More news of devastation

– posted by Cody Whitlock

This story keeps getting worse. The two victims who were killed alongside Loryn Brown (the daughter of Ardmore football coach Shannon Brown) on Wednesday were believed to be from Priceville.

Will Stevens, a former Priceville High athlete and Stillman baseball player, began dating Brown and was introduced to her by a mutual friend, according to Stevens’ mother, Jean. All three were thought to be killed when the top story of Brown’s two-story home in Alberta City collapsed. Please continue to pray for all parties affected by these deaths.

Stevens was 22 years old.

Ardmore coach’s daughter killed in Tuscaloosa storm

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Tragedy has stuck one member of the local high school football community.

Loryn Brown, the 21-year-old daughter of Ardmore High head football coach Shannon Brown, was killed during Wednesday’s tornado-producing storms in Tuscaloosa, where she attended the University of Alabama.

Everything postponed until Monday

– posted by Cody Whitlock

From the AHSAA:

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama High School Athletic Association has postponed all upcoming AHSAA playoff events until Monday, May 2, Executive Director Steve Savarese said Thursday. The postponement of events resulted from the devastation left by the storms that raced throughout Central and North Alabama Wednesday and left many schools damaged and without power. The Class 6A, 4A and 5A state tennis tournaments currently underway at Mobile and Montgomery will continue as scheduled and will be completed Friday.
      The decision was made according to the AHSAA Championship Interruption Policy established by the Central Board of Control.
     “We think it is important at this time to allow all our students, teachers and families to concentrate their efforts toward the more immediate needs caused by this catastrophe that has affected so many,” said Savarese.
    Contests will resume according to each individual sport format. An outline of each sports playoff revised schedule is as follows:
      TRACK & FIELD: All section meets will be Monday and Tuesday, May 2-3, with qualifiers advancing to the state meet Friday and Saturday, May 6-7.
      SOCCER: For Class 6A, the first round will be played Tuesday, May 3, the second round on Friday, May 6, and the third round, Monday, May 9. For Classes 1A-4A and 5A, the original schedule will be followed with first-round games, Tuesday, May 3, and second-round games, Saturday, May 7. The state tournament will be held May 13-14 at Huntsville as scheduled.
      BASEBALL: Second-round series will be played Monday, May 2, with a third game Tuesday, May 3, if needed. The third round will be played Friday and Saturday, May 6-7, as scheduled. If the third-round series involves a team that cannot complete its second-round series by the end of the day Tuesday, the third round series will be played with two games, Saturday, May 7, and a third game if needed on Monday, May 9.
       SOFTBALL: Area tournaments may be played between Monday, May 2, and Saturday, May 7.
       GOLF: Delayed section golf tournaments will be rescheduled beginning Monday, May 2, based on golf course availability. Sub-State tournaments will be played as originally scheduled unless affected by the delayed section tournaments. The revised golf tournament schedule will be posted on the AHSAA website when confirmed.

Another update

– posted by Cody Whitlock

According to a Tweet by Associated Press writer John Zenor, the Alabama High School Athletic Association has postponed all sporting events until Monday.

Nothing on the AHSAA site about this, though.

Stay with me.

More updates

– posted by Cody Whitlock

As of right now (Thursday, 2:33 p.m.), here are the pairings for this weekend’s second-round postseason series involving local teams:

Class 5A
Russellville (34-7) at Athens (32-4), (Fri., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)

Class 4A
Brooks (20-11) at Ardmore (13-11), (Sat., 1 and 3 p.m.; Mon. 4:30 p.m., if needed)

Class 2A
Hatton (27-17) at Mars Hill Bible (28-12), (Fri., 4:30 and 7 p.m.; Sat., 7 p.m., if needed)

Class 1A
Athens Bible (25-8) at Shoals Christian (25-21), (Fri., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.; Sat., 1 p.m., if needed)

Due to the recent inclement weather, all dates and times are subject to change. Stay updated with River City Rumblings.

Baseball: Athens-Russellville still on … for now

– posted by Cody Whitlock

I just spoke with Athens High baseball coach Thad Prater, and he said the Golden Eagles’ second-round playoff series with Russellville is still scheduled for Friday.

Check back later, as I’ll have updates for the area’s other three other postseason teams.

Class 1A-3A state tennis postponed

– posted by Cody Whitlock

From the DD:

Weather has forced the postponement today of the Class 1A-3A boys and girls state tennis tournament at the Jimmy Johns Tennis Center.

Boys tournament director Richard Wilson said this morning that because of overnight rain and more bad weather expected throughout the day, Alabama High School Athletic Association officials decided to push play to Thursday at 8 a.m.

The two-day tournament began Tuesday and all of the day’s scheduled matches were completed, although rain delayed play in the morning for about three hours.

Daily Double 4-27

– posted by Cody Whitlock

The Decatur Daily‘s Wednesday headlines:

WEST LIMESTONE DISMISSES TAYLOR: No longer an Auburn recruit, Taylor won’t play his senior season in Salem.

IN ANY COLOR, MOORE CAN PLAY: Decatur Heritage’s Susan Moore advances to state semifinals in No. 3 singles.

AUSTIN HANDLES IT RIVAL: Lindsey homers, pitches to pace Lady Black Bears softball against Decatur.

EDDY LEADS HARTSELLE TO 5A SECTIONAL GOLF TITLE: Prep roundup.

In the spirit of today’s tornadic activity, enjoy this gem.

BREAKING: Taylor dismissed from West Limestone football

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Alex Taylor has been dismissed from the football team at West Limestone, head coach David Arnsparger confirmed.

Arnsparger didn’t expand on the details of Taylor’s dismissal.  

“It’s an in-house type deal,” he said Tuesday afternoon, “and there’s really nothing for me to discuss right now. It’s just something I had to do. I was left with no choice.”

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver committed to Auburn last month but no longer remains pledged to the Tigers after his recent release from football.

A first team all-state selection, Taylor primarily played receiver for Class 4A West Limestone, but the Wildcats found creative ways to get their prized player the ball for 1,173 yards rushing on only 105 carries. He scored 11 touchdowns (7 rushing, 2 receiving) in the Wildcats’ eight-win season that ended with a first-round playoff loss.   

“Obviously, he was our leading offensive weapon,” Arnsparger said.

Daily Double, 4-26

— posted by Mike

You know the drill: Headlines and video.

Motivated Raiders: Decatur boys win sectionals after disappointing finish last year. Link

Happy Hartselle: Tigers ready to roll into state tennis tourney. Link

Prep roundup: Danville boys earn sub-state golf invitation. Link