PREP UPDATE: MA tennis wins 25th straight sectional tourney; STJ's Neeham pitches back-to-back no hitters

Led by coach David Bethea, the Montgomery Academy tennis team earned another trip to the state tournament. (Contributed)

COMBINED REPORTS

The Montgomery Academy boys’ tennis team kept their streak alive, winning the section tournament for the 25th consecutive year after finishing first in the Class 7A Section 2 Tournament at O’Connor on Tuesday.

Montgomery Academy scored 54 points to easily win the section, finishing ahead of Enterprise (36 points), Auburn (28), Opelika (19) and Prattville (9). Dothan High and Smiths Station failed to win any matches and Central-Phenix City did not field a team this year.

The top two teams advance from each of the four 7A sectionals, making up the eight-team field that will compete for a state championship next Thursday and Friday (April 24-25) at the Mobile Tennis Center.

Montgomery Academy swept the singles competition in dominating fashion and won two of the three doubles matches in the section tournament.  

At No. 1 singles, senior John Alford defeated Enterprise’s Graham Andress (6-2, 6-3).

At. No. 2 singles, junior Jackson Brown defeated Auburn’s Camden Coburn (6-2, 6-4).

At No. 3 singles, Ford Morano had the most entertaining final, defeating Auburn’s Jay Kwan in a closely contested championship (6-2, 3-6, 12-10).

At No. 4 singles, senior Edwin Wu defeated Enterprise’s Tripp Roscoe (6-0, 6-1).

At No. 5 singles, Liam Baker defeated Enterprise’s Roger Stockton (6-2, 5-7, 10-7).

At No. 6 singles, Duncan McInnes defeated Enterprise’s Tucker Kelley (6-0, 6-2).

At No. 1 doubles, Alford and Brown defeated Enterprise’s Andress and Garrett Nelson (7-5, 6-2).

At No. 2 doubles, Enterprise’s Tripp Rascoe and Julian Gunter defeated Auburn’s Kwan and Justin Lee (6-3. 7-5).

At No. 3 doubles, the Montgomery Academy duo of Anton Yang and Bo Johnston improved to 28-0 this season with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Auburn’s Holtz Basquin and Martin Lee.

Trinity earns second-place finish in 6A sectional

MOBILE -- The Trinity Presbyterian boys’ tennis team finished a close second to Houston Academy in the Class 6A Section 2 tournament at the University of Mobile on Monday, qualifying for the 6A state tournament on Monday and Tuesday at the Mobile Tennis Center.

Houston Academy finished in first place with 23 points in the section tournament, followed by Trinity with 21 and Pike Road with 19. Saraland, Baldwin County and Park Crossing failed to win any matches.

James Treadwell continued his undefeated season (20-0 in singles, 21-0 in doubles) and won his fifth consecutive section  singles championship and fifth consecutive section doubles championship. Treadwell competes at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.

Jameson Sanders won his first section championship in both singles and doubles, competing at No. 2 singles and teaming up with Treadwell at No. 1 doubles.

At No. 1 singles, Treadwell defeated Saraland’s Caden Kelly (6-1, 6-0) in the semifinals before defeating Pike Road’s Jakob White (3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)) in the finals.

At No. 2, Sanders defeated Saraland’s Dylan Curtis (6-1,6-2) in the semifinals before defeating Pike Road’s Micah Cobb (6-1, 6-0) in the finals.

At No. 3, Trinity’s Grant Speagle fell to Houston Academy’s Thomas Buntin (3-6, 3-6) in the semifinals.

At No. 4, Trinity’s Charlie Franklin defeated Saraland’s Brenton Kroner (6-3, 7-5) in the semifinals before falling to Houston Academy’s Landon King (4-6, 6-4, 0-1 (10-12)) in the finals.

At No. 5, Trinity’s Sawyer Speagle defeated Saraland’s Gavin Pugh (6-2, 6-1) in the semifinals before falling to Houston Academy’s Luke McRae (4-6, 2-6) in the finals.

At No. 6, Trinity’s Ridge Newell lost to Pike Road’s Jack Salman (2-6, 5-7) in the semifinals.

In doubles, Treadwell and Sanders defeated Saraland’s Caden Kelly and Dylan Curtis (6-2, 6-0) in the semifinals before defeating Pike Road’s White and Cobb (7-5, 6-2) in the finals.

At No. 2, Franklin and Grant Speagle defeated Pike Road’s Gavin Farley and Yeongjun Son (6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (11-9)) in the semifinals before falling to Houston Academy's Thomas Buntin and Landon King (6-1, 6-3) in the finals.

At No. 3, Sawyer Speagle and Newell fell to Houston Academy's McRae and Harris Williams (7-5, 6-3) in the semifinals. 

SOFTBALL

St. James 4, Trinity 0

A day after pitching a no hitter at Elmore County, St. James pitcher Emily Needham returned home and pitched another no hitter on Senior Night against Trinity, clinching the 3A Area 5 regular-season title for the Trojans on Tuesday.

A St. James’ error spoiled an otherwise perfect game for Needham, who allowed no hits and no walks while striking out 17.

Sydney Johnston went 2 for 3 with a double and drove in a run to lead the Trojans at the plate. Emily Darby and Arden Green also had RBIs. Tat Shuford went 1 for 2 with a walk and scored twice.

The win clinches the regular-season area title for St. James, who improved to 5-0 in 3A Area 5 play, followed by Trinity at 4-2.

St. James (35-6) travels to Alabama Christian for its final area game on Thursday at 4 p.m. Trinity (8-10) travels to Prattville Christian on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Prattville Christian 8, Tallassee 3

PRATTVILLE -- Laura Beth NeSmith struck out 11 batters to help Prattville Christian complete the area schedule with an 8-0 record as the Panthers defeated Tallassee 8-3 at PCA on Tuesday.

Prattville Christian (29-6) will host the Class 4A Area 5 tournament at home on April 25-26.

NeSmith allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings while walking one.

Saniyah Weaver went 3 for 4 for the Panthers, hitting a single in both the first and second innings and a double in the third. Megan Masters went 2 for 4 and drove in four runs.

Prattville Christian (29-6) will play host to Trinity on Thursday at 5 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER

Alabama Christian 2, Prattville Christian 0

Prattville Christian was shut out by Alabama Christian in a soccer game played on Tuesday at ACA.

PCA (5-9-2) dropped to 2-6 in area play with the loss and will play host to Chilton County on Monday.

BOYS SOCCER

Alabama Christian 7, Prattville Christian 1

Cody Chapman scored the Panthers’ lone goal in a 7-1 loss to the Eagles at Alabama Christian on Monday.

Lannom Bowman had one assist.  

PCA (4-13) dropped to 2-6 in area play and will play host to Chilton County on Monday.