By Blake Ells After winning the region, Mountain Brook’s baseball team caught some of its stiffest competition of the season in the first round of the state playoffs and ended the season early with a loss to James Clemens of Madison. Despite that disappointment, catcher Clay Stearns was a near-unanimous selection to this year's All-Over the Mountain Team. "Hats off to James … [Read more...]
Halls’ Move to Homewood Turned out Splendidly for Father and Son
By Rubin E. Grant A year ago, Lee Hall had his doubts about accepting the Homewood baseball coaching job. It wasn’t because he didn’t think it was a good opportunity, but because of his son Josh. Lee Hall had been the head coach at Randolph High in Huntsville and Josh had been a standout center fielder on the team for three seasons. “I had my reservations about uprooting … [Read more...]
Jag’s Annabelle Widra Named OTMJ Player of the Year – as a Freshman
By Blake EllsWhile Spain Park’s season didn’t end the way the Jaguars had hoped, accolades continue to roll in for freshman pitcher Annabelle Widra.After breaking her own school record with 264 strikeouts this season, she is Over the Mountain Journal’s Player of the Year.“My older brother has a great work ethic, and I feel like I’ve gotten … [Read more...]
Four-peat Spain Park’s Hawkins is Unanimous Pick as OTMJ Coach of the Year
By Blake Ells Spain Park softball coach C.J. Hawkins has been chosen unanimously as the Over the Mountain Journal's coach of the year. The Jaguars came up just short of winning a state championship, falling in two games to Fairhope in Montgomery. Hawkins had no seniors on this year's squad "I'm very grateful for my players," she said. "My parents. Our community. They … [Read more...]
Relaxed Approach Enabled Hoover’s DiChiara to Reach His Potential
By Rubin E. Grant Sonny DiChiara’s senior baseball season didn’t end with another state championship, but it was satisfying, nonetheless. “It was really a more relaxed year, coming off a state championship,” DiChiara said. “I played loose and was having fun with it.” For DiChiara, having fun equaled a productive season as a first baseman and pitcher. At the plate, He … [Read more...]