Sports

New prep alignments result in new rivalries

The Alabama High School Athletic Association has announced its realignment of member schools for the 2012-2014 school years in sports, and with the change in classification came new rivalries in a number of sports.
Following is a look into the alignments in various sports for the coming two seasons:

FOOTBALL
Class 6A – The big news in the 6A ranks was the change in Class 6A, Region 2, for the three Wiregrass schools into the region with five teams from Baldwin County. Enterprise, Dothan and Northview will continue their longtime rivalry, but will now compete against Baldwin County schools Fairhope, Foley, Robertsdale, Daphne and Baldwin County.
Class 5A – A new look will also take pace in Class 5A, Region 2, where area schools Carroll, Eufaula and Rehobeth will move into the region with Russell County, Benjamin Russell, Valley, B.T. Washington and Marbury.
Class 4A – Andalusia will find itself facing a new line up of rivals as the Bulldogs make the move into Class 4A, Region 1 and will compete against Monroe County, Wilcox Central, UMS-Wright, Escambia County, Thomasville, Hillcrest Evergreen and Clarke County. Charles Henderson, Ashford and Headland will remain in Class 2A, Region 2, but will now find themselves in a region with Beauregard, Alabama Christian, Tallassee, Bullock County and Saint James.
Class 3A – Opp and Straughn will have to keep the buses filled with fuel after making the move into Class 3A, Region 1, where their region rivals will include Bayside Academy, Excel, Southside Selma, T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal. The teams from the Wiregrass will help make up Class 3A, Region 2, with the roster to include Abbeville, Barbour County, Dale County, Daleville, Geneva, Montgomery Catholic, Pike County and Slocomb.
Class 2A – Elba will again compete in Class 2A, Region 2, and will face only two new region opponents as the region includes Calhoun, Luverne, Central Hayneville, Zion Chapel, New Brockton, Goshen and Highland Home. Region 2 now includes Wicksburg, Houston County, Providence Christian, Houston Academy, G.W. Long, Samson, Ariton and Cottonwood.
Class 1A – The only region in Class 1A that includes area teams is Region 2, where the Brantley Bulldogs and Kinston Bulldogs will face off against old rivals Geneva County, Red Level, Pleasant Home, Georgiana, Florala and McKenzie.

BASKETBALL
Teams that compete in basketball face area opponents, with most areas made up of four teams. In Class 6A, the only area with local interest is Area 2, where Enterprise, Northview and Dothan will remain in a three-team area. In Class 5A, Area 4 will include Russell County, Carroll, Eufaula and Rehobeth; while in Class 4A, Area 2 will include Monroe County, Wilcox Central, Hillcrest Evergreen and Andalusia, and Area 3 will include Charles Henderson, Bullock County, Ashford and Headland. In Class 3A, there will be plenty of local interest as Area 2 includes Opp, Excel, Southside and Straughn; Area 3 includes Dale County, Daleville, Geneva and Slocomb; and Area 4 includes Abbeville, Barbour County, Montgomery Catholic and Pike County. In Class 2A, there is also lots of interest as Area 5 includes Elba, Zion Chapel, New Brockton and Goshen; Area 3 includes Houston County, Providence Christian, Houston Academy and Cottonwood; and Area 4 includes Wicksburg, G.W. Long, Samson and Ariton. In Class 1A, areas with local flavor include Area 3 with Red Level, Brantley, Georgiana, McKenzie and J.F. Shields, while Area 2 includes Geneva County, Pleasant Home, Kinston and Florala.

VOLLEYBALL
The new alignment also had an impact in volleyball, with areas of interest including Class 1A, Area 2 with Florala, Kinston and Pleasant Home; Class 1A, Area 3 including Brantley, Georgiana and Red Level; Class 2A, Area 3 including Cottonwood, Houston Academy, Houston County and Providence Christian; Class 2A, Area 4 including Ariton, G.W. Long, Samson and Wicksburg; Class 2A, Area 5 including Elba, New Brockton and Zion Chapel; Class 2A, Area 6 including Goshen, Highland Home and Luverne; Class 3A, Area 2 including Excel, Opp and Straughn; Class 3A, Area 3 including Dale County, Daleville and Geneva; Class 3A, Area 4 including Abbeville, Barbour County, Montgomery Catholic and Pike County; Class 4A, Area 2 including Andalusia, Hillcrest Evergreen and Monroe County; Class 4A, Area 3 including Ashford, Bullock County, Headland and Charles Henderson; Class 5A, Area 4 including Carroll, Eufaula, Rehobeth and Russell County; Class 6A, Area 4 including Dothan, Enterprise and Northview.

BASEBALL
The new alignment had an impact in baseball, with local areas consisting of the following: Class 1A, Area 3 – Florala, Pleasant Home and Red level; Class 1A, Area 4 – Brantley, Kinston and Geneva County; Class 2A, Area 3 – Cottonwood, Houston Academy, Houston County and Providence Christian; Class 2A, Area 4 – Ariton, G.W. Long, Samson and Wicksburg; Class 2A, Area 5 – Elba, Goshen, New Brockton and Zion Chapel; Class 2A, Area 6 – Calhoun, Central Hayneville, Highland Home and Luverne; Class 3A, Area 2 – Excel, Opp, Southside Selma and Straughn; Class 3A, Area 3 – Dale County, Daleville, Geneva and Slocomb; Class 3A, Area 4 – Abbeville, Barbour County, Montgomery Catholic and Pike County; Class 4A, Area 2 – Andalusia, Hillcrest Evergreen, Monroe County and Wilcox Central; Class 4A, Area 3 – Ashford, Bullock County, Headland and Charles Henderson; Class 5A, Area 4 – Carroll, Eufaula, Rehobeth and Russell County; Class 6A, Area 4 – Dothan, Enterprise and Northview.

SOFTBALL
The new alignment resulted in new rivalries in softball, including: Class 1A, Area 2 – J.U. Blacksher, Georgiana and McKenzie; Class 1A, Area 3 – Florala, Pleasant Home and Red Level; Class 1A, Area 4 – Brantley, Kinston and Geneva County; Class 2A, Area 3 – Cottonwood, Houston Academy, Houston County and Providence Christian; Class 2A, Area 4 – Ariton, G.W. Long, Samson and Wicksburg; Class 2A, Area 5 – Elba, Goshen, New Brockton and Zion Chapel; Class 3A, Area 2 – Excel, Opp, Southside Selma and Straughn; Class 3A, Area 3 –
Dale County, Daleville, Geneva and Slocomb; Class 3A, Area 4 – Abbeville, Barbour County, Montgomery Catholic and Pike County; Class 4A, Area 2 – Andalusia, Hillcrest Evergreen, Monroe County and Wilcox Central; Class 4A, Area 3 – Ashford, Bullock County, Headland and Charles Henderson; Class 5A, Area 4 – Carroll, Eufaula, Rehobeth and Russell County; Class 6A, Area 4 – Dothan, Enterprise and Northview.