Thirty Andalusia swimmers in both individual and relay categories qualified for the state meet July 29-30 in Cullman this past weekend at the district meet in Dothan, where the Stingrays finished in second place overall.
“I was proud of the way this team conducted themselves and competed in the meet,” 11-and-up coach Gavin Donaldson said. “This is a great group of young swimmers that do it with class.”
The Stingrays swam against teams from Troy, Eufaula, Dothan and Ft. Rucker.
The following is a list of the Stingrays that finished in the top three in their respective swimming category:
• Boys 8-and-under 100-yard individual medley (IM): Alex Browning — 2 minutes, 11.05 seconds;
• Boys 9-10 100-yard IM: Stuart Baker — 1:43.32, West Parker — 2:00.72;
• Girls 11-12 100-yard IM: Cali Fillmer — 1:19.57;
• Boys 15-18 100-yard IM: Michael Hudson — 1:09.06;
• Boys 9-10 50-yard breaststroke: West Parker — 50.33;
• Boys and girls 11-12 50-yard breaststroke: Ben Parker — 43.24, Mary Beth Baker — 44.96;
• Boys and girls 13-14 50-yard breaststroke: Noah Rider — 34.47, Elisabeth Chrstensen — 44.21;
• Boys 15-18 50-yard breaststroke: B.J. Donaldson — 33.04;
• Boys and girls 8-and-under 25-yard freestyle: Alex Browning — 20.65, Aidan Vines — 21.61, Addison Mount — 22.72, Ava Bailey — 20.08;
• Girls 9-10 50-yard freestyle: Emma Younce — 39.25;
• Boys 11-12 50-yard freestyle: Brandon Hudson — 33.58, Ben Parker — 35.99;
• Boys 15-18 50-yard freestyle: B.J. Donaldson — 25.26;
• Boys 8-and-under 100-yard medley relay: Noah Whiddon, Alex Browning, Aidan Vines and Addison Mount — 2:01.17;
• Boys and girls 9-10 200-yard medley relay: Stuart Baker, West Parker, Cameron Woodard and Ellis Mount — 2:23.50, Ashlyn Nall, Emma Younce, Sheridan Wright and Laura Lea Blatz — 3:31.02;
• Boys 11-12 200-yard medley relay: Luke Johnson, Ben Parker, Brandon Hudson and Josh Hudson — 2:48.25;
• Girls 13-14 200-yard medley relay: Mary Johnson, Elisabeth Christensen, Judy Johnson and Kaden Arnold — 2:46.25;
• Boys 8-and-under 25-yard butterfly: Aidan Vines — 31.09;
• Girls 9-10 50-yard butterfly: Sheridan Wright — 1:01.68;
• Girls 11-12 50-yard butterfly: Cali Fillmer — 33.86;
• Girls 13-14 50-yard butterfly: Judy Johnson — 38.30, Kaden Arnold — 41.12;
• Boys 8-and-under 25-yard backstroke: Addison Mount — 29.20;
• Girls 9-10 50-yard backstroke: Emma Younce — 42.31;
• Girls 11-12 50-yard backstroke: Cali Fillmer — 37.49, Mary Beth Baker — 39.77;
• Boys 13-14 50-yard backstroke: Noah Rider — 32.84;
• Boys 15-18 50-yard backstroke: B.J. Donaldson — 29.78;
• Boys and girls 8-and-under 50-yard freestyle: Alex Browning — 50.28, Addison Mount — 53.42, Ava Bailey — 49.46;
• Girls 9-10 100-yard freestyle: Emma Younce — 1:30.22, Sheridan Wright — 1:51.85;
• Boys and girls 11-12 100-yard freestyle: Brandon Hudson — 1:15.92, Mary Beth Baker — 1:13.73;
• Boys 8-and-under 100-yard freestyle relay: Alex Browning, Noah Whiddon, Addison Mount and Aidan Vines — 1:42.47;
• Boys and girls 9-10 200-yard freestyle relay: Cameron Woodard, Trevey Stoudemire, Ellis Mount and Stuart Baker — 2:57.05, Ashlyn Nall, Sheridan Wright, Laura Blatz and Emma Younce — 3:00.02;
• Boys and girls 11-12 200-yard freestyle relay: Ben Parker, Ethan Gobea, Josh Hudson and Brandon Hudson — 2:27.97, Loni Blatz, Bella Whisonant, Mary Beth Baker and Cali Fillmer — 2:31.73;
Girls 13-14 200-yard freestyle relay: Elisabeth Christensen, Kaden Arnold, Mary Johnson and Judy Johnson — 2:27.05.
Andalusia’s 12-and-under South Alabama All-Stars softball team only allowed four runs last weekend, and beat Piedmont 8-0 in the championship to claim the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association fast pitch state softball tournament title in Fort Payne on Sunday.
South Alabama met Piedmont in its first game of the tournament, where it won 14-1. Andalusia went on to cruise through the winner’s bracket, defeating Russellville 10-1 and Boaz 8-2 before facing Piedmont again in the title game.
This is the same team that will represent South Alabama in the 2011 12U Babe Ruth Softball World Series next month at the sports complex.
Tournament Championship
South Alabama 8, Piedmont 0
South Alabama scored seven runs in the first inning on eight hits, and its defense allowed two hits for Piedmont in the five-inning win.
Molly Stewart, Abby Walker, Hayden Willis, Colby Adams, Santana Hamrac, Katlynn Shively and Brentley Armstrong scored for South Alabama in the first inning.
Walker added the last run in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Hope Ladson.
Ladson was 3-for-3; Walker was 3-for-4; and Willis was 2-for-3.
South Alabama 14, Piedmont 1
Ladson and Stewart combined for five RBIs to help lead South Alabama to the 13-run win over Piedmont in the first round.
South Alabama broke out in the first inning, scoring 11 runs and added three runs in the second inning in the win.
Willis, Taylor McGhee and Brentley Armstrong plated two runs each; and Walker, Adams, Hamrac, Ladson and Shively scored one run each.
Piedmont scored its one run in the third inning on an RBI single from Kalista Free.
South Alabama 10, Russellville 1
South Alabama scored four runs each in the first and second inning and added two runs in the third inning to get the victory.
Walker and Willis scored one run each in the three innings.
Stewart scored two runs; and Hamrac and Ladson scored one run each for South Alabama.
Russellville scored its run in the third inning.
South Alabama 8, Boaz 2
Hamrac had three RBIs, and Tiffany Dean and Stewart added one RBI each for South Alabama to help the Andalusia team send Boaz down to the loser’s bracket.
South Alabama scored two runs in the first inning on a sacrifice ground and a hit-by-pitch.
Andalusia added six runs in the third inning on Hamrac, Dean and Stewart’s RBIs.
Boaz scored two runs in the third inning on RBIs from Sara Beth Sims and Caitlyn Morgan.
The Andalusia City Council suspended the rules twice Tuesday night, first to approve an ordinance for the refinancing of South Alabama Regional Airport’s debt, then to adopt an ordinance selling approximately 15 acres of the city’s Snead-Kennedy property to PowerSouth.
The ordinance related to SARA Authority debt relates to up to $7.5 million in financing from the Royal Bank of Canada to refinance old debt and pay for construction of Vector Aerospace’s expansion. In the ordinance, the city agreed to be responsible for 37.5 percent of the debt if the authority could not make the payment. The county would be responsible for 37.5 percent and the City of Opp, 25 percent.
Councilman Kennith Mount questioned the percentages, pointing out that previous agreements required the county to secure 50 percent of the debt; Andalusia 30 percent and Opp 20 percent.
“In the big picture, Andalusia benefits more,” Mayor Earl Johnson said, adding that he doesn’t anticipate the airport authority defaulting on the note. Johnson said all parties have been working on the refinancing for almost two years.
Meanwhile, the council agreed to extend for 60 days short-term financing it secured from Whitney Bank to begin the Vector Expansion project. When the larger financing project is completed, the Whitney Bank note and interest will be paid by the Airport Authority.
The council also agreed to sell PowerSouth 15 acres that abuts the campus north of town.
The nearly 7 inches of rainfall recorded in parts of Covington County during the last week has done its part in helping to lift a statewide burn ban.
Gov. Robert Bentley and state forester Linda Casey announced Monday that the fire alert has been lifted because recent rains have reduced the threat for catastrophic wildfires.
Weather reports show the biggest rain producing days were last Monday with 1.13 inches in Andalusia; Saturday with 2.41 inches and Sunday with 1.05 inches.
Forecasts for the remainder of the week predict sunny skies with little to no chance of rain until the weekend.
Local residents should be cautious when burning outside, and the Alabama Forestry Commission urges those doing outdoor burning to follow safety recommendations such as not leaving a fire unattended until it is out, having the necessary equipment and personnel to control the fire, and having a garden hose or other water supply on hand for smaller debris burns.
Any fire more than a quarter-acre in size or within 25 feet of a forested area requires a permit from the AFC. Burn permits may be obtained by calling 1-800-392-5679.
Burning without a permit is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or up to a $3,000 fine.
Sponsored by Challenger Sports (TM)
British Soccer Camps provide players of all ages and abilities with the rare opportunity to receive high-level soccer coaching from a team of international experts. Each day includes individual foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, small-sided games, coached scrimmages, and a daily tournament. Equally important, the Challenger coaching staff provides your child with lessons in respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and leadership.
2011 Andalusia Soccer Camp will be held at the Andalusia Sports Complex July 25 through July 29 for ages 3 to 14. All groups will be split depending upon age and ability. Fees vary with length of camp (half day vs. full day) desired.
Click here for more information and registration.