2013 Fall Sports Preview by Gulf Coast Media

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INSIDE: •Football A,B,C •Volleyball 1D •Cross Country 7D GulfCoastNewsToday.com

2A â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

2013 BALDWIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Aug. 30

Theodore

HOME

Sept. 6

@ Daphne

AWAY

Sept. 13

@ Enterprise

AWAY

Sept. 20

Fairhope

HOME

Sept. 27

Gulf Shores

HOME

Oct. 4

@ Foley

AWAY

Oct. 11

@ Northview

AWAY

Oct. 18

Dothan

HOME

Oct. 25

Robertsdale

HOME

Nov. 1

@ Escambia County

AWAY

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 3A

BCHS Tigers Class 6A, Region 2

Head coach: Bobby Moore 2012 Record: 1-9 Key players:Jaquan Finch (Sr. DE), Lorenzo Fields (Sr. LB), Eddie Jeselink (Sr. OL), Diamond Allen (Sr. DL), John Williams (Sr. WR), Andre Davis (Sr. QB) First game: Home Aug. 30 vs. Theodore

By MIKAl HENSlEy Sports Correspondent

he Baldwin County Tigers come into the 2013 football with more questions than answers. The man in search of those answers is head coach Bobby Moore.

Coming off a season-ending victory a year ago over Escambia County the Tigers finished 2012 with a 1-9 record bringing their record over the last three seasons to just 2-28. This season the Tigers bring in a slew of players, especially on offense, that Moore hopes will be the start of a turnaround that the Tigers have been looking for the past three seasons. “It’s an ongoing “We have some good process; from year football players on offense to year whatever especially up front. We happened last year have had some new guys really doesn’t make step up and play new positions,” Moore said. “Offena difference. That’s sively I think we have a the way it is in colchance to be a pretty good lege and the NFL.” football team.” Unlike the offense, the -BCHS head coach defense seems to be lackBobby Moore on turing ing experience up front. Finding continuity up around a struggling Tiger front should go a long way program towards a successful season for the Tigers. “We lost a lot of guys up front, defensive backs and safeties,” Moore said. “We are young up front but sometimes youthful enthusiasm is a good thing.” The Tigers who were so strong on the offensive line going into last season will have the responsibility of rebuilding another young group for the rebuilding tigers. “Eddie Jeselink is the only guy we have coming back for us this year. It’s not a very big group this year but overall we still average between 250 to 260 lbs.,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a big group but these 5, 6, 7 guys will be pretty good.” Coming into his first season a year ago Moore understood that he had acquired a rebuilding project, a project that continues to be an uphill battle for him and the tigers. “It’s an ongoing process; from year to year whatever happened last year really doesn’t make a difference. That’s the way it is in college and the NFL,” Moore said. “I think the big thing is that our guys need to understand that the game is played at a different level than where we have been playing. I think we are getting closer every day.” The 2013 version of the Tiger rebuilding project will be led by starting quarterback Andre Davis who started at cornerback a season ago. “I think it should help him in the pocket and those types of things but you still have to go out there and make throws,” Moore said about Davis converting from defensive back to quarterback. “He is an athlete who has actually started a few games over the last few years when injuries have occurred.” With Davis expecting to get the bulk of the snaps this season, he and the Tigers will continue a trend in the county that sees the majorities of the teams bringing in a new starting quarterback in 2013. The Tigers in 2013 will match-up against foes that arguably are part of the toughest 6A region in the state of Alabama. They will face tough opponents away from Simmons Field this season like the Daphne Trojans as well as the Foley Lions. They also have to make the long trip up to Dothan to play second year Region 2 member Northview. Fairhope and Robertsdale make up the regional home schedule for the Tigers. The Tigers’ schedule also comprises of two non-regional games beginning with an exhibition home game against Theodore. They will also host Gulf Shores later in the season. The 2013 schedule for the Tigers open up on August 30 when they host Theodore. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.

ERIC MANN/GCN Sports

What they said at media day: When they play: “We lost a couple of games last year that we should have won. Conditioning is the key this year.” -BCHS senior Jaquan Finch

Jaquan Finch

“I think we are getting closer every day. I thought we got competitive and had a chance to win a few games last year. Now, we’ve got to get over just being competitive and win some of those games this year.” -BCHS head coach Bobby Moore

* Denotes 6A, Region 2 game

Where they play: The BCHS Tigers play home games at Simmons Field at the Baldwin County Intermediate School, located at 600 Blackburn Avenue in Bay Minette.

Bobby Moore

“It is difficult but you learn to let that drive you. I think we are close to turning the corner this season.”

Who they are:

-BCHS senior offensive lineman Eddie Jeselink on tough losses

Eddie Jeselink

2013 Fall Sports Preview

BCHS 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 vs. Theodore • 9/6 @ Daphne * • 9/13 @ Enterprise * • 9/20 vs. Fairhope * • 9/27 vs. Gulf Shores • 10/4 @ Foley * • 10/11 @ Northview * • 10/18 vs. Dothan * • 10/25 vs. Robertsdale * • 11/1 @ Escambia County

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

Baldwin County High School Bay Minette, Alabama Mascot: Tigers Colors: Orange and Black Overall record: 477-402-28 Longest rivalry: vs. Foley, 90 games since 1924 (ahsfhs.org)

4A â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

Aug. 30

@ Charles Henderson

AWAY

Sept. 6

Excel

HOME

Sept. 13

Opp

HOME

Sept. 20

@ T. R. Miller

AWAY

Sept. 27

@ UMS-Wright

AWAY

Oct. 4

@ Straughn

AWAY

Oct. 11

W. S. Neal

HOME

Oct. 18

@ Cottage Hill Christian

AWAY

Oct. 25

Southside Selma

HOME

Nov. 1

Satsuma

HOME

Photo by Tony Whitehead

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 5A

Bayside Academy Admirals Class 3A, Region 1

Head coach: Phil Lazenby 2012 Record: 7-5 Key players:Hunter Slater (Sr. QB), Greg Parker (Sr. RB/DB), Tripp Puckett (Sr. RB/DB), Garris Goe (Sr. LB), Zack Dyass (Sr. RB/LB) First game: Aug. 30 at Charles Henderson

By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

he Bayside Admirals will open their 2013 season on the road Aug. 30 at 5A powerhouse Charles Henderson and head coach Phil Lazenby said the schedule doesn’t get any easier after that.

The Admirals 3A Region 1 lineup is well stocked with contenders for the region crown. Bayside Academy’s fundamental formations and sets will look the same as the past which have taken the Admirals to five-straight playoff appearances, an undefeated season and a Region title under Lazenby’s tutelage. “We won’t tinker with too much. But we have lost some good players," Lazenby said of the spring graduation toll which included the program’s “...we are a running first Division I football football team. We have signee Jonathan Walto be able to do that ton, who chose South consistently, then take Carolina where he will advantage of any play linebacker. passing opportunities Walton played both ways at Bayside as we can. We are going many if not most varto run the football.” sity players do. But not having the 225-pound -Bayside head coach multi-threat rusher/rePhil Lazenby on his team’s ceiver and LB on either offensive mindset side may affect the Admirals game plans to some extent. But not from a tactical point of view as Lazenby said. They also lost Bayside’s all-time rushing record holder Joe Stassen to matriculation. Stassen gained over 1,000 yards as a junior and again as a senior and also was a leading tackler in the secondary. “We have some new faces, but our plan of attack and defense is basically the same,” Lazenby said. “We’ll still do the same stuff, but with different people in some spots. But we are a running football team. We have to be able to do that consistently, then take advantage of any passing opportunities we can. We are going to run the football.” Some key players returning for the Admirals include starters Hunter Slater at quarterback, an experienced running back/receiver corps in Tripp Puckett III, Zack Dyass, Landon Lasseter, Greg Wallace and Ivy-League recruit tight end Garris Goe. Some other key role players will include Andy Citrin, William Fleming and Spencer Rosenbaum. Up front the interior line will be lead by center Will Speir and sophomores Jack Heaby and Austin Chastain. Lazenby added that defense has to rise to meet the challenge of a tough schedule and preparing for the season will mean setting the best possible defense in time for region play. “I believe we’ll be ahead of the (learning) curve on our offense since we have pretty much ingrained our system on most of our players as they come up and we have several returning. But on defense this year, it’s basically the same but with different people. “So right now I’m trying to get as many people into the game as I can, evaluate, make decisions and hope we find who and what works. And that means putting the best defense we can come up with on the field with as many different people as possible, especially early on, because heat and fatigue are factors that take a toll. I don’t care how good the conditioning level is, you can watch film of those early games and even later in the fall and see kids dragging. We hope to avoid that, but keep our overall drive-stopping quality high.” He also said that special teams are always important. “You can never overestimate the kicking game. Some of the biggest plays in a game are a blocked punt or a long punt or kick-off return. An onside kick, a fumble. It’s a good phase of the game to make things happen, take advantage if and as often as you can. So SEE AdMIRAlS, pAGE 6A

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

What they said at media day: When they play: “I feel a lot more comfortable, learning more every time I go out and throw about what passes I can make and which windows I can throw into.” -Bayside senior QB Hunter Slater

Hunter Slater

“We’ve got some speed on ‘D’ that should help us to contain some of the bigger schools that we play like UMS-Wright (9/27) and Charles Henderson (8/30). Our line is not very big but our linebackers can run very well.” -Bayside head coach Phil Lazenby

* Denotes 3A, Region 1 game

Where they play: The Bayside Academy Admirals play home games at Freedom Track and Field on the school’s campus at 303 Dryer Ave. near downtown Daphne.

Phil Lazenby

“This year we want to make the plays to win those games and to advance to the state championship.”

Who they are:

-Bayside senior Garris Goe on learning from close losses last season

Garris Goe

2013 Fall Sports Preview

BAYSIDE 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 @ Charles Henderson • 9/6 vs. Excel * • 9/13 vs. Opp * • 9/20 @ T.R. Miller * • 9/27 @ UMS-Wright • 10/4 @ Straughn * • 10/11 vs. W.S. Neal * • 10/18 @ Cottage Hill * • 10/25 vs. Southside-Selma * • 11/1 vs. Satsuma

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

Bayside Academy Daphne, Alabama Mascot: Admirals Colors: Blue and green Overall record: 67-58-0 Longest rivalry: vs. Excel, 9 games since 2002 (ahsfhs.org)

6A • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

Bayside eyes set on 3A state title By ERIC MANN

emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

Bayside Academy’s seniors are focused on correcting last season’s mental mistakes in order to reach the school’s first football state championship game. The Admirals finished 7-5 last season with all five losses coming by a combined 15 points, including a 22-21 loss to Leeds in the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs. At Baldwin high school football media day event in Robertsdale in July Bayside’s seniors said they believed the team is ready to correct the mistakes that caused those losses. “This year we want to make the plays to win those games and to advance to the state championship,” 6-4, 215-pound senior linebacker Garris Goe said. Goe has an offer from Jacksonville State and has received interest from Princeton and Harvard. Senior running back Tripp Puckett echoed Goe’s desire to correct last season’s mistakes. “This year we have our sights on playing in the state championship game,” Puckett said. “We lost so many games by close margins on a few bad plays last year. I think if we make those few plays we can get there this year.” “Last year we got down in some games early and couldn’t convert in the end,” senior wingback

Greg Wallace makes a leaping catch for Bayside during practice this summer.

Bayside quarterback Hunter Slater throws at summer practice.

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

Last 5 Class 3A State Champions: • 2012: Madison Academy • 2011: Handley • 2010: Leeds • 2009: Piedmont • 2008: Leeds

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

AdMIRAlS From page 5A

Bayside Academy in the playoffs: • 2008: First playoff appearance • Overall playoff record: 5-5 • First round: 4-1 • Second round: 1-3 • Third round: 0-1 • Finished last season with a 22-21 loss to Leeds in the second round Zack Dyass said. “The seniors are pumped up and ready to get out there again. We are ready to get out there and do better than we did last year.”

Senior quarterback Hunter Slater returns for the Admirals this season. He has committed to play college baseball at Southern Miss.

we work and work on it all year.” The Trojans are coached by former Fairhope player and coach Mike Dean who also coached at McGill-Toolen Catholic. The Admirals will also have some Pirate swagger onboard this year as former Fairhope head coach Mark Lasseter joins the Bayside coaching staff. The Trojans edged Bayside on their Daphne campus last year and the

Admirals are eager for a payback visit to Troy, Lazenby said. “They are excited and even though it’s not a region game, they know it’s a big game for us and (CHHS) will give us a good read on where we are as a football team. Charles Henderson always has talent and always has good depth. We have very good talent, but we don’t go very deep and that comes with the territory of being a small school. But these guys are scrappy and have a lot of heart. They will

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play to win, but no matter what, we will use that experience to get ready for the region games ahead. So, yes, it’s a tough opener, but a good test as well as good preparation.” Bayside will open their 3A Region 1 schedule Sept. 6 hosting Excel High at 7 p.m. The Admirals will play up in all three of their non-region contests playing against perennial 4A powerhouse UMSWright Sept. 27 in Mobile and hosting 5A Satsuma Nov. 1.

GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 7A

High school polls Where does your team rank?

Spanish Fort Toros 20.8

Foley lions 12.6

Robertsdale Golden Bears 4.8

•Class 6A: 1. Hoover (34) (15-0), 2. ClayChalkville (12-2), 3. McGill-Toolen (11-1), 4. Auburn (11-2), 5. Opelika (10-5), 6. Mountain Brook (11-2), 7. Tuscaloosa Co. (93), 8. Florence (7-4), 9. Davidson (8-2), 10. CarverMontgomery (12-2). Others receiving

•Class 3A: 1. Madison Acad. (33) (13-2), 2. Leeds (1) (11-2), 3. Piedmont (111), 4. Fayette Co. (12-3), 5. Straughn (9-4), 6. T.R. Miller (10-2), 7. Deshler (94), 8. Daleville (10-1), 9. Geraldine (9-3), 10. Hamilton (10-1). Others receiving votes: W.S. Neal (9-3) 40, Opp (6-4) 16, Trinity (9-3) 15, Hanceville (7-4) 11, Bayside (7-5) 10, Lauderdale Co. (12-2) 7, Colbert Co. (8-5) 1.

Gulf Shores dolphins 3.9

ASWA HIGH SCHOOl FOOTBAll pOll:

•Class 5A: 1. McAdory (17) (14-1), 2. Spanish Fort (12) (14-1), 3. Homewood (3) (9-2), 4. Benjamin Russell (1) (11-2), 5. Jackson (1) (9-2), 6. St. Paul's (11-3) 7. Hartselle (8-5), 8. Muscle Shoals (13-1), 9. Cullman (10-3), 10. Demopolis (9-3). Others receiving votes: Briarwood Chr. (67) 40; Eufaula (8-3) 19, Vigor (8-4) 10, Fort Payne (10-1) 4, Southside-Gadsden (6-4) 4, Russellville (93) 1, Wenonah (10-2) 1.

GulfCoastNewsToday.com poll:

We asked our online readers to pick which high school football team from Baldwin County would have the best season in 2013. With more than 400 votes cast, the daphne Trojans lead the poll with 29.2 percent of the vote.

Fairhope pirates 9.6

Class 5A’s defending champion Spanish Fort Toros will start the year ranked No. 2 behind the team they beat in last season’s championship game. The Toros, who finished 14-1 and beat McAdory in the 5A finals in December, will open the season one spot behind the Yellow Jackets, who also finished 14-1. The Yellow Jackets received 17 first place votes to the Toros' 12 in the first Alabama Sports Writers Association football poll of the season on Wednesday. No other Baldwin teams were County ranked in the poll, but Daphne, Foley and Bayside Academy received votes in their respective classes.

votes: Vestavia Hills (103) 42, Oxford (6-4) 38, Bob Jones (8-4) 31, Daphne (84) 16, Central-Phenix City (7-4) 13, Blount (6-5) 10, Decatur (7-4) 10, Enterprise (7-4) 5, Spain Park (10-3) 5, Shades Valley (56) 4, Foley (8-4) 3.

Bayside Admirals 8.1

emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

BCHS Tigers 11

By ERIC MANN

daphne Trojans 29.2

Toros ranked No. 2

8A • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 1B

Daphne’s comeback coach By TONy WHITEHEAd

After a car crash last summer nearly took his life, Daphne assistant coach

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

ast year the season 2012 opener for both Daphne and Spanish Fort was dedicated to Daphne assistant coach Jacy Todd and his recovery.

Todd had been in the hospital in intensive care for more than a month after a traffic accident on his way to practice nearly took his life. Spinal surgery followed by months of intensive therapy and grueling rehab in Atlanta paid off with much improvement in his lower-limb paralysis. And even though he can now stand unaided for brief periods, the outside linebacker and golf coach is still dependent on a wheel chair most of the time. The kickoff between the Toros and Trojans for the 2013 season will also be dedicated to him, but this time he will be there at Jubilee Stadium. “We are so happy to have coach Todd back at work,” said Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery. “Back at it full speed, full time, doing a great job as usual. We expect nothing but the best from Jacy Todd. It’s a real exciting time for all of us, the players and coaches to be here with him again having him doing what he loves. It motivates all of us to give our best at what we do and follow his example. He is such a gracious and giving person and terrific role model for our kids. And he’s a great coach.” Daphne linebacker Myles Pierce said Todd was an inspiration to the team. “He really gets us motivated, brings out our best. Just so thankful to have him back where he belongs.” Todd, who also teaches History, said that encouraging his players to give their best on the field is just an extension of the classroom where he expects the same efforts. “It’s about teaching. Not just what you know about football or a subject,

Jacy Todd

is back on the Jubilee Stadium sideline

TONY WHITEHEAD/GCN Sports

Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery poses with linebackers coach Jacy Todd at a Trojans practice in August.

but teaching the love of learning it, too,” he said. “I love teaching and love coaching. So I’m not really doing anything different, just have to do it from this chair a lot. If I can have any positive influence on a student or player to be the best they can, then I’m doing my job.” Todd continues to work with the weights along with the players as well as his own therapy, getting stronger and looking forward to the season. “Very excited about the season,” he said. “We have some great kids coming back and some really good younger players who will be contributing. I think we will have a good team and a great defense, as usual,”

“It’s about teaching. Not just what you know about football or a subject, but teaching the love of learning it, too. I love teaching and love coaching. So I’m not really doing anything different, just have to do it from this chair a lot. If I can have any positive influence on a student or player to be the best they can, then I’m doing my job.” -Jacy Todd “We expect nothing but the best from Jacy Todd. It’s a real exciting time for all of us, the players and coaches to be here with him again having him doing what he loves. It motivates all of us to give our best at what we do and follow his example. He is such a gracious and giving person and terrific role model for our kids. And he’s a great coach.” -Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery

he added with a big grin. “Vonte Young, Myles Pierce, Luke Broadus, Tevin Dailey, Trent Ellis are just some. They can play and are just a great bunch and will be big leaders for us. They have fun, but also work hard all year and set a good example for the others. Very proud of them and looking for great things this season.” He sees the Trojan defense getting ready to have a strong year with major support from the linebackers. One of the things to work on is putting the 7-on-7 pass-only mind-set away. “We use 7-on-7 to work on pass defense and it’s good for that, but we teach

kids to play the run first. So now we concentrate on driving that point. You want to get out of that 7on-7 mentality of pass, pass, pass and focus on being run stoppers. Stay home, play run, then pass, because if you can stop the run you will probably force a pass more times than they (the other team) want to or when they don’t really want to. And that can create opportunities, too. “But at the same time, you can’t be too overly aggressive for the run or you can get burned. So you work on both as much as you can and by the beginning of the season, you hope to have a good balanced approach. We always have four linebackers, but they will adjust depth with different fronts and do other things depending on the offense’s set.” Todd is also the Trojans’ golf coach and is able to stand and practice his golf swing again. “That’s fun,” he said. “I miss it, but I will be back out there on the course again and on my feet.” He and his wife Dyeatra and daughter Raegan, visited the Atlanta rehab hospital, Shepherd Center, in July. “We had a good time, saw a lot of the therapists again. It was kind of surreal going back there now. To see other people who are now in the early stages of their injury and knowing what they’re going through. Brought a lot of it back. But it was good to be able to talk to them and encourage them to keep working at getting better. It’s hard, but you just have to keep going and if you do you will see some improvement. We talked about how you just can’t give up. “Of course, I’ve been so fortunate to have such a great wife, Dyeatra, she is just amazing. I thought she already was, but I know more than ever now how lucky I am. This has been hard on her. She does so much. And our whole family and so many wonderful friends have done so much for us. “I’m truly blessed,” Todd said.

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2B â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

2013

Daphne

Trojans

Aug. 30

Spanish Fort

HOME

Sept. 6

Baldwin County

HOME

Sept. 13

@ Foley

AWAY

Sept. 20

@ Northview

AWAY

Sept. 27

@ McGill-Toolen

AWAY

Oct. 4

Dothan

HOME

Oct. 11

Robertsdale

HOME

Oct. 18

@ Fairhope

AWAY

Oct. 25

@ Enterprise

AWAY

Nov. 1

Alma Bryant

HOME

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2013 DAPHNE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 3B

Daphne Trojans Class 6A, Region 2

Head coach: Glenn Vickery 2012 Record: 8-4 Key players:Zack Morgan(Sr. QB), Wheylan Tolbert (Sr. WR), TJ Reed (Jr. RB), Khael Sanford (Jr. LB), Myles Pierce (Sr. LB), Khalil Yelding (Jr. DL), Chris White (Jr. OL), Daniel Meadows (Sr. OL) First game: Home Aug. 30 vs. Spanish Fort

By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

friendly, “Howdy Neighbor,” may start a lot of conversations Aug. 30 at Jubilee Stadium when the Daphne High Trojans welcome Spanish Fort to Daphne.

But parting words may have a different, “je ne sais quoi”—French for that certain sump’um-sump’um— because only half the sold-out, standing-room-only crowd, will be as jolly going out the gate. Last year’s first-ever varsity football meeting between the two schools went to the Toros 20-14. Spanish Fort went on to claim the 2012 5A state title. “But that was then,” said Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery. “It’s time to put that game aside and get ready for the next one.” The Trojans won the 6A Region 2 title last “We’ll be satisfied year and went on to fin- when we reach our full ish the post-season in potential. I want our the second round with kids to push theman 8-4 record. Less than selves to be their best. par for Vickery, whose Our goal is to be 15-0 teams usually have double-digits in the W coland be in Tuscaloosa umn. (Super 6) at the end of “We are not satisfied the year. That’s always with 8-4 seasons,” he our goal.” said. “These guys (returning starters) have -Daphne head coach to be better. If our guys Glenn Vickery on high go out and play at the highest level, we’ll be expectations for the Trojans okay. “Of course, we’re not there yet. Not the football team we’re striving to be. We’ll be satisfied when we reach our full potential. I want our kids to push themselves to be their best. Our goal is to be 15-0 and be in Tuscaloosa at the end of the year. That’s always our goal. If we don’t get there but we did everything we could to be the best we could be, then there’s nothing to hang our heads about. So we still have work to do and will each week, it never stops until the season is over. Last year we lost to a very good Opelika team. They were a good team playing well at the time and I thought our effort was good. If we don’t play better than last year, we’ll be 8-4 again.” Two-year starting quarterback T.J. Fleeton graduated and left the signal-caller job open. “That is always a big position to fill,” Vickery added. Senior Zachary Morgan is the likely starter with sophomores John Quinnelly and Jordan Weaver in line. “But we have to improve in all areas, every phase, offense, defense and the kicking teams. Special teams are always important. We’ll never be perfect all the time but we will strive for that and hope it translates into wins for us on the field.” Vickery said. The Trojans will look for on the field leadership from a number of seniors, particularly linebacker Myles Pierce, who agrees with Vickery about needing to improve in many areas and in believing it will. “We definitely need to improve our physicality from last year,” Pierce — brother of 2010 state championship MVP Michael Pierce— said. In 2010, the state champs from Daphne gave up less than 7 points per game. It was a little higher in 2011, but last year slipped to 24 ppg. “Last year, we gave up too many points and put our offense in bad situations too much. That has to change this year, and I think it will,” Pierce said. Offensive threat Wheylan Tolbert said Morgan is very capable of running the Trojan attack and has good accuracy passing. “We will be fine at quarterback,” he said. “I’ve been playing with Zack. He understands my game, and I understand his. T.J. might throw harder, but Zack throws a good deep ball. He places it where only you can catch it.” SEE TROjANS, pAGE 8B

ERIC MANN/GCN Sports

What they said at media day: When they play: “We had a good season and we came close but we really should have won. I think it gives us confidence that we could have been in the finals if we had beaten Opelika.” -Daphne’s Kareem Brown on going 8-4 and losing to state runner-up Opelika in the playoffs last season Kareem Brown

“Zack throws a good ball. He throws it to where if we can’t catch it nobody will.” -Daphne receiver Wheylan Tolbert on quarterback Zack Morgan

* Denotes 6A, Region 2 game

Where they play: The Daphne Trojans play home games at Jubilee Stadium at the Daphne High campus on Champions Drive in Daphne.

Wheylan Tolbert

Who they are:

“Last year we used it as motivation to play for him. He gets up about four in the morning to get out there to coach us so that’s a big motivator. If he can get there that early we should be able to get there early, too.” -Daphne senior linebacker Myles Pierce on having coach Jacy Todd back this season Myles Pierce

2013 Fall Sports Preview

DAPHNE 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 vs. Spanish Fort • 9/6 vs. Baldwin County * • 9/13 @ Foley * • 9/20 @ Northview * • 9/27 @ McGill-Toolen • 10/4 vs. Dothan * • 10/11 vs. Robertsdale * • 10/18 @ Fairhope * • 10/25 @ Enterprise * • 11/1 vs. Alma Bryant

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

Daphne High School Daphne, Alabama Mascot: Trojans Colors: Purple and yellow Overall record: 193-86-0 State titles: 2001, 2010 Longest rivalry: vs. Fairhope, 24 games since 1990 (ahsfhs.org)

4B â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

2013

PIRATES

FAIRHOPE

2013 FAIRHOPE HIGH SCHOOL

Aug. 30

St. Pauls

HOME

Sept. 6

@ Enterprise

AWAY

Sept. 13

@ Dothan

AWAY

Sept. 20

@ Baldwin County

AWAY

Sept. 27

Spanish Fort

HOME

Oct. 4

Robertsdale

HOME

Oct. 11

@ Foley

AWAY

Oct. 18

Daphne

HOME

Oct. 25

Northview

HOME

Nov. 1

@ Andalusia

AWAY

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 5B

Fairhope Pirates Class 6A, Region 2

Head coach: Adam Winegarden 2012 Record: 8-4 Key players: Grey Jackson (Jr. QB), Landon Lasseter (Sr. WR), John Baxter (Sr. K), Javon Curry (Sr. LB), Will Castor (Sr. OL), Ernest Andrews (Sr. WR), Dave Kirksey (Jr. RB), Jackson Hice (Sr. OL) First game: Home Aug. 30 vs. St. Paul’s By MIKAl HENSlEy Sports Correspondent

he Fairhope Pirates finished last season with a tough, if not devastating, loss in the second round of the 6A state playoffs to Carver-Montgomery after finishing the regular season with a 7-3 record.

They began the playoffs with a victory at Ladd Peebles Stadium against Davidson 10-0. The Pirates lost the following week at home against Carver-Montgomery 20-16 to end the season. The Pirates scored a total of 358 points last season while only surrendering 237. “We have guys that I This season, head coach Adam Winegar- believe are capable, it’s den is burdened with just going to be a jourthe task of overhauling ney to see how they a team that sees only mature and learn their two guys return on deroles on the team. fense and five on ofFootball is like a beautifense. ful puzzle, a team “It’s going to be a journey. Every team is game.” different; the 2013 team will be different -Fairhope head coach than the 2012 team Adam Winegarden on his just like the 2014 team young, but talented, team will be different than this team,” Winegarden said. “We have a lot of new faces but I feel like we are a very capable team.” Just because the players joining the ranks are new starters Winegarden believes they have potential to do great things. “We are going to be fairly inexperienced when it comes to the guys we will have on the field,” Winegarden said. “We have guys that I believe are capable it’s just going to be a journey and how they mature and learn their roles on the team. Football is like a beautiful puzzle, a team game.” One person the Pirates hope they can count on is starting quarterback Grey Jackson. Jackson will take over an offense that scored just under 30 points per game a year ago. If not for an injury in the game against the Trojans, Jackson would have resumed the starting job throughout the rest of the season. “He went through a great learning process (last season). He had two starts in two competitive games he is a physical character who loves to compete,” Winegarden said. “He is also a polished passer and I am excited to watch him play over the course of the season and to see him develop.” Winegarden, who is entering his second year in Baldwin County with the Fairhope Pirates after leaving Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, learned a lot in his first season in 6A Region 2. “I think from top to bottom, even if the team doesn’t have a good record they can still beat you, because they have talent. I think every team you’re SEE pIRATES, pAGE 8B

Good Luck Teams!

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What they said at media day: When they play: “I think we can be pretty good if we just do what our coaches tell us. They are going to put us in the right positions in the right situations, we just have to execute.” -Fairhope senior linebacker Javon Curry

Javon Curry

“When he came in last year it was a whole new offense, it took a while but this year it has been much smoother. We’ve all been working very hard, I’m excited to see how we are going to do.” -Fairhope senior lineman Jackson Hice on heading into a second year under head coach Adam Winegarden Jackson Hice

Where they play: The Fairhope Pirates play home games at Fairhope Municipal Stadium on Hwy. 98 near Volanta Park in Fairhope.

FAIRHOPE 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 vs. St. Paul’s • 9/6 @ Enterprise * • 9/13 @ Dothan * • 9/20 @ Baldwin County * • 9/27 vs. Spanish Fort • 10/4 vs. Robertsdale * • 10/11 @ Foley * • 10/18 vs. Daphne * • 10/25 vs. Northview * • 11/1 @ Andalusia * Denotes 6A, Region 2 game

Who they are: Fairhope High School Fairhope, Alabama Mascot: Pirates Colors: Blue and yellow gold Overall record: 463-332-24 State titles: 1959 (Bhm. News) Longest rivalry: vs. Foley, 89 games since 1931 (ahsfhs.org)

6B â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

OLEY

FOOTBALL 2013 FOLEY HIGH SCHOOL Aug. 30

@ Bryant

AWAY

Sept. 6

@ Robertsdale

AWAY

Sept. 13

Daphne

HOME

Sept. 20

Enterprise

HOME

Sept. 27

Jackson

HOME

Oct. 4

Baldwin County

HOME

Oct. 11

Fairhope

HOME

Oct. 18

@ Northview

AWAY

Oct. 25

@ Dothan

AWAY

Nov. 1

@ Theodore

AWAY

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FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 7B

Foley Lions Class 6A, Region 2

Head coach: Todd Watson 2012 Record: 8-4 Key players: Demarcus Bingham (Sr. WR), Valontai Adams (Sr. TE/WR), Isaiah Lewis (Jr. RB), Shawn Sanks (Sr. DL), Cody Daughtery (Sr. OL), Elieser Blanquiset (Sr. DL), Jalen Henry (Jr. LB) First game: Aug. 30 @ Alma Bryant By ERIC MANN

emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

he Foley Lions are used to high expectations and they aren’t afraid to put in the necessary work to be successful in Class 6A’s tough Region 2.

The Lions have reached the playoffs for eight consecutive years and averaged more than eight wins per season over the same period under the direction of head coach Todd Watson. The Lions finished with an 8-4 record and fell to Spain Park in the second round of the 6A playoffs last season. “The expectations are always the same ”The expectations are and our job is to be the always the same and best we can be,” Watson our job is to be the best said. “8-4 is pretty good but we want to be betwe can be...We can ter than that. We can win by being good win by being good playplayers, a good team ers, a good team and and good people.” good people. We have that streak of being in -Foley head coach the playoffs and that’s Todd Watson what our expectations are. To get there and then to make a run once we get there.” Consistency is something Watson hopes to get more of from his players this season. “There were times last season when we didn’t play all four quarters,” Watson said. “The matter of consistency is something that we need to get a handle on. That comes from work ethic and being able to stay focused throughout a full season.” Senior defensive lineman Shawn Sanks echoed Watson’s sentiment. “We could have been more consistent in finishing games last season,” Sanks said. “Our common goal this year has to be that every game should be played like it is a championship game.” Foley will start either sophomore newcomer Brax Garrett or last season’s JV starter Tyler Cameron at quarterback. Watson said Cameron had gotten most of the reps this summer while Garrett was away playing summer baseball in the East Cobb (Ga.) league. Whether Foley’s quarterback is Cameron or Garrett the Lions have a pair of dangerous pass catchers in Demarcus Bingham and Valontai Adams. At 6-3, 215-pounds Bingham is a highly touted recruit with interest from Alabama, Auburn, UAB, South Alabama, Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Cincinnati and others. “We want to play hard every game,” Bingham said. “We’ve been training hard and hitting the weight room hard to get ready.” The Foley program has been in the recruiting spotlight before, with NFL players Julio Jones, Robert Lester and DJ Fluker all graduating out of Watson’s program. “This game should be played for the love of the game, the love of the school, the love of the community,” Watson said. “Because of the widespread attention on recruiting sometimes that becomes the focus. But the focus should be to go out there and play the game, to go work your tail off and play hard.” The 6-1, 185-pound Adams has also received interest from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Southern Miss and Missouri according to 247sports.com. He said he and Bingham share a friendly rivalry of sorts. “I’m very competitive with Demarcus, but it isn’t about going out and getting more catches than him,” Adams said. “It is about going out there and playing hard.” The Lions will visit Alma Bryant to open the reg-

dAVE BARFIEld/File photo

What they said at media day: When they play: “We could have been more consistent in finishing games last season. Our common goal this year has to be that every game should be played like it is a championship game.” -Foley senior defensive lineman Shawn Sanks

Shawn Sanks

“This game should be played for the love of the game, the love of the school, the love of the community. Because of the widespread attention on recruiting sometimes it becomes the focus. But the focus should be to go out there and play the game, to go work your tail off and play hard.” -Foley head coach Todd Watson on recruiting Todd Watson

* Denotes 6A, Region 2 game

Where they play: The Foley Lions play home games at Ivan Jones Stadium on N. Oak Street near Foley Middle School.

Who they are:

“We want to play hard every game. We’ve been training hard and hitting the weight room hard to get ready.” -Foley senior receiver Demarcus Bingham

Demarcus Bingham

SEE lIONS, pAGE 8B

2013 Fall Sports Preview

FOLEY 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 @ Alma Bryant • 9/6 @ Robertsdale * • 9/13 vs. Daphne * • 9/20 vs. Enterprise * • 9/27 vs. Jackson • 10/4 vs. Baldwin County * • 10/11 vs. Fairhope * • 10/18 @ Northview * • 10/25 @ Dothan * • 11/1 @ Theodore

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

Foley High School Foley, Alabama Mascot: Lions Colors: Blue and gold Overall record: 536-294-27 State titles: 1961, ‘62 (Bhm. N) Longest rivalry: vs. Fairhope, 93 games since 1931 ahsfhs.org

8B • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

lIONS

TROjANS

From page 7B

From page 3B

ular season on Aug. 30. The Lions jump into region play in week 2 at Robertsdale, then face Daphne and Enterprise at home before a non-region game against 5A powerhouse Jackson. “Everybody in our region is so strong with great coaching staffs at Robertsdale, Daphne and Enterprise, then we take our ‘week off’ against a really good Jackson team in week 5,” Watson said. “Then we’ve got Baldwin County, Fairhope, Dothan and Northview. Every week is tough. It is hard for these guys to get back up from week to week. (Seniors) will play a big part in helping us to get up each week to go play football.” Still, Watson is ready to get started. “This year the region is up for grabs. The team that’s been there on top, it is their show until you knock them off. We want to be back there on top.”

Vickery said as big as the game with 5A Spanish Fort might be as a citylimit rivalry, it isn’t as big yet as the Trojans’ region games.

pIRATES

Foley running back Isaiah lewis

From page 5B

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has entered into an agreement with Montgomery-based Raycom Media, Inc., owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, making Raycom the AHSAA’s live television partner beginning in 2014. Raycom will broadcast the AHSAA’s Tier 1 events –Super Six state football championships and Final 48 state basketball championships – over its extensive TV network. Raycom will also televise the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game and the Champions Challenge. The contract will run through June 30, 2019. Raycom will broadcast all semifinal and final games (boys and girls) at the Final 48 beginning with the 2014 state tournament. The agreement, developed by the AHSAA with help from the Alabama Sports Foundation (ASF), solidifies the AHSAA’s broadcast package that also includes the recently announced digital livestreaming partnership with PlayOn! Sports and the NFHS TV Network. Raycom Media and the AHSAA recently completed a two-year contract that provided live television or web-streaming of more than 60 Tier 2 events each year. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Raycom once again,” said AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese. “This partnership is important to us and will take us into the next decade with one of the best broadcast packages anywhere. The Raycom Network in Alabama includes some of the state’s strongest television stations and covers basically the entire state. It will no doubt provide

son as each team in the region will play five games at home as well as five games on the road. The five games Fairhope will play in front of the Pirate faithful this season will be St. Paul’s, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Robertsdale, and Northview. The Pirates will begin the 2013 season at home against the St. Paul Saints on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

going to face in our league has enough ability to win on Friday nights,” Winegarden said. “I think in other places I have been you could look on your schedule and you can pretty much name the games you know can win unless you play really poorly.” The schedule will prove to be tough again this sea-

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AHSAA inks live TV deal with Raycom Media FROM THE AHSAA

“Every game is big, every game is the game,” he said. “But region games count most of all at the end of the season and for making it to the playoffs.” Daphne host the BCHS Tigers Sept. 6. All games will start at 7 p.m.

enormous exposure of AHSAA championship events for our member schools and help promote our message of educationbased athletics.” Raycom vice president Pat LaPlatney said the company is proud of its relationship with the

AHSAA. “Raycom Media, an Alabama company, is very happy to be working hand-in-hand with the AHSAA to bring the Super 6 and Final 48 to our viewers across our great state,” LaPlatney said.

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUSTâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ 1C

TV, Radio, Social Media Where can you find your team?

UTV-44 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Game of the Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; schedule By ERIC MANN

cause we had played big games before.â&#x20AC;? Daphne finished with an 8-4 record and fell to Opelika in the second round of the 6A playoffs last season. Daphne head coach Glenn Vickery said he hopes his team can get the year started with a win over the Toros. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think when you open up with a big game like this it should be a motivator,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping that our guys remember that feeling of walking to the bus in the heat after losing to them last year.â&#x20AC;? The Toros will be featured three times on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of the Weekâ&#x20AC;? broadcast, while the Trojans will be featured twice. The Foley Lions and Fairhope Pirates will also make appearances.

emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

On the radio â&#x20AC;˘ Foley lions: WHEPâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;1310 AM â&#x20AC;˘ Gulf Shores dolphins: Sunny 105.7 FM â&#x20AC;˘ pigskin preview/Scoreboard/Game of the Week: Fridays 6-11 p.m.â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;WNSP 105.5 FM

Online/social media â&#x20AC;˘ Bayside Academy Admirals: twitter @baysideadmirals â&#x20AC;˘ Baldwin County Tigers: facebook.com/bchstigernation â&#x20AC;˘ Fairhope pirates: piratenationlive.com, twitter @fhopefootball â&#x20AC;˘ Foley lions: foleylionsfootball.com, twitter @SoBaldwinSports â&#x20AC;˘ daphne Trojans: daphnefootball.com, twitter @daphnetrojansFB â&#x20AC;˘ Robertsdale Golden Bears: rhsbearclub.com â&#x20AC;˘ Spanish Fort Toros: spanishfortfootball.com, twitter @footballsfhs â&#x20AC;˘ Statewide scores on twitter: @hsscore @AL6Afootball â&#x20AC;˘ Gulf Coast Newspapers: gulfcoastnewstoday.com, twitterâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;@gcntoday @ericgm, facebook.com/GulfCoastNewspapers

Baldwin Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most high profile season opener between the Spanish Fort Toros and Daphne Trojans will be broadcast live as the first UTV-44 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Game of the Weekâ&#x20AC;? of the season. The defending Class 5A champion Toros will visit 6A power Daphne in a game televised live Aug. 30 as part of UTVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly schedule. The Trojans and Toros opened last season with a nationally televised slugfest that ended as a 20-14 win for Spanish Fort. The Toros have won two of the last three 5A championships and the Trojans won the 6A title in 2010. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We try to get our kids the toughest schedule we can every year,â&#x20AC;? Spanish Fort head coach Mark Freeman said at Media Day in July. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to play the best teams. We were ready for the championship game last year be-

FlEXâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SCHEdUlING: The Game of the Week will once again follow a Flex schedule for 2013; games for week one through week four are chosen and will be

UTV-44â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;GAMEâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;OFâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;THE WEEK SCHEdUlE â&#x20AC;˘ 8/30 Spanish Fort at Daphne â&#x20AC;˘ 9/6 Davidson at Baker â&#x20AC;˘ 9/13 Daphne at Foley â&#x20AC;˘ 9/20 Davidson at McGillToolen â&#x20AC;˘ 9/27 Vigor at Blount â&#x20AC;˘ 10/4 Spanish Fort at St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;˘ 10/11 Vigor at Spanish Fort â&#x20AC;˘ 10/18 Daphne at Fairhope â&#x20AC;˘ 10/25 McGill-Toolen at Murphy â&#x20AC;˘ 11/1 St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at UMSWright *â&#x20AC;&#x2C6; All games begin at 7 p.m. on UTV-44 * Beginning 9/27 games are subject to â&#x20AC;&#x153;flex schedulingâ&#x20AC;?

covered according to the posted schedule. The flex schedule will be implemented for week five through week 10 and are subject to change. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups on Friday night in those weeks.

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2C â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

l p o h D s i e n r o h S s f 2 0 13 Gul 2013 GULF SHORES HIGH SCHOOL

â&#x20AC;&#x153;HAVE A WINNING SEASON!â&#x20AC;?

Aug. 30

@ Satsuma

AWAY

Sept. 6

Faith Academy

HOME

Sept. 13

@ Spanish Fort

AWAY

Sept. 20

St. Pauls

HOME

Sept. 27

@ Baldwin County

AWAY

Oct. 4

@ Vigor

AWAY

Oct. 11

LeFlore

HOME

Oct. 18

@ Williamson

AWAY

Oct. 25

B.C. Rain

HOME

Nov. 1

Citronelle

HOME

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 3C

Gulf Shores Dolphins Class 5A, Region 1

Head coach: Ben Blackmon 2012 Record: 4-6 Key players: Parker Mason (Sr. SS), Lee Michael McVay (Sr. OL), Nathan Harris (Jr. QB), Connor Martin (Sr. RB), Lenzy Reese (Sr. DL), Corey Kelley (Sr. WR), Chris Carlisle (Sr. LB) First game: Aug. 30 @ Satsuma By ERIC MANN

emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

he Gulf Shores Dolphins hope to turn the bad feelings from last year’s 4-6 campaign into a successful 2013 season in the competitive Class 5A Region 1.

Half of the Dolphins’ six losses were by a touchdown or less, and all of them came against 5A, Region 1 opponents. Losses against Williamson (16-9), LeFlore (34-31) and Faith Academy (42-38) kept the Dolphins out of the playoffs. The region is considered one of the most competitive in the state. “Our region is tough. You’ve got Spanish Fort, the defending “I’ve been part of this state champs and St. team for four years and Pauls and Vigor were this year we’ve been in the quarterfinals closer than we have and semis last year,” before. We’ve become Gulf Shores head coach a real team.” Ben Blackmon said. “Those teams have -Gulf Shores senior strong been the top three safety Parker Mason teams in our region every year. We are trying to get to that level.” Gulf Shores senior defensive lineman Lenzy Reese remembers the hardest thing about losing close games that kept them out of the playoffs. “I think the hardest part of those losses was the bus ride home,” Reese said. “It’s hard to take when you have to ride home and think about how close you were to the playoffs. That’s what drives us this year.” Blackmon will have eight returning starters on defense and six on offense, including senior center Lee Michael McVay. “Lee Michael is the brains of our offensive line,” Blackmon said. “He makes all the calls for us and can play just about anywhere along the line. He started at center last year and tackle the year before.” “We have so many more seniors this year that saw what it was like to lose so many close games,” McVay said of last year’s losses. “This year we have experience in knowing how to close those games out. “ McVay is one of four seniors on the Gulf Shores offensive line this season. “We have a lot of experience,” McVay said. “It is probably the smallest group I’ve been around here, but it is also the smartest, fastest and most disciplined one.” Senior strong safety Parker Mason, who played quarterback and safety last season, returns for the Dolphins. “Parker is a special athlete,” Blackmon said. “He is a kid who every coach would want on their team. He can play any skill position, he can play anywhere. We are going to utilize him as much as we can to get him involved in the game.” Mason doesn’t care where he plays as long as he is on the field. “I will play whatever position (Blackmon) needs me to play,” Mason said. “I like playing safety, also like quarterback. I just like to be around the ball. “I’ve been part of this team for four years and this year we’ve been closer than we have before. We’ve become a real team. Younger guys are stepping up. I think with some senior help we can get them all ready to close out games.” Senior linebacker Chris Carlisle said he looks at the Dolphin defense like they are his brothers. “We’ve been playing together on defense since we were sophomores,” Carlisle said. “It feels like a family. These guys are my brothers.” Gulf Shores opens on the road at Satsuma on Aug. 30.The Dolphins open region play with a home game against Faith Academy Sept. 6 then travel to face rival Spanish Fort on Sept. 13.

ERIC MANN/GCN Sports

What they said at media day: When they play: “We’ve been playing together on defense since we were sophomores. It feels like a family. These guys are my brothers.” -Gulf Shores senior linebacker Chris Carlisle

Chris Carlisle

“We have a lot of experience. It is probably the smallest group I’ve been around here, but it is also the smartest, fastest and most disciplined one.” -Gulf Shores senior center Lee Michael McVay on the Dolphins’ offensive line

Lee Michael McVay

“We’ve made huge strides from where we were last year. We have eight guys back on defense and six on offense with four seniors on the offensive line. We fee l really good about what we’ve got going into the season.”

* Denotes 5A, Region 1 game

Where they play: The Gulf Shores Dolphins play home games at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex at 19025 County Road 6.

Who they are:

-Gulf Shores head coach Ben Blackmon Ben Blackmon

2013 Fall Sports Preview

GSHS 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 @ Satsuma • 9/6 vs. Faith Academy * • 9/13 @ Spanish Fort * • 9/20 vs. St. Paul’s * • 9/27 @ Baldwin County • 10/4 @ Vigor * • 10/11 vs. LeFlore * • 10/18 @ Williamson * • 10/25 vs. BC Rain * • 11/1 vs. Citronelle

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

Gulf Shores High School Gulf Shores, Alabama Mascot: Dolphins Colors: Columbia Blue Overall record: 49-81-0 Longest rivalry: vs. Citronelle, 7 games since 2006 (ahsfhs.org)

4C â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

2013 ROBERTSDALE 2013 ROBERTSDALE HIGH SCHOOL Aug. 30

Mary Montgomery

HOME

Sept. 6

Foley

HOME

Sept. 13

Northview

HOME

Sept. 19

@ Dothan

AWAY

Sept. 27

@ Baker

AWAY

Oct. 4

@ Fairhope

AWAY

Oct. 11

@ Daphne

AWAY

Oct. 18

Enterprise

HOME

Oct. 25

@ Baldwin County

AWAY

Nov. 1

Faith Academy

HOME

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FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 5C

Robertsdale Golden Bears Class 6A, Region 2

Head coach: Brian Campbell 2012 Record: 1-9 Key players: Dylan Smith (Jr. QB), Emmanuel Fennell (Sr. DL), Kaleb Coleman (Sr. LB), DeMarcus Robinson (Jr. RB), Colton Mosley (Sr. RB), Adam Sanders (Sr. DE), Tyler Davis (Sr. RB), Jonathan Wright (Sr. DL) First game: Home Aug. 30 vs. Mary Montgomery By jOHN UNdERWOOd independent@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

obertsdale Golden Bears second-year head coach Brian Campbell already sees a lot of improvement from last year’s squad.

“We worked a lot in the off-season on our strength and conditioning and I believe it’s starting to pay off,” said Campbell, who finished 1-9 in his first season at RHS. “Last year we averaged 16 missed tackles per game and that all goes back to strength and conditioning. In our spring game against Theodore we only had four missed tackles and that was both JV and varsity, so it’s definitely made a difference.” “We need to give ourBuilding confidence selves and chance to is also key, Campbell win those games we’re said, for a team whose supposed to win and wins have been few and we need to win some far between over the games we’re not suplast several years. “Our goal is to come posed to win. If we can do that, I believe this out and be competitive team will take off.” in every game this season,” he said. “We need -Robertsdale head coach to give ourselves and Brian Campbell chance to win those games we’re supposed to win and we need to win some games we’re not supposed to win. If we can do that, I believe this team will take off.” Campbell said while all of his players have been working hard in the offseason to get better, he sees the biggest improvement in his defense. “We’ve got experience at every position defensively,” he said. “That’s going to be a big key for us this year. Our final game last year, we put up 40 points and then some and still lost. We’ve got to do a better job making stops in order to win some games this year.” Campbell will be looking for senior leadership on defense, including linebacker Kaleb Coleman and linemen Emmanuel Fennel and Jonathan Wright, a converted linebacker. Robertsdale also boasts returning seniors in the defensive backfield, including Taylor Garrison and T.J. Taylor. Campbell will also be looking for some younger players to step up defensively, including safety R.J. Koen and linebacker Tyler Reeves, a pair of sophomores. Offensively, the Golden Bears will have a lot of gaps to fill this season, none bigger than with the loss of Alphonso Stewart, who was converted from a receiver to quarterback to begin the season, then moved back to receiver later in the year. Junior Dylan Smith, who took the majority of snaps under center for the Golden Bears after Stewart went back to wideout, will most likely fill the quarterback duties for RHS this year. “He had a great offseason,” Campbell said. “He’s had a good spring and summer and did well in our 7 on 7 competitions. We’re really looking to him to step up and be a leader on offense.” A pair of seniors, Tyler Davis and Colton Mosley at the H-back position, are the only returning skill players on offense for the Bears this season. Junior DeMarcus Robinson will also see a lot of playing time at the running back position. “We’re going to be playing a lot of sophomores that I believe will get better and better as the year progresses,” Campbell said. “We’re going to be really young up front and at the receiver position but we’re going to continue to play a fast-paced game and try to get in as many plays as we can offensively.” Fewer turnovers and fewer mistakes on special teams will also be a key for the Golden Bears this season, Campbell said, as they open up on the road against Satsuma for a preseason game on Aug. 23 before kicking off the regular season at home against SEE BEARS, pAGE 8C

jOHN UNdERWOOd/GCN Sports

What they said at media day: When they play: “This senior class has been through a lot. We show up every day ready to work and we are hungry. Every day we strive to do the best we can within our ability.” -Robertsdale senior defensive lineman Jonathan Wright

Jonathan Wright

“We have tried to change the mindset of the football players and the community by making sure we hold the players accountable. Everybody in the state works hard, so we are trying to do as much as we can.” -Robertsdale head coach Brian Campbell

* Denotes 6A, Region 2 game

Where they play: The Robertsdale Golden Bears play home games at J.D. Sellars Stadium at One Cub Drive in Robertsdale.

Brian Campbell

Who they are:

“We’ve gotten a whole lot bigger and a whole lot faster with coach Campbell. He is really bringing out the best in us.” -Robertsdale senior Emmanuel Fennell

Emmanuel Fennell

2013 Fall Sports Preview

ROBERTSDALE 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 vs. Mary Montgomery • 9/6 vs. Foley * • 9/13 vs. Northview * • 9/20 @ Dothan * • 9/27 @ Baker • 10/4 @ Fairhope * • 10/11 @ Daphne * • 10/18 vs. Enterprise * • 10/25 @ Baldwin County * • 11/1 vs. Faith Academy

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

Robertsdale High School Robertsdale, Alabama Mascot: Golden Bears Colors: Maroon and Gold Overall record: 293-467-29 Longest rivalry: vs. Foley, 91 games since 1925 (ahsfhs.org)

6C â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

2013 SPANISH FORT HIGH SCHOOL Aug. 30

@ Daphne

AWAY

Sept. 6

@ B.C. Rain

AWAY

Sept. 13

Gulf Shores

HOME

Sept. 20

Faith Academy

HOME

Sept. 27

@ Fairhope

AWAY

Oct. 4

@ St. Pauls

AWAY

Oct. 11

Vigor

HOME

Oct. 18

@ LeFlore

AWAY

Oct. 25

Williamson

HOME

Nov. 1

Mobile Christian

HOME

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 7C

Spanish Fort Toros Class 5A, Region 1

Head coach: Mark Freeman 2012 Record: 14-1, 5A State Champions Key players: Matt Hall (Sr. LB), Ronald Smith (Sr. LB), Sammy Harris (Sr. WR), Logan Mangum (Sr. DL), Maurice Cole (Jr. DL), Tyler Johnston (So. QB), Chason Milner (Sr. DB), Hunter Wood (Sr. RB) First game: Aug. 30 @ Daphne By ERIC MANN

emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

he Spanish Fort Toros won the 2010 and 2012 5A state championships with experienced and talented senior classes.

This year’s Toros will be no less talented but much less experienced, but head coach Mark Freeman isn’t going to let the defending 5A state champions make excuses because of it. The Toros finished 14-1 and beat McAdory in the 5A championship game in Auburn in December behind a big, talented senior class and a two-year starter at quarterback. Those guys aren’t coming back, but Freeman expects nothing but the best from “We aren’t going to the team he has. make any excuses “We always expect about how young we good things,” Freeman are or who we lost from said. “We aren’t going last year. We are going to make any excuses to work every day to about how young we win the games we are are or who we lost from supposed to win.” last year. We are going to go to work every day -Spanish Fort head to win the games we coach Mark Freeman are supposed to win. If we win all the right games we will be in the playoffs. And when the playoffs get here we have to be the best team we can be. I don’t know if that will happen but I do know that when it is game time our kids always compete. “We aren’t going to lay on the ‘we are young’ thing. We are going to put the best team on the field with no excuses.” Spanish Fort’s players refuse to rest, too. Many of them don’t wear their championship rings and last year isn’t on their minds heading into fall practice Aug. 2. “We kind of pushed last year out the back of our minds,” Toro senior Hunter Wood said. “We practice and push just as hard to get back there though. We are working hard and we want to practice and play like champions every time.” “I never wear mine,” returning senior linebacker Chason Milner said about his championship ring. “I put it up. It is great to look at but I want to focus on getting another one.” Milner is part of a Toro defense that Freeman is counting on to be good with five returning starters. “I can’t say enough about where the defense is or how much they have progressed from being so good last year,” Freeman said. The Toro defense was especially good in the playoffs, surrendering just 12 points per game while the offense averaged 37 points in the post season. “We have the potential to be better this year on defense,” senior linebacker Matt Hall said. “I know that our defense wasn’t the strong point at the beginning last year, but we got stronger at the end. This year we are going to have to help out our offense until they can get going.” Spanish Fort will replace two-year starting quarterback Joel Poe with sophomore Tyler Johnston, who Freeman looks forward to having in his pass-oriented system for three years. “We feel like we’ll be able to get three really good years out of him,” Freeman said. “Tyler has a very strong arm. The thing about him is that he is a fun kid to coach. He is a learner. He is with me every day, and that means he has a tough road because I am super hard on my quarterbacks. They have to be our coach on the field on Friday nights. That kid is a tremendous competitor.” Johnston will have a reliable receiver back in Sammy Harris, Spanish Fort’s top returning pass catcher.

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

What they said at media day: When they play: “I know that our defense wasn’t the strong point at the beginning last year, but we got stronger at the end. This year we are going to have to help out our offense until they can get going.” -Spanish Fort senior linebacker Matt Hall

Matt Hall

“We kind of pushed last year out the back of our minds. We practice and push just as hard to get back there though. We are working hard and we want to practice and play like champions every time.” -Spanish Fort senior Hunter Wood

SPANISH FORT 2013 SCHEDULE • 8/30 @ Daphne • 9/6 @ BC Rain * • 9/13 vs. Gulf Shores * • 9/20 vs. Faith Academy * • 9/27 @ Fairhope • 10/4 @ St. Paul’s * • 10/11 vs. Vigor * • 10/18 @ LeFlore * • 10/25 vs. Williamson * • 11/1 vs. Mobile Christian * Denotes 5A, Region 1 game

Where they play: The Spanish Fort Toros play home games on “The Hill” behind Spanish Fort High School at 1 Plaza De Toro Drive.

Hunter Wood

“I never wear it. I put it up. Its great to look at but I want to focus on getting another one.”

Who they are:

-Spanish Fort senior Chason Milner on his 2012 state championship ring

Spanish Fort High School Spanish Fort, Alabama Mascot: Toros Colors: Black and Red Overall record: 62-28 State titles: 2010, 2012 Longest rivalry: vs. Vigor, 10 games since 2006 (ahsfhs.org)

Chason Milner

SEE TOROS, pAGE 8C

2013 Fall Sports Preview

Gulf Coast Newspapers • GulfCoastNewsToday.com

8C • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

Baldwin teams picked

in FNF state top 10

• Spanish Fort tops “Port City” region; Foley picked fifth by annual Friday Night Football Alabama magazine GCN SpORTS STAFF

FNF All-Port City Team:

Mary Montgomery Aug. 30. Regional action begins the following week against rival Foley at J.D. Sellars Stadium. “I’m proud of our players,” Campbell said. “They’ve definitely been putting in the effort, working hard and getting stronger.” With only 15 seniors on this year’s squad, the experience gained by the team’s 28 juniors and 24 sopho-

mores can only bode well for the future of the Golden Bears. RHS will also field a freshman squad of 40 players this year, Campbell said, some of whom will also gain experience on the JV and varsity teams. “We just have to keep working hard and keep doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” he said, “and I believe this team will improve by leaps and bounds this year.”

TOROS

From page 7C

“I think we are going to be good this year,” Harris said. “Tyler has to learn the offense just like Joel did. He is doing well in 7on-7. We took second place in the Tuscaloosa competition. He does more with his feet. He’s just a playmaker. I don’t think we’ll have much drop off from last year.” Freeman expects good things from Harris and the Toro receivers. “Sammy has been here three years and we have some other guys who have been in the system,” Freeman said. “We expect them to be able to come in and play. We hope to gain good

experience over the 10 weeks of the season and in the preseason so we can be ready for the playoffs.” The Toros open the season on the road against Class 6A Daphne, who they beat in last year’s season opener. “We don’t hate Daphne, we respect Daphne,” Freeman said. “We respect what they’ve done and what they are doing. We respect them as a program. We try to get our kids the toughest schedule we can every year. We want to play the best teams. We were ready for the championship game last year because we had played big games before that.”

Spanish Fort’s Kristian Cotton takes a handoff to the left side during practice on “The Hill” in August. TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

FNF’s Port City Top 5:

From page 5C

2. Sweet Water Bulldogs

BEARS

3. Jackson Aggies

• LB Deshaun Davis, Vigor • LB Tre Williams, St. Paul’s • DB Kameron Maye, Murphy • DB Chris Johnson, Escambia • DB Tony Bridges, McGill-Toolen • DB Anthony McArthur, Davidson • P Garrett Gartmen, Faith Aca.

4. Vigor Wolves

Toolen • WR Jamarcus King, Blount • WR demarcus Bingham, Foley • WR Jakoby Aldridge, Sweet Water • OL Josh Casher, St. Paul’s • OL Lee Defour, Saraland • OL Jordan Cagle, Mob. Chr. • OL Keke Pritchett, Thomasville • Ol logan Mangum, Sp. Fort • K Keller Farni, Davidson • DL Justin Thornton, Vigor • DL Taylor Stallworth, Murphy • dl Khalil yelding, daphne • LB Ralph Garner, Thomasville • LB Gavin Bryant, Jackson

1. Spanish Fort Toros

• QB Malik Rosier, Faith Acad. • RB Tyler Rogers, Mob. Chr. • RB Ito Smith, McGill-

5. Foley lions

The Alabama football preview edition from FNF Magazine (Friday Night Football) has named defending 5A champ Spanish Fort at the top of the state’s “Port City” region, while the Foley Lions checked in at No 5. The magazine previews 424 schools across the state. Across all high school divisions in the state, the season preview ranks Spanish Fort 4 overall, followed immediately by Daphne. The two Baldwin County public schools have emerged as perennial statewide powers, with two state titles each over the past dozen years. In fact, FNF Magazine now ranks the relatively young Spanish Fort program as the highest playoff wining percentage in the history of Alabama scholastic football (for teams with at least 10 playoff games). The Toros' all time playoff record now stands at 17-3. Though no other Baldwin teams made the FNF statewide preseason top 25, Foley and the eastern shore duo of Fairhope High and Bayside Academy are predicted to make strong playoff runs. Mobile County schools in the top 25 include St. Paul's (#8), UMS-Wright (#10), Vigor (#13) and McGill-Toolen (#18). Fourteen-time state champ Hoover is named #1 in the state, followed by #2 Opelika and Carvel-Montgomery at #3. Foley's Demarcus Bingham (6-2, 215) is listed as the number 3 tight end in the entire state, going into this 2013 season. Along with Bingham, Spanish

Fort offensive tackle Logan Mangum and Daphne defensive lineman Khalil Yelding were named to the FNF-Alabama All-Port City Team.

GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 1d

Volleyball Serve, set, spike

Sun Chiefs have high hopes after record year • Faulkner State volleyball teams opens at home Aug. 30 against Jeff Davis

Lecroy, Meagan Dobbins, Macy Roe, Cashe' Williams, Destini Moran, and Alicia McCord. Blanchard is a 5'2" libero from Clay Chalkville of the By lARRy WHITE Birmingham area. Sports Correspondent Parker is a 5'9" outside hitter Coming off a record setting from Covington, Louisiana and 2012 season, the Faulkner State Brown is also 5'9" and a setter Community College Lady Sun from Sparkman High. Chief volleyball team has high Hughes is 5'10" and a middle hopes for even better hitter from Mobile things in 2013. Murphy and Coley is Faulkner won a a 5'8" hitter from school best 27 volleyRobertsdale. Another ball matches last outside hitter is 5'9" season, finished secLecroy from Pinson ond in the state Valley. tournament, went to Dobbins also the national tourney comes from Murphy and ended up and is a 5'5" setter, ranked 16th in the Roe is a 5'9" outside nation. hitter from Mobile Longtime head Baker, Williams is a coach Ritchie Du5'11" middle hitter laney was named from Clay Coach of the Year Faulkner State Chalkville, Moran is but Dulaney and her volleyball coach a 5'6" setter from assistant John Dus- Ritchie Dulaney Salmen High in souy didn’t rest on Slidell, Louisiana, their laurels. They went out an and McCord is a 5'8" hitter from recruited another outstanding Oxford, Alabama. class to go with players returnWaiting for the freshmen are ing. six key returnees from last When the Lady Chiefs begin year's squad along with a fall practice on August 13, Faulkner University transfer. eleven newcomers will join six Mary Robinson and Tahmya returning sophomores and a Newsome, both from Enterprise, transfer on the practice court. return as middle hitters after Among the freshmen are earning post season honors. The Shannon Blanchard, Zhaniece 5'10" Robinson was named first Parker, Shelby Brown, JoBeth team All-ACCC and All TournaHughes, Bethany Coley, Blakley

Mobile-Baldwin connection: • JoBeth Hughes: Murphy • Bethany Coley: Robertsdale • Macy Roe: Baker • Alexis Treace: Spanish Fort Last season: • School-record 27 wins • Ranked No. 16 nationally • Second place in state tournament Head coach: • Ritchie Dulaney: 2012 ACCC Coach of the Year, 18 years at Faulkner State

Faulkner State volleyball home schedule: • Aug. 30 vs. Jeff Davis 5 p.m. • Sept. 5 vs. Wallace St. 6 p.m. • Oct. 2 vs. Pensacola St. 6 p.m. • Oct. 3 vs. Gadsden St. 6 p.m. • Oct. 10 vs. Southern Union 6 p.m. • Oct. 21 vs. Lawson St. 4 p.m. • Oct. 22 vs. Wallace St. 7 p.m. • Oct. 23 vs. Snead St. 6 p.m. • Oct. 28 vs. Gulf Coast St. 6 p.m. • Nov. 1-3 ACCC Tournament in Hanceville, TBA • Faulkner State plays at Robertson Arena on the FSCC campus in Bay Minette.

ment while Newsome (5'9") earned second team All-ACCC and also took All Tournament team honors. A third sophomore, 5'11" outside hitter Ashlee Foret from New Orleans, also was named second team All-ACCC. Kim Hernandez, a 5'4" sophomore from Fort Rucker, Alexis Treace, 5'8" from Spanish Fort, and 5'8" Brooke Presnell from Mobile all also return. Transfer Jasmine LeeStackhouse, 6' and from Century, Florida will be a sophomore after transferring in from Faulkner University. This will be Dulaney’s 25th year as a college head coach. She has spent the past 18 years at Faulkner after six seasons at South Alabama. Faulkner went 12-2 in conference play last year before earning a berth in the national tournament with a strong runnerup finish in the state tourney. The Sun Chiefs posted an unbeaten 9-0 match mark at home last season. FSCC opens at home on August 30, hosting Jeff Davis of Brewton in a 6 p.m. contest at Robertson Arena in Bay Minette. They remain at home for a Sept. 5 meeting with always strong Wallace-Hanceville. That match starts at 5 pm. at Robertson.

Lady Sun Chief Volleyball First game of the season August 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sibert Gymnasium, Bay Minette Campus

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2d • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

Saints kick off volleyball, soccer season

• Central Christian • Christian Collegiate • Alethia Christian • Bayshore Christian • Trinitas • Calvary • Emanuel • Gateway • Santa Rosa Christian • East Hill • Atmore Christian • S.L. Jones • West Florida Baptist • Grace Christian

• Central Christian volleyball team returns just four players from last season

ter. With a lot of new faces joining the varsity ranks for the Saints, Crotts will lean on the veterans to set the tone along By MIKAl HENSlEy with a good example. Sports Correspondent “All four of those girls are Head coach Renee Crotts such good leaders on and off the and the Central Christian court. So it’s going to be a little School Saints volleyball team easier just because they can head into the 2013 season with help bring up the girls in a lot of a history of success. ways like court maThe Saints turity,” Crotts said. ended the 2012 “The tried and “I have a lot of girls season with an in- true works pretty that played junior vite to the NAC well. I’m not trying varsity last year National tourna- to do anything that have to jump to ment after winning fancy with them. varsity this season. their regional in I am just trying to The girls just need the regular season. get them to to learn a more adThis season understand the vanced game than Crotts and the basics and to the one they played Saints have a learn the in JV.” brand new roster fundamentals.” One of the new sees the that players Crotts will Saints bring back -Central Christian be counting on is only four players volleyball coach new setter Nikki that played a year Renee Crotts Gibbs who has ago. changed positions On the roster heading into the upthe Saints have six coming season. sophomores, three juniors, and “She is learning a new positwo seniors. tion but she is doing a great job “We are very young; I have at it. I am just really pleased only four players returning to with her work ethic and her demy squad this year. It’s a little sire to get better.” Coach Crotts bit of a rebuilding year,” Crotts said. “I was concerned with said. “I have only one senior that; this is the first year we that played on the team a year haven’t had a setter lined up ago and another senior that did and ready to go.” not play last year.” Even with a big turnover in Returning senior Shaley the roster, the game plan that Decker heads up the returning has led to great success for the class for the Saints, along with Saints will remain intact headJuniors Becky Shelton, and ing into 2013. Cheyenne Adams. Sophomore “The tried and true works Teresa Sullivan is the lone pretty well. I’m not trying to do sophomore returning to the ros-

Central Christian volleyball seniors Estania Lippincott and Shaley Decker

Central Christian School Saints: • Volleyball Coach: Renee Crotts

Soccer, clockwise, from top: Wesley Savery, Nathan Atwell and Jesse McCarty

• Volleyball Seniors: Shaley Decker and Estania Lippincott

Central Christian School Saints:

• Next match: Home Aug. 27 vs. Atmore Christian 5:30 p.m.; Home Sept. 3 vs. Pensacola Christian

• Soccer Coach: Dan Crotts

anything fancy with them,” Crotts said. “I am just trying to get them to understand the basics and to learn the fundamentals. They have to really learn to pass the ball. The girls that played JV last year have to get used to a different offensive structure as well as seeing a different level of competition.” C E N T R A l C H R I S T I A N KICKS OFF FAll SOCCER SEASON: Central Christian School’s soccer team has three seniors this season including Wesley Savery, Nathan Atwell

• Soccer Seniors: Wesley Savery, Nathan Atwell, Jesse McCarty • Next match: Home Aug. 29 against Calvary Christian and home Sept. 3 against East Hill Christian. Both matches begin at 4:30 p.m.

and Jesse McCarty. The Saints, coached by Dan Crotts, have a home match Aug. 29 against Calvary Christian at 4:30 p.m. and return home Sept. 3 against East Hill Christian at 4:30 p.m. The Saints are coached by Dan Crotts.

GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 3d

Senior heavy roster leads Lady Admirals By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

The Bayside Lady Admirals officially began their run for a 12th consecutive volleyball state championship earlier this month. After losing her twin peak pair of net dominating all-state players Gabby Deshotel and Virginia Pittman to graduation, Head coach Ann Schilling hopes to rely on five returning seniors to fill those six-footer-plus shoes as well as help break in some younger players this season. “We’re excited. Our goal is to just get better everyday and the kids are working hard. Work hard on the little things knowing that the little things are really the big things down the road,” Schilling said. With five seniors, Jhalen Caffey, Sydney Chandler, Morgan Dulaney, Madison Matthews and Harper Morrison it won’t exactly be a rebuilding year, but a different looking team using their own skill sets that will have to find itself. “Our ball handling is looking okay so defensively we think we can be

Bayside Academy Lady Admirals: • Streak: 11 straight volleyball state titles • Seniors: Jhalen Caffey, Sydney Chandler, Morgan Dulaney, Madison Matthews, Harper Morrison • First match: Home against McGill-Toolen on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. • Coach Ann Schilling: “Our goal is to just get better every day and the kids are working hard. Work hard on the little things knowing that the little things are really the big things down the road.”

Bayside Academy head coach Ann Schilling (right) leads the Lady Admirals in their quest for a 12th straight state championship.

pretty good and that’s always a must every year and we have pretty good depth and experience on the defensive side. That’s exciting. On offense, we have experience with more seniors than we’ve had in a while, but we’ll be different up front with Gabby and Virginia graduating this past spring. We’ll miss their power and scoring and blocking. But we will have to be more

balanced overall because we won’t stop as many balls at the net. But we are aggressive and can hit and of course we have the best setter in the state in Sydney Chandler.” Chandler started as a seventh grader and is looking to add a sixth championship ring to her collection. She was also the divisional state MVP as a sophomore and a multi-all-state selection.

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

“If we can pass well, Syd can take it from there,” Schilling said. “We have those five seniors and then several younger ones with just a few in between, so we will be moving some people around and making some decisions the next few weeks before we’re in a set rotation. And that usually needs a little adjusting. But sure serving should be pretty good again but

you can always improve and that’s another important fundamental we’ll work on.” One of the rising talents for Schilling is Lauren Chastang who played a lot of big-match minutes including the playoffs and the Elite Eight state tournament. But the incoming freshman hitter/blocker injured her ankle and may miss or play a limited role in the team’s opener

against Schilling’s alma mater 6A McGill-Toolen Catholic. “That’s always a fun way to start the season for both of us,” she said. “A good rivalry is always exciting, too. But Lauren hurt her ankle and she might play but we won’t risk aggravating it.” Bayside will host the Mc-T Dirty Dozen coached by Gretchen Boykin Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

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4d • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

Bayshore Eagles soar into inaugural season By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

KATIE dENTON/Submitted

Fairhope Volleyball: From left: Katelyn Hayes, Bailey Epperson, Kaylyn Bivins, Katie Bayley, Brittney Domino, Sabriah Crenshaw, Catherine Knight, Kathleen Stone, Ellie Johnson, Rickie Lee Constant, Carrighan Rockwell.

Lady Pirates fired up, eager to win By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

Fairhope head coach Melissa Knight has three experienced seniors and a total of nine players returning with court time to Pirate Gym this year. Barely missing the playoffs last year, her seniors still remember the thrill of claiming an area title earlier in their careers and are eager to do it again. “We have nine returners from last year,” Knight said. “We will be led on de-

fense by our three seniors Sabriah Crenshaw, Brittney Domino, and Catherine Knight. All three, having experienced an area championship win two years ago, are daily striving to lead their team to post-season victories. I am also looking forward to seeing our offense perform throughout this season. Each of the girls has really taken huge strides in their individual positions.” Fairhope had only two players graduate and so

will field a deep line-up and bench roster which Knight hopes to fuel an emotionally charged, firedup season. “This year, with a number of strong returners we have been able to focus on practicing with a greater intensity, making smarter defensive/offensive decisions, and playing better collectively as a team. The Pirates put the ball in play Aug. 29 hosting Mobile Christian, take part in the annual MGM

Foley Lady Lions open season Aug. 29

GCN SpORTS STAFF

The Foley Lady Lions open the season on Aug. 29 on the road at Theodore with junior varsity action beginning at 4 p.m. and varsity to follow. After playing in a tournament in Montgomery

Aug. 30-31, the Lady Lions will visit Fairhope Sept. 3 and have their first home match at 4:30 on Sept. 5 against Daphne at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Foley has two seniors in Amanda Brett and Laura Kate Laurendine. Foley’s junior class in-

cludes Karolina Alexander, Sunny Dwyer, Kaitlyn Ebert, Hilton Foster, Alyssa Davis, Christian Frank and Nadia Johnson and sophomores are Haley Kozon, Taylor Kleback, Valerie Davis, Kera Jo Ellison, Markeia Banks and Cassidy Dillon.

Fairhope Lady Pirates: • Seniors: Sabriah Crenshaw, Brittney Domino, Catherine Knight • First match: Home against Mobile Christian on Aug. 29 tournament in Semmes, then open their area schedule at home against Foley Sept. 3. Fairhope will host its annual Back-toSchool Bash Sept. 6-7.

Bayshore Christian Volleyball head coach Dave Omtvedt isn’t just starting a new season, he’s initiating a program along with other sports as the Eagles make their debut into the Panhandle Christian Conference. “With so much youth and kids who never played we’re focusing a lot on core elements and fundamentals, some have played but not in an organized setting. So we have our work cut out for us. We’ll be doing a lot of serve-receive practice and of course passing work. If we can pass to the setter and serve the ball consistently, we can win.” He and his wife Sarah, who will assist in coaching the team, have four children, two of whom will be on the Eagles volleyball team. Omtvedt’s preseason breakdown: • passing: “We are making very good progress in passing,” he said giving an example. “Day one we did a passing drill whereby I hit balls under hand to the girls on the other side of the net. It took us roughly 130 balls to get 50 to target. Today it took us 75 balls to get 50. This is very good progress, however these are very easy passes.”

• Offense, defense: “The girls are learning the offensive lineups and defensive positioning. There are six different line ups with four different transitions in each line up. We still have a lot of work to do. When we get into the game they will need to know their positions and be able to get to their positions quickly and under pressure.“ • Serving: “Serving is probably my biggest concern,” Omtvedt said. “We can’t win if we can’t serve. We are getting better but need to keep working hard on it. I am teaching some of the girls underhand serves so I can be confident we will get our serves over during our first game. It also helps their confidence during the game to make their serve. We continue to work on overhand serve and my goal is to have all of them serving overhand by the end of the season. We are working on serves two, three times per practice.” • Overall: The girls have been very fun to work with and are working hard. I think I am pushing them harder than they expected, however all this hard work will pay huge dividends toward the end of the season. I know the girls are eager to play more in practice however we need to get the fundamentals down first.”

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.com • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 5d

Lady Toros hope to return to Elite Eight By TONy WHITEHEAd

ALIGNMENT:

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

The Lady Toros made it to the Elite Eight 5A state volleyball tournament last year which is always the biggest show in high school sports as well as a good indicator of program strength. But Spanish Fort head coach Barclay Kercher had six players graduate from the 2012 team—effectively an entire squad. But fortunately, many of the younger Toros got a lot of time in the rotation last season and Kercher likes what she sees heading into the 2013 run. “We have had a pretty successful transition from last year’s Elite Eight team,” she said. “Everybody is working hard to get a spot and getting better and forcing others to get better in the process. Showing a good work ethic and that is always what has to take place. Of course, key to getting back to state is really playing together as a team, limiting drama, respecting teammates, producing that special chemistry that all really good teams have. Hard to know exactly what the recipe is from year to year because so many variables change from year to year, but as a coach you know it when you have it. But you always have to work for it.” The Toros will also miss Rebecca Morehouse who transferred out of state. So coming up with a set line up to get ready for another run at the area title and beyond will involve some intra-squad competition, Kercher said. “We have some new faces with us. We graduated six, have one senior this year, Gabby Horst, who will be a good leader for us.” The team also has big shoes to fill in Amber Treace, the four-year starting setter who signed with UAB. “Replacing Amber

AHSAA Volleyball

ClASS 6A, AREA 3 • Baldwin County • Daphne • Fairhope • Foley • Robertsdale ClASS 5A, AREA 2 • BC Rain • Gulf Shores • Spanish Fort • Williamson ClASS 3A, AREA 1 • Bayside Academy • Cottage Hill • TR Miller • WS Neal

IMPORTANT DATES: • Aug. 29: First contests • Oct. 21-22 Area tournaments • Oct. 25-26 Super Regionals • Oct. 30-31 Elite Eight state tournament

DEFENDING CHAMPS: • 6A: Huntsville • 5A: Hartselle • 4A: Madison County • 3A: Bayside Academy • 2A: Providence Christian • 1A: Donoho

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

Spanish Fort coach Barclay Kercher led the Lady Toros to the Class 5A Elite Eight state tournament last season. Treace will be tough, but we will go with who can step up and do the job. We have some who look good at setter already, but we’ll see how it goes. Right now just seeing which players can make it happen, particularly at setter. We are coming down to the wire.” Some underclassmen returning with experience include Anna Claire Whaley who will may be playing a new position and the younger sister of Amber Treace, Ashley Treace and others who are all competing for major playing time. “Defensively we’ll be strong, have a lot of depth with players who will never come off the court. Of course with Shannon (Paaymans-senior libero last year) gone, I’m waiting to declare a starting libero, too. Having a strong middle as we expect will be fun and along with the leadership of Gabby, we should be okay. Also, we have an outstanding JV team coming up as well. So the future looks bright for Spanish Fort volleyball.” Kercher sees the usual

suspects (5A Areas 1 and 2 and region competition) making life tough for her squad in the battle for post-season berths. “St. Paul’s is always a powerhouse in the region, I have not seen Gulf Shores this year but they always compete hard, Faith always has a winning program so Gulf Shores and us should battle it out in the area (5A Area 2), then the region is strong again with the Mobile teams (5A Area 1). In order to stay competitive, Kercher said players have to keep training almost year round. “It’s been that way for a while with the club team system and schedule and so many athletes on individual training schedules, too. I don’t see it ever going back. Kids look forward to school starting just to get a break from all the work outs. But we all benefit by not having to spend as much time on traditional conditioning. They’re already in shape,” she said. Spanish Fort opens at

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BCHS Lady Tigers roster dominated by seniors

By lARRy WHITE Sports Correspondent

The Baldwin County High Lady Tigers look to make a strong showing in 2013 and a senior dominated lineup could be just the medicine. The Lady Tigers show eight seniors on their twelve player roster and second year coach Mike Tucker says that experience could make a difference. Tucker came to the Tigers late in the summer last year just before last season started but has had an entire year to work with this year’s squad. “Our summer practices have gone well and in three play dates this summer, we went 10-0 in practice games,” Tucker said. “I think we will be much improved over last year and this team is excited about the season. “We play an overall tough schedule with five tournaments in a row beginning at Mary G. Mont-

File photo

Raven Weaver and Katelin Crenshaw. gomery on August 30-31,” the Tiger coach added. Tucker said that the Lady Tigers will also play in tournaments at Fairhope, Bayside, Spanish Fort, and Northview, Florida. Tucker’s squad will feature eight seniors, three juniors, and one sophomore. “Katelin Crenshaw, a senior outside hitter, and Raven Weaver, a senior

libero, are both returning All-County players and real leaders on our team," Tucker said. “Senior middle hitters Meagan Duncan and Jennifer Modispacher have also looked good so far in practice.” “Junior Morgan Watkins will be our starting setter and is probably the most improved played on the team,” the coach said.

6d • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • AUGUST 27, 2013 • GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

Daphne has ‘well-rounded’ team in 2013 By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

The Lady Trojans reload for 2013 with three experienced seniors in Sarah Chapman, Jordan Filotei and Hope Fulton for head coach Edoli Herrion who starts her fourth season at her own high school alma mater. Filotei brings significant experience to the libero position and has verbally committed to play for the University of Arkansas at Monticello next year. Graduation took its toll on the DHS starting rotation of 2012, Herrion said with seven players: Taylor Barnette, Katherine Barr, Julia Cleveland, Taylor Pitt,Anna Ramsey, Audrey Walding and Taylor Wright—all of whom saw considerable court time last fall—moving on. “We have some new players stepping in this year along with our seniors who all had a lot of varsity time as juniors. And also two juniors from last’s varsity who have really going to be big for us. We also have a couple of JV players from last year who are speeding up their game and will be ready to play varsity level volleyball this year. “So, I feel good about season. It’s still early and we have a way to go, but they are working hard and learning the right stuff at a good pace, too. And that just means, right now, I like our volleyball IQ and where we can go from here once we really get set in a rotation.” She added that this

daphne’s jordan Filotei.

TONy WHITEHEAd/ GCN Sports

group brings a wellrounded balance of offensive and defensive strengths to the court. “They cover the floor with a lot of hustle and heart. We have a good group of strong passers

and a strong serving team, our defense needs to catch up a little, experiencewise. But Jordan is our anchor back there and has the leadership factor on the court that you always want. She sees the court

well, commands respect and communicates real well. But she’ll need some help, too. And fortunately we have Sarah who is coming to us from Murphy and she will help us out a lot on defense. She is very quick and smart on the back row. Hope has good experience in the middle and will be a strong leader for us there. And so with my juniors and my seniors I think we’ll get there so I’m excited. We’ll just keep working to make progress and try to use our strengths to our advantage as much as possible.” Herrion will be joined by assistant Kevin Frazier who bring a lot of coaching experience from Baker and more recently from Spanish Fort. “We are lucky to have him,” she said. “Kevin brings a whole lot of enthusiasm, excitement and game know-how to our bench and the girls are real receptive.” She will also have assistant coach Reynolds Pittman returning for her sophomore season coaching at DHS. Pittman played for Bayside Academy under legendary head coach Ann Schilling and has been a solid instructor for the Lady Trojans junior varsity program. “Reynolds is keeping me loaded on varsity and does a great job with the JV kids,” Herrion said. Daphne opens at Baker Aug. 29 and opens the area run on the road at Robertsdale against the defending area champion Golden Bears Sept 3.

Eagles fly into fall soccer season

By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

Bayshore Christian School in Montrose will begin it’s first official high school soccer season this year in the Panhandle Christian Conference. The Eagles coed soccer team will be coached by Lauren Marsh Brown, Brown is a former soccer forward for the University of South Alabama Jaguars and a recent graduate of their sports management program. She also was an all-state, four-year starter and scoring standout for the Fairhope Lady Pirates where she recorded 157 career varsity goals. She did her coaching internship with the University of Mobile soccer team and coached the St. Paul’s Episcopal High School junior varsity last year. “I’m looking forward to working with the kids and seeing how well we can do,” Brown said. “I love soccer, I still miss (playing) it and I jump in with them at practice sometimes. Most are just starting out as far as skill level goes. But overall I’m encouraged with the pace of progress so far. “We do have Sarah Breslin who has been playing a long time — for her age. And she is, I

“I love soccer, I still miss (playing) it and I jump in with them at practice sometimes. Most are just starting out as far as skill level goes. But overall I’m encouraged with the pace of progress so far.” -Bayshore Christian coed soccer coach Lauren Marsh Brown, who is the school’s first soccer coach

would say advanced. She’s really a goal keeper but wants to play on the field more so we may have to see what else we can do. And also we have a couple other players who are really good, but then we have quite a few who have never even played before. They are athletic, but still learning the sport and the rules. So we have some work to do on some technique and just fundamentals of ball handling and passing and moving without the ball.” “Every practice and every week, I’ve seen them meeting most of the goals I’ve set. But I’ll keep setting new and more goals and challenging them. I think with experi-

Bayshore Christian soccer coach Lauren Marsh Brown ence we can be pretty good, but they are all fairly young in age (seventh to 10th grade with one sixth grader) and a few are completely new to sports in general, so I can’t ask too much, too fast.” Brown, who is used to a high level of play and success in terma of winning said she also feels good about the stages of progress her players are achieving. “The main thing I have been impressed with is seeing some of them realize they can do more than they thought they could after just working and focusing on a skill. That’s rewarding to see happen right in front of

File photo

Madeleine Petite and Austin Richardson.

Four seniors back for RHS Lady Bears

GCN SpORTS STAFF The Robertsdale Lady Golden Bears return four seniors and one game-experienced junior and kick off the volleyball season with a KSA tournament in Orlando Aug. 29. Richardson, Austin Madeleine Petite, Harley Volovecky and Shelby Schuller return for the defending 6A Area 3 champions under the direction of coach Metta Roberts. Beth Taylor, a junior, also returns with game experience from last season. Taylor, Petite and Richardson were named AllCounty players last season. Robertsdale’s first home match is Sept. 3 at

Harley Volovecky

5:30 p.m. against Daphne. “The key to success is to be able to serve-receive well and play solid defense and for our setter, Hope Plato, to be able to get the ball to the hitters,” Roberts said.

Lady Dolphins open season on the road GCN SpORTS STAFF The Gulf Shores Lady Dolphins will open the volleyball season on the road with matches at Montgomery Academy Aug. 3031. Gulf Shores will return home for a match against Baldwin County High at 5 p.m. Sept. 3 and visit Robertsdale Sept. 4 at 5:30 p.m. Seniors Maddie McAlister, Kelsey Alexander, Ashton Boone, Carolina Braga and Harleigh Wilson are back for the Lady Dolphins this season, as well as All-County selection Taylor Hurst. Gulf Shores will play in the annual Fairhope “Back-to-School Bash” Sept. 6-7 and return home for a match against Foley Sept. 10.

you and I like seeing them realize that’s it fun to play and worth the effort. But there’s more to it than just playing and I like doing drills to help with skills, but most people don’t. So my husband (T. J. Brown) and I have been trying to come up with ways to keep them interested but still learning and developing at the same time.” The Eagles will compete with 14 other Christian Schools from the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi now making up the PCC. Bayshore’s next soccer match is Aug. 30 at Alethia and will host Central Christian Sept. 5. “We’re excited about the kids getting to play MORE INFO: For more for someone with the level information about Gulf of knowledge and expertShores High School athletise in the sport as Lauics,visit gs-hs.com ren.” said Bayshore athletic director Jeff Hauge who was a baseball and golf coach at Fairhope when Brown was a student athlete there. “We also feel fortunate to have someone with such outstanding character. She brings all that to our school here. She was a great player and is a great role model. I know she’ll be a great coach, too.”

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Taylor Hurst

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GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM • AUGUST 27, 2013 • FALL SPORTS PREVIEW • 7d

A look at Baldwin’s cross country teams

Cross country Off to the races!

Coach Yahr’s High school season overview By TIM yAHR

Fairhope High Cross Country Coach

Baldwin County Cross Country was in good shape last year and should be in even better shape this year. This will be one of the few years where we have every coach in the county returning. It is so important to have stability at the head coaching position. Look at some of the best CC programs in the state and you’ll find coaches who have been doing their job as CC coach for 15 years or more – Jim Tate at St. Paul’s, Pat Galle at UMS-Wright, Greg Echols at Mountain Brook as examples.

Baldwin public school returning coaches this year are: Matthew Beckett, BCHS; Joe Hutchins, Daphne; Tim Yahr, Fairhope; Steve Garrett, Foley; Tim Akins, Gulf Shores; Rebecca Massie, Robertsdale; Michael Rauch, Spanish Fort. Bayside Bayside Academy head coach Alan Foster returns also after leading the Lady Admirals to the 3A state title. Bayshore Christian School in Montrose will begin it’s first official athletic season with a coed cross country team that competes in the Panhandle Christian Conference. The school is 10 years old and has been adding a class level each year since it’s first group of students enrolled. That class are now sophomores for 201314. The Bayshore Christian Eagles team is coached by Amanda Holland. Cross country is an exciting spectator sport. Watching young men and young women push their bodies to the extreme as they test themselves against their peers. Most courses are in beautiful locations. Races usually have 4 competitions one after another with JV girls, JV boys, varsity girls, and varsity boys. So everyone should go out and support their high school’s runners by committing to at least one meet this season. The top runners returning in 2013 by place at last year’s County Championships listed by name, school, present class and finish: Girls: Fairhope’s Hannah Evans, Daphne’s Kaleigh Akers , Spanish Fort’s Linsey Hrabovsky, Spanish Fort’s Jordan Huber, Foley’s Katy Hines, Spanish Fort’s Hannah Frain, Robertsdale’s Gabrielle Chunn, Spanish Fort’s Brittany Boudreaux, Daphne’s Megan Edwards, Spanish Fort’s Sarah Carrico, Daphne’s Jordan Peterson, Robertsdale’s Kara Wells, Foley’s Tessa John-

TONy WHITEHEAd/GCN Sports

Daphne High School cross country team members race through downtown Daphne in August. ston, Spanish Fort’s Madison Copeland, Robertsdale’s Rachel Starling. Boys: Daphne’s John Alan Walker, Fairhope’s Caleb Casolaro, Foley’s Henry Bailey, Daphne’s Chris Walding, Spanish Fort’s Seth Quimby, Fairhope’s Josh Doege, Spanish Fort’s Matthew Pierda, Spanish Fort’s Kevin Jones, Spanish Fort’s Jack Morgan, Fairhope’s Anthony Heyer, Fairhope’s Tyler Banser, Robertsdale’s Levi Jimenez, Spanish Fort’s Noah Brown, Spanish Fort’s Keaton Morris, Spanish Fort’s Cooper Sewell. Baldwin Cross Country Quick Facts: • Spanish Fort girls will be going for their 6th consecutive Team County Championship. • Fairhope boys will be going for their 4th consecutive Team County Championship. • Hannah Evans will be running for her 4th consecutive Individual County Championship. • John Alan Walker was the best non-senior in the 3200 in track season and is in a good position to win his first County Championship. • Spanish Fort’s girls team is deep and talented. • Spanish Fort’s boys team is deep, talented, and very young. • The boys race for team and individual champion is wide open since 12 seniors from last year’s top

By TONy WHITEHEAd

twhitehead@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

BAySIdE ACAdEMy: Last year, the Bayside girls team won the 3A state cross-country championship. And the Lady Admirals squad looks to field another strong team this year. Among the key returning runners are Bowen Spottswood, Carlisle Calametti and Brittany Houseman. Spottswood, Calametti and Houseman are supported by a talented group of underclassmen including sophomore Catie Caldwell, No. 4, Freshman DeLaney Klutes, No. 7, eighthgrader Mary Catherine Branyon and eighth grader Abby Warner. The boys are lead by Seniors Ryan Shankle, Sam Colville and Griffin Williams. BAldWIN COUNTy: Head coach Matt Beckett said although graduation claimed Cody Parker, who is running for the University of South Alabama Jaguar men this fall, his Tigers will be very experienced. Beckett’s standouts will include Andrew Holley, Chris Steward, Zack Martin, Cameron Lewis, Cory Steadham, and Carl Hollis. On the girls side, Beckett expects marked improvement from both experience and some newto-the-sport enthusiasm. Returning senior runners are Payton Redmon and Joy Holley. dApHNE: The Trojans graduated three senior boys including Alex Guillory who is running for the University of Mobile Rams. All of the Lady Trojan runners will be back said head coach Joe Hutchins. “John Alan Walker and Chris Walding are the top returning varsity boys. Kaleigh Akers, Megan Edwards, and Jordan Peterson are the top returning girls,” he said. “The 2013 Trojan cross-country team has a new look but a strong foundation.”

ERIC MANN/File photo

Foley’s Tessa Johnston and Katy Hines were All-County selections last season.

FAIRHOpE: The Fairhope Pirate teams will be lead by seniors Hannah Evans, Brennan Fitzgerald, and Josh Doege and returning runners Caleb Casolaro and Anthony Heyer. The Lady Pirates biggest group of support strength will come from the girls who also play soccer in the spring – Paige Coll (JR), Teagan Frank (JR), Kate Street (SO), and Lane Stark (FR).

FOlEy: The Foley cross country team will be coached by Steve Garrett, the school’s baseball coach, this season. ERIC MANN/File photo All-County selections Katy Hines, Tessa Johnston and Robertsdale All-County selections Gabrielle Henry Bailey are back for Chunn, Levi Jimenez and Kara Wells return for the the Lions, who host the Golden Bears’ cross country team this season. Foley Invitational at Grabreaking into the girls list of ham Creek on Aug. 31. 29 are gone. • Only two senior girls the county’s elite runners from last year are gone will have their work cut out GUlF SHORES: from the top 18 so anyone for them. The Gulf Shores Dol-

phins will continue to aim high for both boys and girls teams said second-year coach Timothy Akins after having several runners qualify for the state championship meet as individuals in 2012. “ The GSHS boys team lost two strong seniors to graduation in Zach Warren and Tommy Hanson but did not have any graduates among the 2012 Lady Dolphin state qualifiers. “Of the eight girls, we have two juniors, two sophomores, three freshmen and one eighth grader,” Akins said. “The boys and girls teams will be smaller in number this year, but they should be better. We ran four days a week all summer, except for rain, and I hope the effort shows on the course. Both teams are very young.

ROBERTSdAlE: Robertsdale is coached by Rebecca Massie who is looking for continued improvement and is impressed with the Golden Bears work ethic. “The best thing about this upcoming season is that we've bonded as a team,” she said. “Last year was my first year as a XC coach; so there was a lot for me to muddle through. Now that I've known the athletes for a year, I am better able to customize their training.” Levi Jimenez and Luke Carnley return for the boys team, while Gabrielle Chunn, Sarah Forland, Rachel Starling and Baylee Shackelford are back for the girls.

SpANISH FORT: The Lady Toros are coached by Michael Rauch who led the SFHS girls to he last two of their fivestraight Baldwin County championships. Rauch listed Hannah Frain, Linsey Hrabovsky, Sarah Carrico, Maddie Grace, Callie Shirk and Julia Johnson as team leaders for the girls team. On the boys side, the Toros are young, very young, with an average age of 14. Keaton Morris and Seth Quimby are returning sophomores.

BAySHORE CHRISTIAN: Bayshore Christian School in Montrose will begin it’s first official athletic season with a coed cross country team that competes in the Panhandle Christian Conference. The school is 10 years old and has been adding a class level each year. “I love to run,” coach Amanda Holland said. “Always been involved in athletics, especially running and particularly distance. And also have pursued an interest in healthy lifestyles, exercise and nutrition which are all very important in distance running. It’s a great sport.”

The team’s first 5K run will be Oct. 26 in Daphne as a fundraiser event for the Prodisee Pantry called the Turkey Trot.

8d â&#x20AC;˘ FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;SPORTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PREVIEW â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 27, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ GULFCOASTNEWSTODAY.COM

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