For the first time in almost 25 years, a familiar byline is missing from the Over the Mountain Journal’s sports pages. Lee Davis, who passed away June 2, loved sports. But most of all, he loved telling the stories of the people who played them. Whether he was writing about a legendary athlete, a coach battling cancer, a hotly recruited high school quarterback or a young player … [Read more...]
Senior Moments: Area Residents Are Prepped for Birmingham Games
By Lee Davis The National Senior Games are coming to the Birmingham area June 2, and Kerry Grinkmeyer and Abby Lutzenkirchen are ready. Grinkmeyer of Mountain Brook, 72, is a veteran of two previous Senior Games and will be competing in three running events as well as cycling. “I’m participating because if I do so, I will live a longer and healthier life,” Grinkmeyer said. … [Read more...]
Spain Reign: Hawkins, Widra, Tedder Lead All-OTM Team
By Lee Davis Spain Park may have fallen short of its goal to win the Class 7A softball championship, but in every other way, 2017 was the year of the Jaguars. Coach C.J. Hawkins’ team compiled a 48-9 record, won its region and spent much of the season in the top three of Class 7A ranking. Spain Park also earned recognition as one of the nation’s best high school … [Read more...]
Golden Age: Champion Bucs And Rebels Lead All-OTM Team
By Lee Davis By any measure, 2017 was a golden season for Over the Mountain baseball. Briarwood, Homewood and Oak Mountain produced outstanding seasons. Vestavia Hills had a strong April-May push that nearly put it in the Class 7A championship finals, and Hoover brought home the big blue trophy, emblematic of the 2017 state title. As a result, the 2017 All-Over the Mountain … [Read more...]
The Island of the Blue Trophies: Area Teams Dominated Sports in 2016-17
By Lee Davis This story has been written so many times that it’s almost become a cliché, and here it is again: Over the Mountain schools dominated statewide athletic competition in the 2016-17 academic year. But that’s just the hometown sportswriter building up the hometown teams, isn’t it? Actually, it’s just the fact. Area schools earned championships in 2016-17 in sports … [Read more...]
