FROM STAFF REPORTS

Moments to remember: 2005 was a year full of highs and lows.

From state championships, big wins and crowning accomplishments, to suspensions and heartbreaking losses, the past 12 months have been full of stories that will not be soon forgotten.

The words used to describe these moments, and the pictures that capture them in time have helped readers of the Shelby County Reporter follow these ups and downs throughout the year.

As

teams and players begin their quest for exellence and competition in 2006, we take a look back at some of

biggest sports stories of 2005.

Editors note: This is the second in a two-part series.

JULY

Young amputee succeeds at baseball

Hasaan Hawthorne, a seven-year-old double-leg amputee from Pelham has been playing youth baseball for more than two years. He also competed in the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma, taking first place in the 60-meter dash and the softball throw.

Local gymnast&8217;s hopes soar

Local gymnast Taylor Sockwell took first place in the all-around level-eight competition at a regional meet in St. Louis. Sockwell trains more than 40 hours a week at the Head Over Heels Gymnastics Clinic.

Caudle anounces intent to Auburn

Highly touted Spain Park quarterback Neil Caudle used the Mountain Brook 7-on-7 passing camp earlier this year as a podium to announce his intention to play football for the Auburn Tigers and Tommy Tuberville.

AUGUST

Falcons name Toney new AD

Dennis Toney was named athletic director at the University of Montevallo on Aug. 1. Toney came to UM from the Virginia Military Institute where he served as assistant athletic director.

City takes over Helena youth leagues

The city of Helena took over the day-to-day operations of the city&8217;s youth baseball league despite protests from league volunteers who worried that the league would not be properly maintained under the city&8217;s control.

Montevallo turns tables on Calera

The Montevallo Bulldogs ousted county rival Calera, 33-22, in the first week of high school football. Montevallo rushed for 418 yards on 44 carries with Leland Johnson scoring twice for the Bulldogs in the victory.

SEPTEMBER

Oak Mountain gets big win over Jags

The Oak Mountain Eagles notched a signature win against the Spain Park Jaguars in week two of the season, downing the Jags, 15-7. The Jags, ranked No. 3 in 6A statewide, could only muster 152 total yards against a stifling OMHS defense.

County resident working as SEC ref

Shelby County resident Steve Shaw spent his weekends in 2005 as a Southeastern Conference head official. Shaw has

two national championship games and three SEC title games under the white hat.

Briarwood tops 6A Thompson

The 5A Briarwood Lions ousted 6A Thompson, 7-6, thanks

to a Bo Walters touchdown late in the game. Lions&8217; quarterback Barrett Trotter marched his team down the field on a seven-play drive for the winning score.

OCTOBER

Hernandez lifts Wildcats on final play

Senior Wildcats kicker Eric Hernandez kicked a 29-yard field goal with no time on the clock to defeat Valley in week eight of the high school football season. The winning kick helped vault Shelby County into the 5A state playoffs.

Hornets take region title with victory

The Chelsea Hornets claimed the Class 4A, Region 5 championship with a win over Corner, 52-14, in week nine of the high school football season. Twelve Hornet players carried the ball in the victory.

Pearce nets 515 yards in win

Kingwood quarterback Andrew Pearce threw eight touchdowns, compiled 515 total yards and ran for another score in his team&8217;s 63-47 defeat of Evangel in week nine. Pearce also converted all nine extra points in the win.

NOVEMBER

Shelby County upsets Chelsea

The Shelby County Wildcats topped rival Chelsea in a heated battle in week 10 of the high school football season, 19-15. The controversial game was full of hard hits and edgy play, sparking heated debate between fans of both teams.

County runners compete at state meet

Fifteen Shelby County high schools sent runners to the AHSAA state cross country meet in Moulton, Ala. The Oak Mountain boys team took fourth in the 6A race while the Briarwood Lion boys took fifth in the 5A race.

OMHS eliminated by Hoover Bucs

The Oak Mountain Eagles were eliminated by the Hoover Bucs, 28-7, in the semifinal round of the state 6A playoffs. The loss marked the end of the Eagles&8217; record setting season.

DECEMBER

Phillips hits 2000-point milestone

Kingwood Lady Lion Hannah Phillips hit the 2,000-point milestone against Taylor Road. The junior guard scored 20 points in game, leading her team to a 6-0 start on the season.

Davis named county player of the year

Andy Davis was named the Shelby County Reporter&8217;s Player of the Year for his performance this season at Briarwood. Davis finished the with 112 solo tackles, three interceptions and a safety. He heads to Tuscaloosa in 2006 to play for Mike Shula and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

OMHS boys hoops best in county

The Oak Mountain boys basketball team took its place as the best team in Shelby County for a second year in a row, defeating Briarwood Christian in the final game of the Shelby County tournament, 53-23. Tournament MVP Tyler Gallimore finished the game with 11 points, three assists and three steals