FROM STAFF REPORTS

June

SPHS senior named Gatorade POY

Spain Park High School senior Mikey White, a University of Alabama signee, was named the Gatorage Player of the Year in Alabama for baseball. White split time as a pitcher and shortstop for Spain Park.

OMHS senior earns Gatorade POY honor

Oak Mountain High School senior soccer player Bailee Harnett knew the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Alabama would likely come from the Eagles’ roster.
With several talented players to choose from, the panel selecting the individual could have easily put on a blindfold and tossed a dart at the roster and landed on a qualified candidate.
Harnett turned out to be the player chosen by the panel. She scored 29 goals and handed out 34 assists as a senior.

Dahl chosen early in MLB Draft

Oak Mountain High School senior David Dahl was drafted No. 10 overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Dahl is the first ever MLB first round pick from both Oak Mountain High School and Shelby County.

Lehman defends title at Regions Tradition

At the PGA Champions Tour’s 2012 Regions Tradition, Tom Lehman carded his fourth consecutive round in the 60s with a 4-under par 68 in the final round to seal a two-stroke victory in his successful defense of his Regions Tradition championship.

White wraps up baseball POY honor

Spain Park High School senior Mikey White hit and pitched his way to being named Shelby County Reporter baseball Player of the Year.

Versatile Gillespie is softball POY

Pelham High School senior Whitney Gillespie’s stellar season on the mound and at the plate earned her the Shelby County Reporter’s softball Player of the Year honor.

Defender named boys’ soccer POY

After a standout season playing defender for Oak Mountain, Christian Adkins was the Shelby County Reporter boys’ soccer Player of the Year.

Gerken earns girls’ soccer POY honor

Oak Mountain High School senior Haley Gerken was named the Shelby County Reporter girls’ soccer Player of the Year after leading the Eagles to a state championship this spring.

Dahl agrees to terms on MLB contract

Oak Mountain High School graduate David Dahl signed a contract with Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies on June 12.

Briarwood assistant hired at Clemson

Former Briarwood Christian School football standout and assistant coach Joe Craddock was hired at Clemson University as a player development coach under head coach Dabo Swinney.

July

Former Panther shines in Italian bowl

Despite a 61-43 loss to the Parma Panthers, former Pelham High football standout Holland shined for the Catania Elephants in the Italian national championship game July 7, which included his 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the longest kickoff return in the 32-year history of the IFL Super Bowl.

August

Kingwood Christian standout named to All-American team

Kingwood Christian School graduate Madeline Lee was selected as a member of the Maxpreps.com 2012 Small Schools All-American team.

Legion team wins state championship

The American Legion Post 149 baseball team won the American Legion Baseball 15-and-under state championship.

Holland to play in International Scout Bowl

Former Pelham High School football star Wes Holland was selected to play in the inaugural Euro-American International Scout Bowl Sept. 1, in Warsaw, Poland.

Greystone to host SEC tourney

The Alabama Sports Foundation, in conjunction with the Southeastern Conference, announced Aug. 8 that Greystone Golf and Country Club in Hoover would host to the SEC Women’s Golf Championship tournament from 2013-2016.

September

Montevallo hires new SID

The University of Montevallo announced the hiring of former Shelby County Reporter sports editor Wesley Hallman as the athletic department’s new sports information director.

Pelham retains the Game Ball

The Pelham Panthers held heated rival Thompson to a scoreless first half en route to a 35-20 victory over the Warriors Sept. 14 at Ned Bearden Stadium.
As a result of the win, Pelham retained possession of the coveted Game Ball trophy, which is presented to the winner of the PHS-THS game each season, for the fifth straight year.

CMS breaks in renovated gym

Columbiana Middle School made history when the school hosted its first-ever volleyball event Sept. 17 in its newly renovated gymnasium.

October

Given sets school record

Pelham High School’s Andrew Given made school history with his excellent run at the Dew It on the Trails Invitational on Oct. 13.
Given broke an 8-year old Pelham record with 16:29 time in the 5k race to move into the top-10 male runners in Class 6A.

Spain Park wins first region championship

The Spain Park Jaguars locked up their first region championship in football with a 34-22 victory over Stanhope Elmore Oct. 19.

Evangel wins ACSC title game

Junior Pete Sullivan scored the game-winning touchdown run with 4:04 remaining to lift Evangel Christian past Hope Christian, 34-32, in the Alabama Christian Sports Conference championship at Cornerstone Christian.

Lady Eagles advances to state

The Oak Mountain Lady Eagles took the second seed out of the Class 6A South Super Regional and went to the Elite Eight state volleyball tournament in late October.

THS clinches spot in Elite Eight

The Thompson Lady Warriors defeated county-rival Pelham in a thrilling five-set match to move on to the Elite Eight state volleyball tournament in Birmingham.

November

Hornets run past Shelby County

The Chelsea Hornets ended the 2012 season with a 43-12 victory over the Shelby County Wildcats on Nov. 1.

Falcons claim PBC tourney title

The University of Montevallo men’s soccer team knocked off USC Aiken 4-1 in the Peach Belt Conference tournament championship match Nov. 4 at Blanchard Woods Park to clinch its fourth conference tournament title in school history.

Strozier takes third at state

Pelham freshman Mary Grace Strozier led all Shelby County runners at the 2012 AHSAA Cross Country Championships with a third place finish in the Class 6A girls’ race on Nov. 10.

Pelham’s season ends in playoffs

Turnovers plagued the Pelham Panthers as they fell to the visiting Opelika Bulldogs 49-23 on Nov. 9 in the first round of the 6A state playoffs.

Chelsea’s Stanley Smith inducted into hall of fame

Chelsea native Stanley Smith was named as one of the six inductees into the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame.

Spain Park falls to Carver

The Spain Park Jaguars had two chances late in the fourth quarter to even their Class 6A quarterfinal playoff game against Carver-Montgomery, but were unable to get the ball in the end zone to fall 26-20 at the hands of the Wolverines Nov. 23.

Saints halt Lions’ playoff run, 24-3

The St. Paul’s Episcopal School Saints ended the Briarwood Christian Lions’ season by a score of 24-3 in the Class 5A quarterfinals at E.E. Delaney Stadium on Nov. 23.

December

SoCon honors former Wildcat

Samford senior linebacker Darion Sutton was named the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month for football when the league released its monthly awards on Dec. 5.