By Rubin E. GrantThe second week of the Alabama High School Athletic Association state baseball playoffs wasn’t kind to Over the Mountain teams.Only the Vestavia Hills Rebels are still alive after sweeping eighth-ranked Tuscaloosa County 19-2 and 5-2 in the Class 7A first round last week.“We played really well,” Vestavia Hills coach Jamie Harris said. “Tuscaloosa … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantMary Nelson Litty and her Vestavia Hills High School varsity teammates felt the sting of an upset loss in the 2021 Alabama Lacrosse playoffs.The Rebels were the No. 1 seed entering the playoffs but lost 11-10 to arch-rival Mountain Brook in the semifinals. The Spartans went on to capture the state championship.“Last year was not any fun for sure,” … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantThe Mountain Brook girls tennis team might have lost three of their top six singles players from their 2021 Class 6A state championship squad, but the Spartans still had sophomore Pippa Roy.With Roy leading the way, Mountain Brook captured its second consecutive Class 6A title in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Tennis Championships April … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantThe Homewood girls soccer team has been on a mission this season.After narrowly missing out on the school’s second state title in 2021, the Patriots are highly motivated to hoist the championship trophy this spring.The Patriots played regulation and two overtimes before falling 2-1 in a shootout (5-4) to St. Paul’s Episcopal in the Alabama High … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantKyle Oliveira was sitting at the dinner table in early March when seemingly out of the blue his dad, Kaliffa Oliveira, asked him how he would feel about taking a trip to Brazil.Kyle Oliveira’s immediate reaction was he had school and spring break was still a couple of weeks away, but of course he would like to go to Brazil, where Kaliffa Oliveira was … [Read more...]