Sports

Wildcats dominate Brilliant in doubleheader

Berry High School delivered a pair of dominant performances on March 31, sweeping Brilliant in a doubleheader with 11-0 and 16-0 victories. In the opener, the Wildcats were powered by a standout all-around performance from Walker Edmonson, who collected three hits and struck out 12 batters in four and two-thirds innings of no-hit baseball. Berry took an early lead in the first inning and added to it in the second behind a home run from Lake Norris and an RBI double from Edmonson.

Tigers defeat Curry in three-game sweep

Fayette County High School put together an explosive offensive showing, sweeping Curry in a three-game stretch March 30–31. The Tigers opened with a 16-0 win, using a balanced attack and strong pitching to set the tone early. Fayette County scored in every inning, highlighted by a four-run third that included an inside-the-park home run by Wade Jackson. Brayden Unger earned the win on the mound, allowing just one hit over four innings while striking out seven. Jeremiah Stowe led the offense with three hits, while Jackson, Brayden Unger and Brady Stocks each drove in two runs.

Lady Lions split games this week

Anna Sophia Walker takes first base after doubling in the third inning, scoring two for the Lady Lions against Pickens Academy on March 30.

Hubbertville softball picked up a dominant win over Pickens Academy before falling to Berry in recent action. The Lady Lions cruised past Pickens Academy with a 15-0 win on March 30, powered by a big day at the plate from Anna Sophia Walker, who drove in four runs on four hits, including three doubles. Hubbertville jumped out early and never slowed down, scoring in each of the first three innings.

Bevill drops series at Wallace-Dothan

Bevill State opened the week with a split against Jackson State Community College before dropping a series to Wallace-Dothan in recent action. Bevill State rolled to a 6-0 win in the opener on March 31, powered by a dominant performance at the plate from Cole Payne, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two singles. The Bears struck early and added insurance in the third inning with RBI doubles from Payne and Nicholas Peters.

Hubbertville Lions overpower Marion County

Kane Rushing slides into third base during the game against Marion County on April 2.

Hubbertville continued its strong run with a pair of decisive wins over Marion County on March 31 and April 2, outscoring its opponent 34-2 across the two games. The Lions opened with a 20-0 rout on March 31, fueled by a huge performance from Kane Rushing, who drove in four runs on three hits, including an inside-the-park home run. Hubbertville broke the game open in the first inning, sending multiple runs across the plate, and never looked back.

Lady Wildcats split week, earn win over Brilliant

Maylon Keeton tags second base to get an out for the Lady Wildcats.

Berry High School softball picked up key wins over Brilliant and Hubbertville before going 2-2 in Bulldog Classic play in recent action. Berry opened the stretch with a 4-3 win over Brilliant on March 31, using a late rally to secure the victory. With the game tied in the seventh inning, Maylon Keeton delivered the go-ahead triple to score the winning run. Alivia Morrison drove in two runs earlier in the game, while Rylee Hill earned the win in relief, striking out nine over four and two-thirds innings.

Bevill State splits series with Bishop State

The Bevill State baseball team put together a productive stretch against Bishop State, splitting a four-game series with a mix of timely hitting and high-scoring performances. Bevill State opened the series March 26 with a 9-4 win, using late offense to pull away. After falling behind early, the Bears tied the game in the third inning and took the lead for good in the fifth on a double by Kyle Nunnally.

Lions stay hot with four wins and powerful offense

Ceth Hollingsworth takes a swing during the game against Hackleburg at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham. He racked up a hit, a run, and an RBI in two at bats.

The Hubbertville Lions turned in a dominant week on the diamond, going 4-0 behind a powerful offense and steady pitching, including a pair of wins at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham.

Tigers win three out of five in strong showing this week

Fayette County High School recognized its senior baseball players prior to its March 20 game against Sulligent. Pictured from left are assistant coach Justin Taylor, pitching coach Andrew Hillis, assistant coach David Unger, Brayden Unger, Parker Lindsey, Tucker Scott, Ty Sawyer, head coach Brandon Stocks and assistant coach Luke Hardy.

The Fayette County High School baseball team put together an impressive stretch of games last week, highlighted by explosive offense, aggressive base running and standout pitching performances. The Tigers went 3-1 during their trip to the Gulf Coast Classic and finished the stretch 3-2 overall. Fayette County also recognized its senior players prior to its March 20 home game against Sulligent. Honored were seniors Brayden Unger, Parker Lindsey, Tucker Scott and Ty Sawyer, all of whom have played four years for the Tigers.

Berry softball drops three at Hubbertville

Alivia Morrison delivers a three-run double against Hubbertville on March 21.

The Berry varsity softball team came up short in three games March 21 at Hubbertville, falling to Hubbertville, Fayette County and Carbon Hill despite strong offensive efforts. Hubbertville 8, Berry 6 Berry opened the day with an 8-6 loss to Hubbertville, out-hitting the Lions 8-4 but unable to hold a fourth-inning lead.

BSCC splits series with Reid State

Tucker strikes out eight batters in first game against Reid State

Bevill State baseball split a four-game set with Reid State last week, earning a pair of wins in a competitive series. Bevill State opened with an 8-3 victory on March 19, breaking the game open with a four-run fifth inning. Hayden Craycraft, Cameron Simpson, Gresham Baker and Cole Payne each drove in runs during the game.

Lions fall one point short in Class 1A Championship thriller

Cole Brand takes the ball downcourt in the state finals against Brantley.

Hubbertville’s remarkable postseason run came down to the final seconds Thursday night as the Lions fell to Brantley 45-44 in the AHSAA Class 1A boys basketball state championship game. Despite the loss, Hubbertville delivered a determined performance on the state’s biggest stage, battling back multiple times and holding the lead late in the fourth quarter before Brantley connected on a three-pointer in the closing moments to secure the title.

Bears win three during busy week

Drake McBride prepares to take a swing. McBride hit a two-run double against Coastal Alabama North on March 6.

The Bevill State Bears battled through a busy stretch of games last week, picking up three wins behind explosive offense and strong pitching. Jackson State 25, Bevill State 24 Bevill State opened the week with a wild offensive battle against Jackson State Community College on March 3, falling 25-24 despite one of the Bears’ most productive days at the plate.

Tigers win three of four, sweep Jasper in doubleheader

Brayden Unger (7) is congratulated by teammates at home plate after hitting a two-run home run against Cordova.

The Fayette County varsity baseball team picked up three wins in four games last week, including a pair of late-game victories and a doubleheader sweep of Jasper on March 6. FCHS 9, Cordova 8 The Tigers delivered one of their most exciting finishes of the season on March 3, defeating Cordova 9-8 in walk-off fashion.

Berry Softball wins two in four-game stretch

Berry’s Alivia Morrison makes contact at the plate during varsity softball action as the Lady Wildcats start their season.

The Berry varsity softball team went 2-1-1 over a busy two-day stretch March 6–7, picking up wins over Fayette County and South Lamar while battling Lamar County twice. Berry 1, FCHS 0 Berry opened the stretch with a narrow 1-0 victory over Fayette County on March 6.

Berry Varsity Wildcats split week on the baseball diamond

Walker Edmonson takes his place on the mound as relief in the game against Curry.

The Berry varsity baseball team picked up two wins during a busy week but dropped a pair of games late as the Wildcats faced Carbon Hill, Curry, Pickens Academy and Lamar County. Berry 3, Carbon Hill 0 Berry opened the week with a strong pitching performance in a 3-0 victory over Carbon Hill on March 2.

Bevill State baseball picks up six wins in busy week

Will Whitley works from the mound during Bevill State’s strong six-game stretch, earning a win in the Bears’ victory over BMCU Dev 26.

Bevill State Community College baseball put together an impressive six-game run, sweeping doubleheaders against Blue Mountain Christian University Developmental 26 on Feb. 23 and Central Alabama Community College on Feb. 25 and Feb. 28.

Tigers come up short in early games, earn win over Winfield

Brady Stocks gets ready to hit a double in the game against Sipsey Valley on Feb. 28.

The Fayette County Varsity Tigers battled to the final inning but came up just short in a 7-6 loss to Cordova on Feb. 23 before falling 10-0 to Jasper on Feb. 26. The Tigers later split a pair of contests on Feb. 28, dropping a matchup to Sipsey Valley before earning a 10-6 win over Winfield.

Hubbertville beats Hatch, headed to Class 1A Finals

Cameron Pendley lays up a shot in the 1A Boys’ semifinals against R.C. Hatch High School on March 2 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

The Hubbertville Lions are headed to the state championship game after overcoming an early deficit and finishing strong to defeat the defending champions of R.C. Hatch Bobcats, 71-60, in the Class 1A semifinals Monday, March 2 at Legacy Arena. The final score does not fully reflect how competitive the game was from start to finish.

Bevill State baseball team earns three wins with a powerful offense

Brady Laminack held the Warhawks to five hits and two runs in the matchup on Feb. 14.

Bevill State Community College baseball turned in an explosive offensive performance last week, earning three wins highlighted by big innings, timely pitching and consistent hitting across the lineup. The Bears opened the stretch Feb. 14 with a 12-8 victory over Calhoun. Bevill State racked up 14 hits, jumping ahead early when Nicholas Peters doubled in three runs in the first inning. Additional runs in the second and third helped build a 9-1 advantage that held despite a late Calhoun push.

Hubbertville boys punch ticket to Final Four with dominant playoff run, win against Addison

Hubbertville varsity basketball team heads to Final Four.

The Hubbertville varsity boys are playing their best basketball at exactly the right time. With postseason stakes on the line, the Lions delivered two commanding performances last week, defeating Hackleburg 75-52 on Feb. 14 before rolling past Meek 75-46 on Feb. 17. The victories continue what has been an impressive season for Hubbertville and send the Lions deeper into playoff competition with plenty of momentum.

Area basketball teams enter final stretch this season

Jenna Kay Hollis of Hubbertville

The Lady Lions picked up two wins in recent action. Hubbertville defeated Pickens County 50-23 on Feb. 2, powered by Addison Tucker’s 15 points and 13 rebounds. Georgia Gardner scored nine points, while Karlee Pollard, Mylie Kate Hubbert and Jenna Kay Hollis added seven points each. Kadence Cox contributed six.

Addison ends Wildcats playoff run

Berry’s Lake Norris (0) and Luke Ward (60) team up for a tackle on a Bulldogs’ ball carrier. | Photo by Sarah Rice

The Berry Wildcats traveled to Addison to face the sixth ranked Bulldogs in the second round of the state playoffs. The Wildcats kept the game close in the first half, but could not get any traction in the second half as they fell to Addison by a score of 39 - 6.

Berry Wildcats defeat Brilliant Tigers 47-8

Berry’s Ashton Waltrip (13) catches a pass and rushes in for touchdown. | Photo by Sarah Rice

Homecoming is always an exciting time of year. It gives the fans an opportunity to catch up with classmates and to cheer on the next generation of students. With that in mind, the Wildcats welcomed the Brilliant Tigers to Fred Webster Stadium. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead and never really looked back as they rolled to a 39-point victory.

Lady Wildcats finish second in region

Pictured from left to right on the front row are Bella Taylor, Maggie Norris, Hailey Medders and Sydney Rice; back row, Assistant Coach Sarah Rice, Aubrey Helms, Alex Wilson, Leah Ward, Sophie Nelson, Camryn Frost, Emma Kathrine Bozeman and Coach Samantha Estes. (Not pictured is Julia Cook) | Photo by Shelly Hess

The Berry High School girls varsity volleyball team finshed their regular season with a 9-12 overall record, finished 2-0 (2nd) in the region and finished second runner up in area tournament on Thursday Oct. 16.

Lady Lions finish fourth in region

Hubbertville varsity girls’ volleyball seniors who were recognized on Senior Night from left to right are Bailey Edgil, Georgia Grace Gardner, Zoe Whitson and McKenzie Mahan. | Photo by Leah Hollingsworth

The Hubbertville girls’ varsity volleyball team finshed the season with a 4-13 overall record and finished 1-5 (4th) in the region.

Wildcats fall to Lynn 44-28

Berry's Jayden Smith (3) passes the ball to an open receiver. | Photo by Sarah Rice

In boxing, sometimes you get two finesse fighters who dance and jab at each other and other times you get fighters who stand toe to toe and trade huge punches. Berry and Lynn fell into the latter category last Friday night. The two teams would trade drive after drive before Lynn took the game 44 - 28.

FCHS Volleyball wins WAC Tournament

Contributed photo

The Fayette County High School girls’ varsity volleyball team were the winners of the WAC Tournament that was held at South Lamar High School Sept. 20. They defeated Winfield 2-1, Sulligent 2-0 and played Sulligent for the championship, winning 2-1.

Pictured at right, bottom row left to right, are seniors Addie Thomas, Sofi Gant, and Caylen Williams; top row, left to right, is Quinn Davis, Lainey Deavours, Eady Porter, Lakiah Gilreath, Lashelle Cannon, Preslee Kelly, Aliya Stevenson and Paislee Kelly.

Berry varsity girls’ volleyball

Contributed photo

Berry High varsity girls’ volleyball team currently has a 8-7 overall record for the season, and 2-0 in regional play.

Pictured to the left on the front row from left to right are Camryn Frost, Aubrey Helms, Bella Taylor, Hailey Medders and Julia Cook; back row are Coach Samantha Estes, Gabby Studdard, Emma Bozeman, Leah Ward, Sophie Nelson, Alex Wilson, Sydney Rice, Maggie Norris and Coach Sarah Rice.

Fayette Co. High girls’ varsity volleyball

Contributed photo

Fayette County High School varsity girls’ volleyball is currently 19-4 overall for the season, and 2-0 for the region. Pictured to the left from left to right on the front row are Quinn Davis and Emma Kate Oswalt; middle row are seniors Sofi Gant, Addie Thomas, and Caylen Williams; back row are Aliya Stevenson, Eady Porter, Lakiah Gilreath, Preslee Kelly, Paislee Kelly, Lashelle Cannon, Lainey Deavors.

Tigers lose 21-14 to Pirates

Fayette County’s defense turns the tide and sinks the Pirates’ drive. | Photo courtesy of BHL Photography

The Winfield Pirates were able to take over their matchup with the Fayette County Tigers, holding the football on offense for 36:39 of the game en route to a 21-14 victory on Thursday, Sep. 25, at Estes Hudson Stadium in Winfield.

Wildcats stay on winning track 16-14

Berry’s Luke Ward (60) brings down a Bulldogs’ ball carrier. | Photo by Sarah Rice

The Berry Wildcats were looking to stay on the winning track and play spoiler on Homecoming as they traveled to Vernon to face the Lamar County Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs got out to an early lead by keeping the ball on the ground and controlling the clock. The Wildcats fought back as the teams exchanged scores and took a close game 16 - 14.

Lions win 60-6 over Saints

Hub’s Bryce Afshar (61) carries the ball in for a touchdown. | Photo by Leah Hollingsworth

Hubbertville welcomed the Holy Spirit Saints to Wiley Hollingsworth Stadium on Friday night. The Lions exited Harris Field with another win increasing their record to 6-0.