Final look back at top 2005 local sports moments

Published 5:46 am Wednesday, January 4, 2006

By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
(second in a series: NOTE: part one ran in December 28 issue).
* W.S. Neal lineman Brandon Gantt signed to play at Huntingdon College.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers softball team won the Class 3A Area 1 Tournament with a 10-0, 13-3 sweep against Clarke County. The Lady Tigers got a forfeit win over W.S. Neal in the opening round of the tournament when the Lady Blue Eagles did not have enough players to field a team.
* The T.R. Miller Tigers baseball team had their season come to an end with an 8-2, 3-0 doubleheader loss to Montgomery Academy in the Class 3A quarterfinals. The Tigers finished the year at 22-8.
* T.R. Miller Lady Tigers sprinter Joy McCorvey won the Class 3A 200 and 400 meter dash state championships. W.S. Neal thrower Joe Bailey won the state title in the discus.
The state meet was the last competition for retiring T.R. Miller coach Alan Baker.
* The Jefferson Davis Warhawks baseball team won the Alabama Community College Conference south division championship with a 5-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader at Alabama Southern.
* T.R. Miller Lady Tigers basketball player Keonshaye Lane signed with L.B. Wallace.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers softball team swept Dale County 4-2 and 10-6 in the opening round of 3A sub-state action. T.R. Miller was eliminated in the second round of sub-state play by Montgomery Catholic and finished 18-11.
* The T.R. Miller golf team finished sixth at the Class 3A state meet. Junior Tripp Owens finished third overall.
* W.S. Neal lost its second coach to Walker High School in just over two months when boys basketball coach David McCollum accepted the girls basketball coaching position at that school. McCollum also served as tennis coach at W.S. Neal in his one year at the school.
* The Jefferson Davis Warhawks baseball team lost both of its games at the state tournament and finished the year at 41-16.
* T.R. Miller softball coach Jamie Riggs announced he was stepping down from his post after three seasons at the helm. Riggs had a 49-31 and led T.R. Miller to its first state tournament berth in 2004.
* Jefferson Davis athletic director Karen Reynolds completed her final athletic season at the school. Reynolds retired after 38 years at the school.
* Brewton Middle School basketball coach Steve Lambert accepted the head coaching position for the W.S. Neal High School Lady Blue Eagles.
* The East Brewton Braves beat the Brewton Braves 8-7 to win the Little League City Tournament in the Age 9-10 Division. The East Brewton Dodgers beat the Brewton Mets 8-0 to win the City Tournament Age 11-12 division.
* T.R. Miller catcher Jordan Ball was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State First Team.
* The Blue Jays beat the previously undefeated Orioles twice to win the Brewton Babe Ruth Tournament.
* T.R. Miller hosted its annual boys and girls basketball summer tournament.
* Don Lucas took over the presidency of the T.R. Miller Quarterback Club.
See REVIEW Page 7A
* The Brewton Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars beat Monroeville 10-3 to win the district tournament played at Brewton.
* The Brewton Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-stars beat Atmore 7-0 to win the district championship.
* Brewton Babe Ruth 13-year-old all-stars and East Brewton Little League 9-10 all-stars went two and out in their district competition.
* T.R. Miller Tigers football coach Jamie Riggs became the president of the newly formed Alabama Football Coaches Association.
* The Brewton Little League 11-year-old all-stars beat Covington County 12-2 to claim the district championship.
* The Brewton Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars fell in the Area Tournament championship game to Covington County.
* The Brewton Babe Ruth 15-year-old all-stars lost in the Area Tournament championship game to Andalusia 7-2.
* Brewton's 9-10 Little league All-Stars advanced to the championship round of the district tournament where they lost to Opp 7-6.
* East Brewton's Little League 11-12 All-Stars lost both of their games at the district tournament.
* Brewton's Little League 11-12 All-Stars lost in the second round of the elimination bracket to Covington County 13-0.
* The Jefferson Davis Community College softball team received All-American Academic honors.
* Sophomore third baseman Kristen Phillips received individual Academic All-American honors.
* W.S. Neal's Daniel Hodge and T.R. Miller's Catherine Stokes, Tripp Owens, James McCracken and Clay Parker were named to the Class 3A All-State Academic Team.
* W.S. Neal hired Robbie Grace to coach its boys basketball program and Chuck Riddle to coach its volleyball team.
* Jefferson Davis Community College hired Faulkner State assistant coach Darrel Blevins as its new head baseball coach.
* The Brewton Little League 11-year-old all-stars were eliminated in two games at the state tournament played at Huntsville with setbacks to Cottage Hill and Tuscumbia.
* The Brewton American Legion baseball team concluded the regular season with a 9-10 record after a twinbill sweep against Samson.
August
* T.R. Miller hired Greg White as its new head softball coach. White was also hired as Brewton Middle School volleyball coach and basketball coach.
* JDCC volleyball player Jennifer Windham signed with Alabama State.
* W.S. Neal won its exhibition football game against Hillcrest 27-18.
* T.R. Miller opened its football season with a 28-20 win over Escambia County, its 12th straight victory over its county rival. W.S. Neal and new coach Blaine Hathcock took Class 5A power Eufaula down to the wire before it lost its opener 10-7.
September
* T.R. Miller Tigers football coach Jamie Riggs won his 200th game with his team's 29-7 victory over Straughn.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers volleyball team opened the season with a win over Thomasville. It marked the first time in the four-year history of the program T.R. Miller had won its opening match.
* Blaine Hathcock got his first win as W.,S. Neal football coach when the Blue Eagles knocked off Slocomb 27-20.
* The W.S. Neal Lady Blue Eagles volleyball team broke its school record for wins in a season when they knocked off Escambia County. The win was the fourth of the season for W.S. Neal.
* The W.S. Neal Blue Eagles football team ended Trinity Presbyterian's 45-game regular season winning streak with a 7-6 win in Montgomery.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers volleyball team set a new school record for wins in a season when they beat Monroe County. The 10th win of the year topped the previous mark of nine set by the 2002 squad.
October
* Slocomb spoiled Homecoming at T.R. Miller with a 16-14 win over the Tigers.
* W.S. Neal celebrated Homecoming with a 48-6 win over Abbeville.
* T.R. Miller Tigers football coach Jamie Riggs celebrated his 50th birthday when his team beat Headland 49-28.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers volleyball team strung together a school record seven-game winning streak.
* T.R. Miller's volleyball team beat Flomaton to win the inaugural Escambia County Tournament championship.
* Brewton resident Robbie Cotton won the Alabama Golf Association State Mid-Amateur Tournament played at the Country Club of Brewton.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers volleyball team beat Clarke County to claim their first Area Tournament championship. T.R. Miller then posted its first regional win when it beat Dale County before it was eliminated with a 21-12 record. W.S. Neal was eliminated in two games at the Area and finished its season 7-15.
* In a game both teams needed to win in order to qualify for the playoffs, T.R. Miller beat W.S. Neal 34-22 in the annual Battle of Murder Creek game.
November
* W.S. Neal's Ray Dunn and T.R. Miller's Crystal Higdon qualified for the Class 3A-4A state cross country meet.
* T.R. Miller beat Holtville 56-13, Aliceville 48-18 and defending state champ Oneonta 20-13 to advance to the Class 3A state football playoff semifinals.
* Jefferson Davis Community College volleyball player Tiffany Anderson made the All-Region 22 Second Team.
* The Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks basketball team won their season opener against Pensacola Christian.
* Both W.S. Neal and T.R. Miller were moved up to Class 4A for the 2006-08 school years.
* T.R. Miller's football playoff run ended in the semifinals with a 42-21 setback to eventual state champ Pike County. The Tigers finished 11-3.
* New W.S. Neal Blue Eagles basketball coach Robbie Grace won his first game with the program when the Blue Eagles knocked off McKenzie in the season opener. W.S. Neal started the season 3-0 for the first time in 17 years.
December
* W.S. Neal Lady Blue Eagles basketball coach Steve Lambert won his first game with the program when W.S. Neal knocked off Frisco City.
* The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers basketball team won the Escambia County Tournament championship for the fifth straight year when they beat Escambia County 53-30. W.S. Neal went winless in the tournament.
* For the second straight year, the T.R. Miller Tigers lost the Escambia County Tournament crown in the final game to Escambia County 49-40. W.S. Neal went winless and finished fourth.
* W.S. Neal offensive lineman Jared Cooper played in the North-South All-Star Game played at Troy.
* Booker T. Washington won the large school division at the Bank of Brewton T.R. Christmas Classic, while Culleoka (Tenn.) won the small school division title.

Email newsletter signup