup: Westminster Christian blanks Priceville
Top-ranked Westminster Christian clinched the Class 4A Area 8 girls’ soccer title with a 4-0 win over No. 7 Priceville on Monday.
The defending state champion Wildcats improved to 14-1-1 and will host West Morgan in the opening round of the state playoffs on Tuesday, beginning at 6 p.m.
Westminster dominated on Monday, outshooting the Bulldogs 38-10. The Wildcats also had 11 corner kicks.
Jasmine Feld scored a pair of goals for the Wildcats and they got single goals from Clara Norris and Gabby Dean.
Westminster’s defense had 37 recoveries, redirecting every Priceville advance. Caleigh Lewis led the ‘Cats with 7 recoveries. Keeper Piper Blazier saved all 10 Priceville shots to earn the clean sheet.
On Wednesday, Class 7A No. 7 James Clemens edged Westminster 2-1, outshooting the Wildcats 20-9 and limiting standout AnnaLi Weekley to 2 shots all night.
Brooke Apse scored in the 10th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Jets pushed the advantage to 2-0 when Shaylinn McFarland scored just over the reach of Westminster keeper Jamiah Maxtion in the 42nd minute.
Shelby Layne scored in the 76th minute off an assist from Feld to give the Wildcats their goal.
James Clemens hosts Huntsville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Class 7A state playoffs.
– Jimmy Lay
In other high school spring sports from across the state this week:
GIRLS
SOCCER
BIRMINGHAM
Hoover 4, Thompson 2
The Class 7A No. 3 Bucs doubled up No. 8 Thompson at home on Tuesday to wrap up the Area 5 championship. Hoover led 3-1 at the half.
Julie Cooke, Nneka Udeh and Dee Dee Udeh scored the first-half goals for the Bucs. Udeh had Hoover’s final goal.
STATEWIDE
Montgomery Academy 5, Dothan 4
The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Dothan rallied in the second half to go ahead 4-3, but Montgomery Academy responded with a pair of goals to pull out the win at home in its final regular-season match on Monday.
Madison Yi scored the game-winner with 8 minutes remaining.
Montgomery Academy got a pair of goals from Mary Elizabeth Cole and another from Sophia Cho for the 3-0 lead before Dothan narrowed the halftime margin to 3-2.
The Wolves scored a pair of goals early in the second half to take the lead before Cho got another goal on a 35-yard free kick to knot the match at 4-all.
Prattville Christian 8, Holtville 0
Prattville Christian blanked visiting Holtville on Tuesday with Avery Rogers leading the way with 3 goals and 3 assists.
Bella Carothers scored 2 goals and had a pair of assists in the win. Addison Sutton also scored twice and added an assist. Ella Pegg had a goal.
Kendall Jordan recorded the shutout in goal.
On Monday, Rogers scored 4 goals to lead the Panthers to a 7-3 home win over Brewbaker Tech.
Pegg and Anabelle Weedon scored a goal each for Prattville Christian. Sutton had a goal and 2 assists in the win. Carothers finished with 2 assists and Jordan recorded the victory in goal for PCA.
Trinity 4, Prattville Christian 1
Trinity topped Prattville Christian on the road on Thursday.
Avery Rogers scored the Panthers’ lone goal on an assist from Addison Sutton.
St. James 10, Central-Phenix City 0
Top-ranked Class 1A/3A St. James rolled past 7A Central-Phenix City on Tuesday as the Trojans recorded their 10th shutout in 15 games this season.
Katie Brightwell scored 8 goals and had 2 assists for St. James. Natalie Barton scored the other 2 goals in the rout. She also had an assist. Mary Grace Hixon had 2 assists with Ragan King, Hailey Vance and Hope McCain also recording an assist each.
St. James (13-1-1) hosts Prattville Christian on Tuesday in the opening round of the playoffs.
SOFTBALL
MOBILE/COASTAL ALABAMA
Baldwin County 13, Elberta 3
Madilyn Byrd was key in both the circle and at the plate in the win over Elberta in Bay Minette on Monday. The Florida Atlantic commitment struck out 11, allowing 1 hit and no runs over 5.1 innings for Baldwin County.
At the plate, Byrd had a 3-run home run to center field, a 2-run single and drew a walk that brought in another run.
Nassar Brooks had 2 hits and an RBI single and Ryann Wallace had a pair of hits and an RBI. Madisyn Williams forced in a run with a walk and stole 2 bases for the Tigers.
Madison Wallis took the loss for Elberta, allowing 5 runs – 3 earned – on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and no walks. Ava Jennings was 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs for the Warriors.
HUNTSVILLE/TENNESSEE VALLEY
Columbia 7, Falkville 1
Left-hander Emma Newby pitched Columbia past Falkville on the road on Thursday with her second straight 14-strikeout performance. She gave up 3 hits and a run over 7 innings with a pair of walks. Newby also homered for the second consecutive outing, going 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.
La’Terrica Wright was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Eagles. Chelby Armstrong, Brooklyn Kelly and Delia Anes also had hits in the win. Ka’Nijha Arrington and Armstrong had an RBI each.
At home on Wednesday, Columbia shut out St. John Paul II 9-0 as Newby cracked 2 home runs – both of the inside-the-park variety – and notched 5 RBIs. She earned the win in the circle by striking out 14 batters. She allowed 2 hits and walked 2 in the 7-inning win.
Newby was 4-for-4 and lacked only a single to keep her from hitting for the cycle. She has 161 strikeouts this season and carries a 3.19 ERA.
Wright had an RBI triple for Columbia and Malaysia Austin picked up an RBI. Erica Sandlin and Armstrong both had multiple hits in the win. Armstrong also had 2 stolen bases on the day.
Skylar Mullins, Evelyn Creehan, Kyley Johnson and Emily Leahy had hits for SJP2. Mullins took the loss for the Falcons, allowing 9 runs – 7 earned – on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and a walk over 6 innings.
Westminster Christian 20, Decatur Heritage 3
The Wildcats exploded for 12 runs in the top of the fifth inning to roll over Decatur Heritage on the road on Wednesday in their final regular-season game of the year.
Westminster Christian sent 16 batters to the plate and pounded out 10 hits in the big inning, including doubles from pitcher Carleigh Gothart and shortstop AP Slaton. Gothart finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBIs and Slaton was 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs.
Jadyn Linberg went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles with 3 RBIs in the win. Kaylin McCree was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Shelby Mann went 3-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs.
Gothart gave up 2 runs on 2 hits with 6 strikeouts to pick up the win in 3.2 innings.
The winners finished with 19 hits to 3 for Decatur Heritage.
Allie Tidwell had a 2-run home run in the first inning for the Eagles.
Westminster will host No. 3 seed St. John Paul II in the Class 4A, Area 15 tournament on Friday looking to qualify for the regionals for the third straight year.
– Jimmy Lay
Madison Academy 8, New Hope 1
The Class 3A No. 4 Mustangs ran their record to 24-3 with the win at home on Thursday. Madison Academy pitcher Cat Schreiber struck out 8, allowing no runs on 2 hits with no walks over 6.1 innings to get the win. She helped her cause by going 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
Memphis Houston went 2-for-2 with an RBI and 3 runs scored for Madison Academy. Evie Stephenson was 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored, Madison McCoy was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Emily Burgreen went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Mya Western had a hit in 4 at-bats with a run scored in the win.
Adair Allen went 2-for-4 with a run scored. She also worked two-thirds of an inning, allowing a earned run on 2 hits with a walk for Madison Academy.
The Mustangs will host the Area 15 tournament beginning Saturday at 10 a.m. against Brindlee Mountain.
Brooks 6, Lawrence County 3
Shortstop Karley Moreland smacked a home run and was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBIs and a run scored as the Class 4A No. 6 Lions topped 5A Lawrence County on Tuesday.
Abby Herndon was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs for Brooks, Faith Roberson was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Adrianna Johnson was 1-for-3 with 2 runs in the win. Preslie Bunch and Baylee Darby both had a hit and an RBI.
Herndon picked up the win in the circle, allowing no hits in 3 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts. Ellie Partrick gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and a walk in 4 innings of relief.
Andee McKay went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double with 2 RBIs and a run scored for the Red Devils. Lara Norwood, Alivia Terry and Addison Plaxco also had hits.
Raegan Johnson took the loss, giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits with a strikeout and 2 walks in 3 innings.
STATEWIDE
Prattville Christian 4, Thorsby 1
Laura Beth NeSmith earned the win in the circle with Kandice Crosby getting a save in the win over Thorsby at home on Monday.
Erin Williams had a single for Prattville Christian.
Piedmont 6, Cherokee County 0
Class 3A No. 6 Piedmont blanked Cherokee County on Thursday behind a 10-strikeout performance from Savannah Smith. She allowed 5 hits and walked 2 in the shutout. Smith also went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.
Ava Pope was 1-for-2 with a home run, a run scored and 2 RBIs for Piedmont. Cayla Brothers was 1-for-4 with a home run with 2 RBIs. Cadence Buttram went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Amiyah Thomas also had a hit for the Bulldogs.
Samantha Stubbs went 2-for-4 with a double for Cherokee County. Annalise Walker went 2-for-3 with a double and Audrey Haygood was 2-for-4.
Grayson Tucker took the loss, allowing 4 runs – 3 earned – on 4 hits with a strikeout and a walk.
On the road on Tuesday, Piedmont blanked Sand Rock 9-0. Carson Young pitched a 6-hit shutout, striking out 4 and allowing no walks. She also doubled in 4 at-bats with a run scored.
Cacey Brothers was 2-for-4 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored for Piedmont. Smith went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs and Buttram and Thomas also had an RBI each.
Cayla Brothers was 1-for-4 with 2 runs scored in the win and Pope went 2-for-4 with a run.
Molly Lay led Sand Rock with 2 hits in 3 at-bats. Aubie Camp also went 2-for-3.
Alyvia McMichen took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing 6 unearned runs on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts in 2 innings.
Handley 6, Piedmont 3
Class 4A No. 10 Handley earned the win at home in Roanoke over 3A No. 6 Piedmont on Monday as Kamlyn Holloway smacked a pair of home runs and Akia Brown added another. Holloway was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and 2 runs scored while Brown was 1-for-2 with an RBI and 2 runs.
Ella Hopper went 2-for-3 with a double for Handley and Ava Hill was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Lane was 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs, Keira Addison was 1-for-1 and Whaley was 1-for-4.
Whaley earned the win for Handley, allowing an earned run on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks. Hill pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 runs – 1 earned – on 2 hits while striking out 7 and walking 2.
Savannah Smith took the loss, giving up 6 earned runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks in 3 innings. Carson Young pitched 3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing 4 hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Jaycee Glover was 2-for-3 with a double for Piedmont. Young went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Cadence Buttram was 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Cayla Brothers also had a hit in the loss.
BOYS
SOCCER
STATEWIDE
Montgomery Academy 2, Dothan 2
The Eagles and Dothan finished in a tie on Monday at home, snapping a four-game Montgomery Academy win streak and a five-game streak for the Wolves.
Freshman Jacob Stubblefield scored MA’s first goal to take an early lead before Auburn-Montgomery commitment Mason Roe found the net for Dothan.
Stubblefield also got the Eagles’ second goal – his 14th of the season – to end his team’s scoring. He is second on the club in goals and in assists with 11. Brewer Welch leads Montgomery Academy with 25 goals and 12 assists.
Prattville Christian 5, Brewbaker Tech 5
The Panthers and Brewbaker Tech battled to a stalemate on Monday at Prattville Christian.
Cade Segars scored 4 goals and had an assist for Prattville Christian. Liam Taylor had a goal and 2 assists in the win.
Trinity 6, Prattville Christian 1
Trinity whipped Prattville Christian on the road on Thursday.
Brady Roberson scored the Panthers’ lone goal off an assist by Cade Segars.
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