The Reset: Bucs, Jags compete ahead of spring break
Over the course of the year, the Hoover Sun will keep you up to date on the various Hoover and Spain Park high school athletic teams. For previous weekly updates, click here.
BASEBALL
Hoover
The Hoover baseball team edged Mountain Brook 1-0 in a pitchers’ duel on Tuesday evening. The only run in the game came on a sacrifice from Peyton Wilson in the bottom of the seventh, as he scored Kole Roberts and allowed the Bucs to walk off. Both pitching staffs were outstanding, as Hoover’s Cole Baker, Colson Lawrence and Daniel Swatek combined to allow just two hits and strike out nine over seven innings. Hayden Bruno went 6 1/3 innings for Mountain Brook, surrendering just five hits and the single run.
Hoover defeated Spain Park 11-9 on Wednesday evening in a city rivalry game. The Bucs put up nine runs in the first inning, but the Jags refused to wilt and tied the game at 9-9 after four innings. Swatek hit a two-run double in the fifth to push Hoover back ahead and put the game at its final margin. Swatek and Andrew Sasser finished with three RBIs each. Robby Ashford homered and drove in two runs as well. John Poist drove in three for the Jags.
Hoover welcomed in a few out-of-state teams over the weekend, as the Bucs faced Parkview and Loganville from Georgia on Friday. The Bucs fell to Parkview 11-1 in their first game of the day and dropped a 7-0 decision to Loganville in the nightcap.
Hoover rebounded on Saturday to pick up a pair of victories. In a 4-3 win over Buford (Ga.), Swatek’s two-run single in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Bucs to a walk-off victory after Buford took the lead in the previous half inning. Swatek also went the distance on the mound, striking out 10 over his seven innings.
In the second game, Hoover dominated Miller (Va.) 18-2. Wilson was the catalyst offensively, as he went 2-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Evan Radford had a pair of hits and three RBIs and Lawrence knocked in a pair as well.
Spain Park
The Spain Park baseball team began last week with an 11-4 loss to Thompson on Tuesday. Thompson put three runs on the board in each of the first three innings and was never threatened. For Spain Park, Colton Ledbetter hit a homer to lead off the game and drove in two in the game.
Hoover defeated Spain Park 11-9 on Wednesday evening in a city rivalry game. The Bucs put up nine runs in the first inning, but the Jags refused to wilt and tied the game at 9-9 after four innings. Daniel Swatek hit a two-run double in the fifth to push Hoover back ahead and put the game at its final margin. Swatek and Andrew Sasser finished with three RBIs each. Robby Ashford homered and drove in two runs as well. John Poist drove in three for the Jags.
Spain Park was swept in a doubleheader by Thompson on Friday. In the first game, the Jags’ seventh-inning rally fell short in a 13-11 loss. With Thompson leading 7-4 after six innings, the Warriors plated six runs in the seventh to extend the edge to 13-4, but Spain Park put seven on the board in the seventh to make it interesting. Poist, Lane Willis and Adam Wygle each knocked in two runs.
In the second game, the Jags plated a pair of runs in each of the first three innings but fell 10-7. Ledbetter had two hits with a triple and two RBIs, and Ethan Smallwood also knocked in a pair.
SOFTBALL
Hoover
Oak Mountain knocked off Class 7A, Area 5 opponent Hoover 12-6 on Tuesday, as the Eagles scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings to cruise to the win. Abi Brown led the way offensively, as she went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, six RBIs and four runs scored on the night. Grace Hummel knocked in three runs, while M’Kiyah Mitchell, Hannah Atwood and Julia Tucker all had two RBIs. Tennyson Guffey led Hoover’s offense with three hits, including a double, and an RBI. Gia Wade was a bright spot in the circle for Hoover, as she pitched four scoreless innings to conclude the game.
Spain Park got the better of the city matchup on Wednesday, as the Jags shutout Hoover 12-0. The Jags scored in every inning except for the second and Annabelle Widra pitched a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to keep Hoover’s bats in check. For Spain Park, Bailey Bowers went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs. Widra and Lydia Coleman each drove in two runs for the Jags as well.
Spain Park
The Vestavia Hills softball team knocked off Class 7A, Area 6 foe Spain Park 7-5 on Tuesday evening. All 12 runs were scored in the first three innings of the ball game, as both starting pitchers struggled from the outset. But for Vestavia’s Charity Bibbs, she settled in and went the distance in the circle. Offensively, Mary Sanders James drove in a pair of runs for the Rebels. For Spain Park, Maddie Majors homered and drove in three runs.
Spain Park got the better of the city matchup on Wednesday, as the Jags shutout Hoover 12-0. The Jags scored in every inning except for the second and Widra pitched a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to keep Hoover’s bats in check. For Spain Park, Bailey Bowers went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs. Widra and Lydia Coleman each drove in two runs for the Jags as well.
Spain Park traveled to Montgomery over the weekend to play in the Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament. The Jags began pool play on Friday with a pair of victories. In a 5-0 win over Chilton County, Widra (10 strikeouts in four innings) and Kate Campbell combined to throw a no-hitter over five innings. Coleman hit a two-run homer to lead the offense. The Jags’ bats got going in a 13-2 win over Beauregard in the ensuing contest. Lindsay Parker hit a three-run homer, while Coleman and Majors knocked in a pair as well.
Spain Park played in two more games on Saturday before bowing out of the tournament. In the Jags’ first game of the day, they picked up a 9-4 win over Reeltown. Majors went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the way. Campbell pitched well in Spain Park’s 1-0 loss to Holtville, as she allowed an unearned run on one hit in five innings.
GOLF
Spain Park’s girls golf team hosted the Spain Park Invitational last week at Greystone Golf and Country Club. Marilyn Steed made the all-tournament team by firing a two-day total of 151.
The Spain Park boys finished as the runner-up in the Bradley Johnson Memorial. The Jags compiled a two-day score of 610 to finish second, behind an impressive 570 of Mountain Brook. Davis Brown earned a spot on the all-tournament team with a two-day total of 147. Slade McCraw finished with a 150, Hayden Carner shot 156, Peyton Ahlmeyer shot 158 and Matt Stuart scored 161.
SOCCER
Hoover
The Hoover boys soccer team notched a 3-1 win on Tuesday over Class 7A, Area 5 opponent Thompson. Sam Bauder tallied a goal and two assists for the Bucs.
Hoover traveled to Memphis, Tenn., later in the week, when it faced Houston and Collierville. The Bucs lost to Houston 2-0 on Thursday and Collierville 3-1 on Friday.
Hoover, ranked No. 3 in last week’s 7A poll, is now 10-3-2 on the season The team will be off this week for spring break.
The Hoover girls traveled to South Carolina last week for a pair of games. On Thursday, the team beat Richmond Hill (Ga.) 2-0 thanks to goals from Kyla Shaw and Leanna Eubanks. On Friday, the Bucs knocked off Hilton Head (S.C.) 3-2. Lauren McEwan, Kristen Wrona and Nicole Kennedy scored in the win.
Hoover, ranked No. 7 in last week’s 7A poll, is now 7-2-3 on the season. The team will be off this week for spring break.
Spain Park
The Spain Park boys soccer team split its games last week, beating Helena 3-2 on Tuesday and losing to Florence 5-2 on Thursday. Logan Edwards, Preston Hamilton and Sam Marino scored goals in the Jags’ victory.
Spain Park, now 4-6-2 on the season, will be off this week for spring break.
The Spain Park girls soccer team secured a 2-0 win over 7A, Area 6 opponent Mountain Brook on Tuesday. Haley Greene and Jasmine Greene recorded goals in the triumph. The Jags, ranked fourth in the last week’s 7A poll, are now 10-2-2 on the season. They will be off this week for spring break.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Hoover track and field teams competed on Thursday at the Auburn Elite Meet. Jonathan Martin (100 meters, 200 meters), Kyle Smith (triple jump), Rosalind Staie (shot put) and Anna Kay Clark (javelin) all won events for the Bucs.
— What else would you like to see mentioned? For any suggestions, feel free to email sports editor Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnespublishing.com.