Virus Fears Bring About Shortened Spring Seasons

By: Tim Lambert

Apologies go out to readers for the lack of a column last month. With all that’s been going on lately, it inadvertently slipped through the cracks; so now we’ve got to play catch-up. In case you’ve been wondering why the kids have been hanging around the house more lately, Governor Kay Ivey announced that students would finish the school year online beginning April 6 due to the coronavirus concerns. All activities including band and sports also came to an end. The school year will officially wrap up on June 5.

Among those athletes who signed scholarships or committed to extend their playing careers to the college level include East Limestone’s Austin Harvell (Tennessee Tech basketball commit), Tanner’s Gonzalo Rubio (Bethel University soccer signee), James Clemens’s Cory Hagood (UAH baseball commit), and Lindsay Lane’s Audra Putman (Birmingham Southern basketball signee).

The AHSAA Central Board approved changes for winter sports alignment. Athens High will be in 6A area 16 along with Madison Academy, Columbia, and Hazel Green. Bowling went from one division to two: Class 1A-5A and 6A-7A. Wrestling reorganized the three divisions to 1A-4A, 5A-6A and 7A.

Highlights from the abbreviated spring schedule:

Ardmore: Ardmore baseball topped ABS. Lady Tiger softball beat Grissom, Athens, Russellville, Elkmont, Pisgah, Coffee County, and Greenbriar. Soccer wins came over Danville (boys and girls); the boys defeated Tanner and New Hope. At the Athens Golden Eagle Opener track meet, Nathan Stafford finished first in the boys’ 100 and 200 meters and Drake Chittam won the 3200 meters.

Athens Bible: The Trojans edged New Hope on the baseball field. Softball victories were posted against Tanner, Decatur Heritage, and Lindsay Lane. The ABS girls’ tennis team defeated St. Bernard, Lindsay Lane, and New Hope.

Athens: The Golden Eagles notched baseball wins over Hazel Green, Lawrence County, West Point, Priceville, Westminster, Lee, and Buckhorn. On the softball field, Athens topped James Clemens and Ardmore. The boys’ soccer team turned back Westminster and Muscle Shoals. Karsynn Crutcher won the girls’ 100-meter dash at the Golden Eagles Opener meet. Samekia Carter was first in the 200 meters, Cori Glasper finished on top in the 400 meters, Jakenedi Powers took the long jump, Kylie Rinke won the shot put and discus, the girls’ and boys’ 4×100- and 4×400- and boys’ 4×800-meter relay teams won their events, Matthew Waldron was first in the boys’ 800 meters, Elijah Frankel placed first in the 1600 meters, Hamilton Pressnell topped the field in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and JaCaury Mason won the shot put and discus.

Clements: The Colts’ baseball team turned back St. Bernard and Cherokee. Clements got by West Limestone on the softball field. Boys’ soccer wins came against West Limestone and East Lawrence.

East Limestone: The Indians got past Elkmont on the baseball field. Softball victims included Decatur Heritage, Grissom, West Limestone, and Clements (Coach Brett Nave’s 500th win). The girls’ soccer team beat Columbia, West Morgan, and Hazel Green

Elkmont: The baseball team defeated Clements, Danville, Cedar Bluff, and Clements. The Lady Red Devils chalked up softball wins against Huntsville, Decatur Heritage, and Grissom. The boys’ soccer team turned back Mae Jemison while the girls topped West Limestone and Madison Academy.

James Clemens: On the baseball field, the Jets posted victories against Athens, North Jackson, Madison Academy, Sparkman, Oak Mountain, Grissom, and Cullman. The softball team turned back Florence, Ardmore, West Point, Cordova, and Carbon Hill. In soccer action, Jets teams defeated Columbia and Sparkman, the girls beat Florence, and the boys overcame Austin. The boys’ golf team took down Madison Academy, Athens, and Sparkman while the Lady Jets beat Bob Jones and Athens. The Lady Jets came in first as a team at their Early Bird Battle Royal track meet; the James Clemens boys were second, giving them a combined first place overall.

Lindsay Lane: The baseball team was on track to have their best-ever season with wins over Clements, Mae Jemison, Ider, Whitesburg Christian, and ABS. Whitney Prise-Cook was top finisher in the 100-meter hurdles at the Golden Eagle Opener; Xander Morrow won the boys’ triple jump.

Tanner: The boys’ soccer team was on the winning end against Clements, Athens, and Westminster. A sweep came against ABS.

West Limestone: The Wildcat baseball team knocked off West Morgan, Ardmore, ABS, and Lexington. The softball team topped Florence and Central-Florence. The boys’ soccer team topped Elkmont and Ardmore. Cassidy Winter won the 800 meters at the Golden Eagle Opener track meet.
By: Tim Lambert
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