Spain Park’s Matthew Windra Claims AHSAA Boy’s Spring Sports Spotlight with 7 RBI’s In Hoover Classic
Birmingham, AL – In a remarkable display of skill and power, Spain Park High School’s Matthew Widra shined on the diamond at the Hoover Buccaneer Classic, propelling the 8th ranked Jaguars to an impressive 5-1 record. Widra’s exceptional performance in the tournament’s final game against O’Fallon (TN) secured a 20-8 win for Spain Park, culminating in a well-deserved feature in this week’s AHSAA Boys’ Spring Sports Spotlight. The outfielder, a recent South Alabama signee, dazzled spectators, coming tantalizingly close to hitting for the cycle—a feat achieved by Gardendale High School’s Cooper Jarvis just a week prior. Widra’s offensive onslaught included a grand-slam homer, a triple that netted an additional run, and a two-run double, alongside two walks, rounding off the game with three hits and seven RBIs. Not to be overlooked, his teammate Rhys Jones also delivered a standout performance, securing three hits and crossing the plate five times for head coach Will Smith’s Jags. Widra’s performance edged out an exceptional effort by Pike Liberal Arts golfer Braden Prestwood. He fired a 6-under 66 to finish as medalist at the Pike Liberal Arts Invitational golf tourney at Troy Country Club. Coach Gene Allen’s Patriots finished second overall with a 294 total – one stroke behind the winner Montgomery Academy (293). Jackson McIntyre led the Eagles with a 1-under 71.
Other top performances reported from last week include:
MILESTONES
KENNITH DALTON JACKSON, FLORALA: Upped his AHSAA-leading batting average to .688 going on a torrid hitting streak that began with an 8-of-11 batting effort in a doubleheader sweep of Houston County last week in Class 1A, Area 2 play. He followed with a 4-for-5 performance in an 8-3 victory over Class 3A Straughn that included two home runs and four RBIs, and concluded with three hits, including two doubles, and had two RBIs, in a 15-0 win over Pleasant Home in another Area 2 game. Jackson is 33-of-48 this season with 27 RBIs, 24 runs scored and 16 extra-base hits in just 13 games this season. The Wildcats (12-1) are currently on a nine-game winning streak.
DREW COLON, WICKSBURG: The junior improved to 5-0 with a seven-inning no-hitter and 18 strikeouts in his last start for the Panthers. He walked one and faced just 22 batters. Colon whiffed 17 in a win over Opp and 16 versus New Brockton earlier in the season and has 81 strikeouts in 37 innings on the year with a 1.70 ERA. Teammate Easton Dean is 6-3 on the season with a 1.12 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
CHASE SMITH, PARKER: The Thundering Herd’s senior had three hits and five RBIs in a recent 17-2 win over Woodlawn – his sixth game this season he has had four or more RBIs. Smith has a state-leading 42 RBIs in 25 games and is hitting .472 on the year. As a catcher and outfielder, he has made only one error in 155 chances this season.
CAMREN THOMPSON, SOUTHSIDE: Had two goals and an assist to lead the Panthers (17-1-1) to a 10-0 win over St. Clair County and upped his season goals total to 41 – tops in the nation for schools playing boys’ spring soccer according to MaxPreps. The 6-foot-4 junior forward has been successful on 41 of his 75 shots on goal this season – 54.6% rate.
BASEBALL
LAWSON LEGER, ARITON: Slugged a homer and single to drive in two runs as the defending Class 2A state champion Purple Cats came from behind to beat defending Class 5A state champion Holtville 6-3 in the Holtville Wood Bat Tourney. Leger also pitched five innings to get the win, and Jesse Pelham pitched the final two innings to get the save.
CARSON SMITH, NORTH JACKSON: Delivered a clutch bases-loaded triple in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead as the Chiefs beat Deshler 10-5 at the Spring Break Experience event held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford. The Chiefs (19-5) finished 4-0 in the classic. Smith finished with two hits and four RBIs in the win, Smith delivered the game-winning hit in a 7-6 come-from-behind win over Class 6A Hueytown. His clutch hit came in the top of the seventh inning. He had finished that game with four hits and two RBIs. Smith had four hits with a triple and RBI in a 14-6 win over West Blocton and two hits in an 11-2 victory over Vincent at Oxford on the first day of competition. He also struck out nine over five innings to get the win over the Jackets.
CAM SIMPSON, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Collected four hits with a triple and four RBIs, and Steele Hall slugged a homer, two doubles, a single and also had four RBIs as the Huskies beat Piedmont 10-4 and Pepperell (GA) 10-4 at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park. Colby Durden pitched six strong innings striking out 14 as the Huskies beat Piedmont 10-4. Christian Helmers fire a one-hitter and struck out seven in a 10-0 win over Hokes Bluff.
LAWSON LEGER, ARITON: Slugged a homer and single to drive in two runs as the defending Class 2A state champion Purple Cats came from behind to beat defending Class 5A state champion Holtville 6-3 in the Holtville Wood Bat Tourney. Leger also pitched five innings to get the win, and Jesse Pelham pitched the final two innings to get the save.
JACKSON BURGESS, NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN: Managed three hits and two RBIs in the second game of a doubleheader sweep over Sylvania for the Bison (14-7). His two-RBI single in the sixth inning provided the tying and winning runs in an 8-7 second-game win. North Sand Mountain won the first game 4-2. North Sand Mountain posted a season-high 23 runs in a 23-1 victory over Class 6A Columbia in another big win. Cooper Pierce struck out 11 in four innings to get the win.
EDGE WEEKS, HACKLEBIRG: Stroked a grand slam homer in the third inning to lead the Panthers (14-5) to a 12-1 win over West Limestone. Ross Hudson was 4-for-4 and hurled a six-hitter as the Hackleburg also downed Covenant Christian 13-3.
WILL ASTON, FLORENCE: His clutch three-run homer, which came with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, lifted the Falcons (15-12) to 6-3 victory over Spain Park (19-7). He finished with four RBIs.
GATLIN PITTS, BAYSIDE ACADEMY: Had five hits in two wins over UMS-Wright in Class 4A, Area 1. He also drove in four runs, two in each game.
NEYLAND BAKER, RUSSELLVILLE: Powered a two-run homer in the first inning as the Golden Tigers (19-7) built a four-run lead on the way to a 6-4 victory – their 11th win in a ro. Baker finished with three RBIs.
MILES EDWARDS, LAUDERDALE COUNTY: Was 4-for-5 with two RBIs in a 10-5 win over Class 6A Chilton County and had two RBIs in a 12-2 victory over Cherokee County for the Tigers (12-4). Edwards also reached base four times, stole two bases, and drove in three runs for the Tigers (10-4) in 7-2 win over Gadsden City.
BRADYN BENNETT, BOAZ: Had four hits and four RBIs to lead the Pirates past Naperville Central (IL) in a spring break game 8-4.
BRADEN REED, MADISON COUNTY: Helped the Tigers sweep St. John Paul II Catholic 3-1 and 12-2 with an RBI triple in game one and had three hits with three runs scored and two RBIs in the second game.
JO WILLIAMSON, HARTSELLE: Clubbed a homer and double to drive in four runs as the Tigers beat Enterprise 10-2.
JACKSON LANGE, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN: Had two hits and scored four times as the Wildcats (15-5) won their sixth straight victory beating Randolph 16-1. Westminster was aided by 16 walks.
CHARLIE HARBIN, NEW HOPE: Had four hits, including a double and triple, and had three RBIs as the Indians beat White Plains 13-4.
GAGE WILSON, WILSON: Had three hits, four runs scored, and five runs scored in a 13-0, 13-2 doubleheader sweep by Wilson (18-8) over Lexington. He and Jack Inman each homered in the opener and Jack Darby hurled a two-hitter striking out 10 in the five-inning shutout.
CONNER CODY, DOTHAN: Drilled a two-out single to drive in two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score and Haze McCorkel scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch as Class 7A Dothan rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat defending Class 2A state champion Ariton 4-3 at the Holtville Wood Bat Tourney. Tucker Bryant then pitched the seventh inning to get the save for winning pitcher Anthony Anners.
JAMESON SCISSUM. ETOWAH: Whiffed 15 in a seven-inning 10-0 shutout win over Niceville (FL). He allowed four hits in the win and also drove in two runs with a single.
PARKER HUFF, HATTON: Hurled five shutout innings as Hatton beat Danville 6-1 to extend the Hornets’ winning streak to nine in a row. Hatton (19-5) was one win away from claiming 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2013. Jalen Heaps drilled a triple and scored on a single by Alex Brackin to highlight a three-run rally in the third inning. Huff did the rest allowing only two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in his pitching effort. Huff had an RBI single in the fourth inning and scored on Heaps’ double to seal the win.
COOPER McNUTT, HALEYVILLE: Pitched a five-inning three-hitter striking out 13 to spark the Lions to a 13-2 win over East Lawrence. Eli Cagle, who homered twice to drive in six runs in a win earlier in the week, had three RBIs I the win over East Lawrence.
ZACH CLANTON, COLLINSVILLE: Struck out 13 and scattered three hits over five innings as the Panthers beat Sand Rock 20-1 in Class 2A, Area 13. Gavin Lang slugged a homer, doubled, and drove in two runs for Collinsville. He also scored three runs. Sand Rock’s only run came on a solo homer by Kane Robison in the second inning.
JERAMIAH THORNE, RED BAY: Pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11 as the Tigers (11-5) closed out a doubleheader sweep with a 24-0 five-inning win. Red Bay also won the opener 6-2. Eli Farris led the offensive attack with three hits and five RBIs.
JACKSON AULTMAN, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Hurled a no-hitter as the Warriors beat St. Clair County 10-0. He struck out five in the win. Cherokee County also beat Sylacauga 3-0 with Ben Elsberry tossing the shutout. He allowed six hits and struck out nine. Jeb Crane provided the run support with three hits in the St. Clair win including a homer and three RBIs. Crane was big again in the win over the Sylacauga. He had three hits, including two doubles, and one RBI.
BOYS’ SOCCER
LAYTON HAGLER, PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN: Scored three goals and had two assists as the Eagles (6-4-1) beat Northside Methodist 8-1 in boys’ Class 1A/3A, Area 2 soccer. Cas Boone and Walker Morton scored two goals each with Morton also delivering one assist.
CAMREN THOMPSON, SOUTHSIDE: Had two goals in a 3-0 win over Calera and added a goal and assist as the Panthers fell to Westminster Christian 3-2.
NATHAN WEST, DANVILLE: The Hawks’ goalkeeper had 19 saves as Danville escaped with a 1-0 win over J.B. Pennington. Huntley Seagars scored the match-winning goal off an assist from Edward Ocampo.
AIDAN ALLRED, SCOTTSBORO: Recorded four saves in his first start as goalkeeper and the Wildcats (9-6) pulled out a 2-0 win over Brewbaker Tech at the Southern Coast Cup tourney at Foley.
Cover Photo: Spain Park’s Matthew Widra Drives in 7 runs in Spain Parks’ win in the Hoover Buccaneer Classic. (Photo Courtesy | Vasha Hunt)
