By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

Baseball/softball area breakdowns

The baseball and softball area changes are consistent with the basketball area changes. Whatever moves teams made for basketball, they also made for baseball and softball. The only change to this is that Vincent’s baseball area has four teams instead of three, and includes Fayetteville as well as Ranburne and Woodland.

 

Soccer area breakdowns

– The 7A and 6A area alignments are the same as baseball, basketball and softball. Thompson remains in Area 5 with Hoover and Tuscaloosa County while Vestavia will switch with Oak Mountain and push the Eagles over to Area 6 with Spain Park, Oak Mountain and Mountain Brook.

– Chelsea, Pelham and Helena make up Area 5 in 6A, just like in basketball, baseball and softball.

 

4A-5A

– Briarwood and Calera will be in the new Area 8 for the 4A-5A class. Calera has not been much of a soccer power, but the change for Briarwood will be something to keep an eye on as the Lions are typically one of the more skilled Birmingham metro teams, and the drop down could mean the Lions will be competing for state championships in years to come.

– Shelby County does not play soccer

 

1A-3A

– Indian Springs and the Westminster School at Oak Mountain, two of the best soccer squads across the state regardless of classification in years past, will now be in the same area. Westminster moves over to Area 3 while Springs stays put. Montevallo will also be in the new 1A-3A Area 3 for soccer.

 

Other breakdowns to come later.