PREP GOLF: Raiders sub-state bound for 20th straight season; Lady Aggies, Foust, Wilson also qualify

Published 6:36 pm Monday, April 27, 2015

Surprise, surprise. Good Hope’s boys are heading to sub-state.

Cole Pearson shot an 82 — two strokes off the low-medalist’s pace — Monday at TP Country Club to lead the Raiders to one of Class 4A, Section 2’s four team berths to the Sub-State, South 1 Tournament.

When Good Hope tees off at the Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery next Monday, it’ll mark the program’s 20th straight trip to sub-state and give the Red and White a chance to collect a 20th consecutive state berth by either the team or an individual.

Riley Eisner and Josh Cofer aided the Raiders’ advancement with a 101 and 105, respectively. Though only one technically counted, Tyler Wilson and Mason Johnson both carded 119s.

Good Hope, which combined for a 407, finished behind Fayette County (345) and Bibb County (407), and in front of Carbon Hill (417).

Recent county champ Dalys Mullican and Fairview’s girls are also sub-state bound after a third-place result Monday at Chesley Oaks.

Mullican paced the Lady Aggies with an 86. Maci Yeager (90) and Aladie Howse (100) also contributed.

“I’m proud of our girls team for putting in the time and staying mentally tough to be in this position,” coach Kurt Knight said. “Now we must focus on getting ready for Twin Pines Golf Course.”

Alexandria was the 4A-5A, Section 3 winner, and White Plains was runner-up. Boaz notched the final qualifying spot for next Monday’s Sub-State, North 2 Tournament in Colbert County.

Holly Pond’s Dawson Foust punched his sub-state ticket with an 85 in 3A, Section 2 action Monday at Cullman Golf Course. His next assignment will the Sub-State, South 2 Tournament next Monday at Montgomery Country Club.

Cullman’s Luke Wilson also took the individual route with a 76 Monday at Terrapin Hills Country Club in Fort Payne. He’ll trek to Cypress Lakes Country Club in Muscle Shoals for the Sub-State, North 5 Tournament next Monday.

Conner Stevens (80) and Weston Rakestraw (81) also repped the Bearcats, who teamed up for a 338.

Fairview’s and West Point’s boys, as well as the rest of the area’s girls, are scheduled to close out sectional play Tuesday.

The Aggies’ middle school boys wrapped up an undefeated spring after handily beating Boaz and Parkside Monday at Chesley Oaks. Josh Barnes was low medalist with a nine-hole 36.

Prep Softball

‰ Mortimer Jordan 6, Cullman 5: The Lady Bearcats pushed across three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t quite enough to make up for the six they gave up in the fifth during Senior Night on Monday.

The loss to the Class 5A No. 10 Blue Devils dropped the Black and Gold, ranked eighth in 6A, to 25-13 entering area tourney play later this week.

Taiya Ponder recorded two hits, while Elli Dixon (double and two RBIs), McKensi Burks (two RBIs), Olivia Schwaiger (double) and Claire Jenkins each had one. Kaitlyn Brannon, the squad’s lone senior, scored a run.

Schwaiger was tagged with the loss after striking out four, walking one and giving up six hits in a 5 1/3-inning start. Only one of her six runs allowed was earned.

Sierra Easterwood fanned three in 1 2/3 innings of spotless relief.