My predictions from last week were mediocre. I was 3-3, accurately calling the Brilliant, Hamilton and Winfield games. Congratulations to the Phillips Bears for upsetting my prediction of a loss to Waterloo, and my utmost regards to the Brilliant Tigers for pulling off the win against Lynn in overtime. Maybe I’ll do better this week:
The Marion County Red Raiders Volleyball team are shown (front row, from left) Charity Crowe, Anna Kate Shirley, Bretta Taylor, Olivia Webb, Cady Seaman, Sam Calloway, (back row, same order) assistant coach Cally Chaffin, Anna Rhea White, Serinity Metcalfe, Porshia Lipsey, Erin Culp, Lydia Gosa, Sarah Webb, Mackenzie Stephens, head coach Savannah Smith Fox. v [Scott Johnson / Staff]
The elephant in the room is that my prediction for a Brilliant Tiger road victory in Hackleburg has left me with my foot in my mouth.
It was the game I was least sure about in my predictions, and I’m not surprised I got it wrong. The Hackleburg Panthers protected their home turf at Ray Family Stadium on Friday night, disappointing the Tigers 26-6. They improve their record in the historic, in-county series to 35-31 over Brilliant, answering back to the Tigers’ 21-0 shut-out last year.
Four Marion County schools will host home football games this Friday, Aug. 27.
Brilliant and Hackleburg will go head-to-head in an in-county rivalry.
This week all games continue to be non-regional match-ups. Region play will begin next week.
I’ve never made predictions before, but I’m happy I was able to follow these teams the first week before jumping into prognosticating.
Ridge Brown (#10) celebrates with teammates Houston Tibbs (#9) and Mason Holloway (#2) after Brown hit a home run in the Youth Nationals quarter finals. [Contributed]
Torie Taylor (center) is shown signing with Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Tenn., during a ceremony on Friday, July 23. Also shown are (seated, from left) father Steven Taylor, Torie, mother Rebecca Taylor, (standing, from left) Marion County High School softball coach Savannah Fox and Southwest coach Keith Gentry.[Deuce Belk Media]
Winfield pitcher Brody Cook (center) is shown signing with the Bevill State Bears on Sunday, July 25. Shown with him are (seated, from left) his mother, Tara Cook, and his father, Chris Cook and (standing, same order) coaches Jake Elkins, Tanner Smothers, Alan Smith and Derek Rhodes. [Contributed]
Emma Kate Tittle (right) of Winfield (4) guards an opponent during the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSSA) All-Star Week North-South Girls Basketball game on Tuesday, July 20. [Contributed]
(Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a two-part series listing the honors and achievements of the members of the 2020 and 2021 Marion County Sports Hall of Fame classes. New inductees have been listed three schools at a time, alphabetically by last name.
The 2020 class was delayed until this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s listing includes inductees from Hackleburg, Hamilton and Marion County High School (Guin).
(Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a two-part series listing the honors and achievements of the members of the 2020 and 2021 Marion County Sports Hall of Fame classes. New inductees have been listed three schools at a time, alphabetically by last name.
Runners take off from the starting line Friday night, July 3, during the Firecracker 5k Presented by Encore. The event raised over $15,000 for Santa’s Workshop of Guin. [Deuce Belk/Contributed]
The Hamilton High School girls outdoor track and field team were named the Class 4A, Section 3 Champions in Winfield on April 24, where they faced 14 other teams. Shown are (front row, from left) Myia Sizemore, Ashlyn Childers, Madelyn Hulsey, Brilyn Gilstrap, Ella Rose Bartlett, Kailee Wallace, Kira Casey, (back row, same order) Meg Wiginton, Gracie Sanderson, coach Mae Lynn Williams, Jordan Parker, Maya Jones, coach Steve Dudley Ella Cantrell, Chesney Rayburn, McKenna Taylor, Maleah Purser`er and Alice Loaterna. [Contributed]
Fayette - Bevill State Baseball will be hosting an Unsigned Senior Baseball Workout on Tuesday, July 6, at the Bevill State Baseball Field located at 2631 Temple Avenue N., Fayette, AL 35555.
The workout will include batting practice, defensive work, 60 times and bullpens.
The workout is open to any unsigned high school graduate. The cost is $50, and registration will be at 9:30 a.m. Workouts begin at 10 a.m.
Participants must have a copy of an up-to-date physical.
Four local baseball players were named to teams in this year’s sportswriters all-star team.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) released its 2021 all-state teams on Sunday morning, June 13.
The All-State team is compiled through submissions from coaches to sportswriters in their area and voted on by the ASWA prep committee. A pitcher, hitter, player and coach of the year is then selected in each class.
The Brilliant High School boys track team placed first in the 2021 North Alabama Conference (NAC) Track Championship which took place on March 10 in Winfield. Shown are (from left) Wes Woodard, Ty Avery (back), Braden Burleson, Pace Holt, Jarrett Henderson (back), Johnathon Tittle, Preston Conniff, Gavin Cummings, Gabe Durham, Kade Bryant, Mat Madden, Matthew Lothrop, Lane Stanford, Adan Aldridge, Jacob Barnes, Jerry Lothrop and Evan Smiley (kneeling). [Contributed]
The Hackleburg High School girls track team placed first in the 2021 North Alabama Conference (NAC) Track Championship which took place on March 10 in Winfield. Shown are (from left) Angel Swann, Danielle Weekly, Courtney Posey, Grace Gallaway, Emma Murray, head coach Morgan McCarley, Makylah Blackburn, Maddie Burt, Ellie Nichols, Macy Moore, EmaLeigh Blackburn, Kinsley Conrad, and Madison Moore. Not shown are Madison Browning, Carson Browning and Hannah Riley. [Contributed]
The Hackleburg 8U All-Star baseball team is has earned its place in the state playoffs this year. The Panthers will play on Friday, June 25, at Bowers Field in Tuscaloosa, at 3 p.m where 24 youth teams in the state will compete for the state title. The Hackleburg boys ended their regular season undefeated with a record of 21-0, two tournament championship titles, and named the mid-season District 11 Champs. Shown are (front row, from left) Braden Palmer, Kingston Ricketts, Brodie McDuffa-Liam Flanagan, Parker Rollins, (middle row, same order) Jaxsen Hudson, Hunter Pope, Top Oliver, Blake Randolph, Colton Oaks, Lucas Hudson, (back row, same order) coaches Jason Pope, Jonathon Oliver, Micheal Rollins and Chad Hudson.
[Submitted]
Hamilton Girls take 1st Place
The Hamilton Girls Track and Field Team finished first in the Marion County Track meet hosted at Winfield City High School on April 7. Shown are (front row, from left) Madelyn Hulsey, Brilyn Gilstrap, Jessica Shotts, Gracie Sanderson, Emily Jones, Alanna Fisher, (back row, same order) Ariel Lowe, Maya Jones, Myia Sizemore, Ashlyn Childers, KK Ables, Kylie Bell, Kyra Casey, Zaharea Woodson, Kailee Wallace, Alice Loaterna, Chesney Raburn, McKenna Taylor, Maleah Purser and Ella Cantrell. Not shown are Ella Rose Bartlett, Lizzie Boyett, Arianna Butler, Kylah Cochran, Morgan Cooper, Alee Ellis, Kati Lynn Frederick, Presley Godsey, Tristen Holliday, Mia Hollingsworth, Meghan Jones, Ansley Kerr, Olivia Martin, Bailey McCarley, Madison Metcalf, Jordan Parker, Lauren Pendley, Anna Price, Grace Sims, Aubrey Sorrells, Paisley Sorrells, Meg Wiginton and Naiia Woodson. [Contributed]
Winfield Boys take 1st Place
The Winfield Boys Track and Field team placed first in the Marion County Track Tournament hosted at Winfield City High School. Shown are (front row, from left) Wes Estes, Mason Miller, Drew Klein, Devin Sargent, Delaney Porter, Kade Estill, Conner Cook, Pheonix Sandlin, (middle row, from left) Drew Estill, Colin Bradford, Seth Kemble, Ross Bozeman, Nick Nelson, Logan Weeks, Jack Williamson, Brock Cotton, Will May, Jake Ballard, Nicholas Haney, (back row, same order) Logan and Jaykob Savage. [Contributed]
Abigail Webb (center) is shown signing a full cheerleading scholarship with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville on Thursday, May 28. Shown are (from left) LaDawn Lawrence, Abigail, Adam Lawrence and (back) Sam Webb. [Contributed]
Winfield City High School student athletes Andrew Stovall (left) and Ty Weeks are shown receiving plaques during an April 12 ceremony in Birmingham recognizing them as the 2021 Region 5 Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete scholarship award winners. [Contributed]
Kenton Steele (center) is shown signing with Bevill State Community College. Also shown are (from left) Hamilton Head Basketball Coach Ethan Lawler, April Franks, Kenton Steele, Wesley Steele and amateur athletic union coach Chris Brasseal. [Scott Johnson/staff]
Brilliant High School Senior Kade Bryant (11) receives a commemorative basketball from Brilliant Tigers Head Coach Ryan Sanderson (right) during a pre-game ceremony on Jan. 25, in honor of the Tigers’ guard crossing the 2,000-career-point threshold. Bryant, who has been playing varsity basketball since seventh grade, achieved the milestone during the Tigers’ game against St. Bernard Prep on Jan. 15, when Brilliant won 58-53. “I have coached Kade for five years at Brilliant High school,” said Sanderson. “He has achieved many great things during his time playing on the court. In eighth grade he scored more than 20 points in several games, and I knew at that time he was going to end up scoring a bunch of points at Brilliant. In tenth grade he averaged over 20 points a game and reached 1,000 career points. Kade worked very hard to reach this milestone and I was proud to see him accomplish this. Kade not only contributed by scoring during his time, but he also led the team in rebounds from ninth grade to 12th grade. Kade also helped lead the team to the playoffs during his junior year. Kade’s performance on the court has helped elevate the Brilliant Tiger basketball program.” [Contributed]
Lexi Dobbins advances past a Cleburne defender as she fields a ground ball. [Lisa Dobbins/Contributed]
OXFORD - The Hamilton Lady Aggies saw their season come to an end after suffering back-to-back losses in the Class 4A State Softball Tournament.
The Lady Aggies made it to the state tournament after going undefeated in the 4A West Regional Tournament, claiming the regional title.
The last time the Lady Aggies won the regional tournament and advanced to state competition was in 2009.
BEARCREEK - The Phillips Bears may have won by the scoreboard, but Mother Nature dominated the game.
The Bears were declared the winners 41-12 over the Vina Red Devils, in a game called with 4:29 left in the third quarter due to intense lightning and a resulting severe thunderstorm that pelted the stadium with torrential rains and gusty winds.
As the storm bore down on the Phillips High School stadium, and fans cleared faster than any runner on the grid, Phillips Bears fans left satisfied, knowing they had the ultimate victory.
TRINITY - The Hackleburg Panthers suffered their fifth loss of the season on Friday night, Oct. 23, after falling to the Eagles of Decatur Heritage Christian Academy by a final score of 45-30 in a Class 1A, Region 8 matchup.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, scoring on runs of 53 and 67 yards in the opening period of the ballgame.
DHCA added two more scores to the board in the second frame before the Panthers could light the scoreboard for the first time of the night, building a 28-0 lead.