The season came to a close recently for two Jacksonville girls’ teams, but it didn’t end before the girls stepped onto a statewide stage. The girls’ soccer team fell to Mars Hill in the first round of the state soccer playoffs 3-0.
The girls’ tennis team logged a seventh-place finish at the state tournament.
For the girls’ soccer team, the first-round sight was eerily similar to last season. In 2007, they also saw Mars Hill in the first round. And that meeting, too, didn’t go Jacksonville’s way, falling 5-0.
This year, Jacksonville, ranked 10th in the final poll, held Mars Hill, ranked eighth, to a scoreless first half.
In the second half, Mars Hill’s Darby Rappuhn scored two goals in less than four minutes to give the Lady Panthers all the offense they would need.
Jacksonville was out-shot in the game 20-7.
On the tennis side of the things, the girls fared well in the state meet in Mobile after winning the sectional tournament last week.
The Lady Golden Eagles tallied 17 points in the match.
No. 1 Emily Gray won first round 6-1, 6-0, before falling in the second.
After a bye in the first round, No. 3 Chelsea Chandler defeated Cherokee County’s Kellie Bates 6-3, 6-4 before falling in the semifinals.
At the No. 6 spot, Carrie Alexander picked up a first-round, 6-0, 6-0 win over DAR’s Meghan Turner and a marathon 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win over Opp’s Leah Laird in the second round. Turner fell to eventual No. 6 champ, Anna Banks Blackwell, 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals.
After a bye in the first round, The No. 2 doubles team of Elizabeth Case and Ellen Godbey, defeated their second-round opponents from Andalusia before falling in the semifinals.
STILL GOING
While the season has been over for the Jacksonville baseball team, one Golden Eagle will lace up his cleats at least one more time.
Jacksonville’s Dustin Baines has been selected to play in the annual Alabama Lions Club East-West All-Star game.
Baines was a standout pitcher for the Golden Eagles this past season. He will join many others from Calhoun County and the surrounding areas to play in the game, which will take place on Monday at 6 p.m. at Talladega High.
MOVING UP
Those that are fans of Jacksonville soccer may remember the name of David Schumaker.
After a successful career with the Golden Eagles that saw him earn spots on All-Star teams and a spot on the roster at Itawamba Community College, he’s now moving on to finish out his college career.
Schumaker will be signing on May 12 with Atlanta Christian College.
