By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
While the postseason paths for most spring sports will remain the same for local teams next year, there will be some notable differences.
The biggest switch by the Alabama High School Athletic Association comes in baseball where all five rounds will now be a best-of-three series. First-round play had been single elimination the last three seasons.
The other change that goes with the change in format is only one round of the state playoffs will be played per week. The first and second rounds had been played in the same week under the old format. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship rounds had been played in separate weeks.
The first round of next spring's state playoffs will be played April 18-19. The second round will be April 25-26. The quarterfinals will be May 2-3. The semifinals will be May 9-10. The Class 4A state championship round will be May 14-15 at Montgomery's Paterson Park.
T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal will again compete in Class 4A Area 2 along with Andalusia and Hillcrest-Evergreen.
Area 2 is paired up with Area 1 (Jackson, Thomasville, Escambia County and Monroe County) for the opening round of next season's playoffs.
In softball, T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal will again head to Andalusia for Class 4A Area 2 Tournament play. The date of that tournament has not been announced yet although that date will be May 2 if the schools use the same schedule as last season.
The top two teams from the area tournament will advance to the opening round of sub-regional play May 6. Area 2 is paired up with Area 5, which includes defending Class 4A state champion Alabama Christian Academy. Alabama Christian Academy has won seven state titles in the last 10 years in either Class 3A or 4A competition. Trinity Presbyterian, Holtville and Southside-Selma are also in Area 5.
The second round of sub-regional play will be May 10. The Class 4A state tournament will be played May 16-17 at Montgomery's Lagoon Park.
In track, T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal will again head to Mobile's McGill-Toolen High School for the Class 4A sectional meet. The date for that meet will be either April 25 or April 26.
Other schools that have been assigned to that sectional include Alabama Christian Academy, Brewbaker Tech, Daleville, Escambia County, Jackson, Monroe County, Trinity Presbyterian and St. James.
The Class 4A state meet will once again be held at Gulf Shores High School May 2-3.
In tennis, T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal (if it restarts its program) will once again head to L.B. Wallace College at Andalusia for the Class 4A Section 1 Tournament. Andalusia, Jackson, Opp are also scheduled to compete in that tournament.
The girls section tournament will be played April 22, while the boys section tournament will be April 24.
The Class 4A girls and boys state tournament will be held at the Mobile Tennis Center May 1-2.
In golf, W.S. Neal and T.R. Miller (if it restarts its program) will head to Montgomery's Lagoon Park for the Class
4A Section 1 Tournament April 28.
Other schools that are scheduled to compete in that tournament include Andalusia, Ashford, Brewbaker Tech, Daleville, Holtville, Monroe County, St. James, Thomasville and Trinity Presbyterian.
The top four teams and the top four players from non-qualifying teams will advance to the state's new sub-state round. Qualifiers from Section 1 and Section 2 (Ashville, Childersburg, Cleburne County, Corner, Elmore County, Holt, Jemison, Oak Grove, Oneonta and Tarrant) will advance to the sub-state round to be played at Montgomery's Cottonwood Golf Course May 5.
The top three teams and top three individuals from non-qualifying teams will advance to the Class 4A state tournament, which will be held at River Course in Huntsville May 12-13.