Time-Out: "From the Diamond to the Track, Local Athletes Shine in Competition

The Columbus Blue Devils are hitting the road for a showdown with the Brookstone Cougars at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, and if history tells us anything, this matchup should be an offensive spectacle. Both teams have displayed a knack for lighting up the scoreboard, and fans can expect plenty of action on the diamond.

Columbus enters the game fresh off a thrilling 11-10 victory over Hardaway, extending their winning streak against the Hawks to seven straight. While it wasn’t quite the dominant display of past meetings, the Blue Devils found a way to get it done, thanks in large part to Axel Serra’s big bat. Serra went 1-for-2 with a clutch home run, his first of the season, driving in two runs. Walker Bridges also played a crucial role, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. The Blue Devils flexed their offensive muscles, recording 13 hits—their highest total since March.

Meanwhile, Brookstone has been on a tear. They steamrolled their latest opponent, the Raiders, by a lopsided 14-1 score, pushing their winning streak to five games. The Cougars have made a habit of dominating opponents, with seven of their victories this season coming by a margin of 10 runs or more. Leading the charge in their latest triumph was Gray Jones, who put on a hitting clinic by going 2-for-2 with a home run and a career-high five RBI. Maxwell Jones also delivered, going 2-for-2 with four RBI, two runs, and a double. With this latest victory, Brookstone improved to an impressive 12-2, while also extending their home winning streak to 11 games dating back to last season.

Elsewhere in the region, Shaw’s high-scoring offense was stifled as they suffered a tough 14-1 defeat at the hands of Brookstone. The loss was Shaw’s most significant since March 12 and ended their four-game winning streak, dropping their record to 12-10. Despite the loss, Kingsley Long provided a silver lining, going 1-for-2 with a home run. Brookstone’s win further solidified their dominance, as they now sit comfortably at 12-2 on the season.

Looking ahead, Shaw will square off against Spencer at 5: 30 p.m. Friday, March 28. Spencer has struggled on the mound, surrendering an average of 13.44 runs per game this season—something Shaw will surely look to exploit. Meanwhile, Jordan continued Kendrick’s woes with a dominant 19-0 victory, handing Kendrick its 23rd consecutive loss dating back to last season. Unfortunately for Kendrick, it was déjà vu, as they also fell to Jordan 18-0 in their previous meeting back in February. Kendrick now sits at 0-13, while Jordan improved to 12-5, extending their home winning streak to three games.

More action is on the horizon, with Kendrick set to face Columbus at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28 and Jordan preparing for a familiar battle against Hardaway at the same time. Carver, on the other hand, was unable to snap their losing streak, falling 17-1 to Shaw. It marked their second lopsided loss to the Raiders this season, having previously suffered an 18-3 defeat. Now sitting at 1-7, Carver will attempt to turn things around in a high-stakes matchup against Sumter County at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28. They’ll have their hands full, as Sumter County boasts an offense averaging 8.2 runs per game this season.

Over in Phenix City, the Central Red Devils cruised to a commanding 10-0 shutout victory over Walnut Ridge, securing their biggest win since March 5. Central won again 4-3 on Wednesday, March 26 when they faced Normal Community. Central has been rolling, winning eight of their last 10 contests to improve to 20-7. Their recent success has been fueled by stellar pitching, as they’ve allowed just 3.5 runs per game over that stretch. Walnut Ridge, meanwhile, dropped to 8-5.

Shifting to high school soccer, Spencer kept their momentum rolling with an 8-3 victory over Carver. Gabino Vicente was a force to be reckoned with, netting a hat trick in the win. Spencer has now won two in a row, improving to 2-3, while Carver fell to 2-4. Spencer and Carver will have some time to regroup before their next matches—Spencer faces Columbus on at 8 p.m. on April 8, while Carver will battle Jordan at 7 p.m. on April 10.

On the girls’ side, Spencer fought valiantly in an overtime thriller against Carver but ultimately fell short, losing 4-3. Carver exacted revenge after their loss to Spencer in February, snapping their four-game skid and improving to 2-4. Both teams will now gear up for their next challenges, with Spencer taking on Columbus at 6 p.m. on April 8 and Carver facing Jordan at 6 p.m. on April 10.

Columbus’ boys’ soccer team bounced back in a big way, shaking off a recent loss to defeat Jordan 3-1. With their eighth consecutive victory, Columbus pushed their record to 10-1, dominating their opponents with 44 total goals over their last six home games. Jordan, on the other hand, extended their losing streak to four, falling to 1-9. Columbus will look to keep rolling when they welcome Kendrick at 6 p.m. on March 28, while Jordan will take on Central at 5:30 p.m. on April 7.

In track and field, Spencer High’s Jamarion Floyd made waves with a blistering 49.33 in the 400m, placing him in the top 25 times in Georgia. Meanwhile, on the middle school scene, Blackmon Road’s Adriana Alexander stole the show in the 200m, clocking a 25.95 to take first place. She was followed by Midland’s Jayla Vanerson (27.99) and Eddy’s Shanice Sheffield (28.29). On the boys’ side, Gardner’s Mon’Quavious Sanders took top honors with a 24.73, followed closely by Fort’s Treshawn Burris (25.13) and Eddy’s Alejandro Davis (25.18).

Finally, a big congratulations goes out to Lucy Ellison, who has been named the new varsity boys’ basketball head coach. Ellison, who previously served as an assistant for the Harris County Lady Tigers, will take the helm of a team that finished a tough 1-25 overall and 0-12 in region play last season. With her leadership, the program looks to turn the page and build toward a brighter future.

That wraps up another action-packed week in local high school sports. With pivotal matchups ahead, the race for playoff spots and regional dominance continues to heat up. Stay tuned for more coverage as the season unfolds!