Four teams in semifinals today

By Scot Beard
scot@athensnews-courier.com

May 08, 2008 05:58 pm

— Four local teams will be playing for a chance to advance to the state finals in two different sports today.
The Athens girls soccer team and East Limestone boys soccer team will play semifinal matches at John Hunt Park in Huntsville while the Athens Bible School and East baseball teams will play in the state baseball semifinals.
The Indian soccer team gets the action started at 11:15 a.m. when they play Randolph. It will be the first time East has faced the Raiders this season.
“I feel we have a good chance,” said East Limestone coach Jack Schrimsher. “All the hard work has paid off. We’ve played some tough teams and that has made us stronger.”
The Athens soccer team will be making its second straight appearance in the semifinals when it takes on Decatur at 1:30 p.m.
The Eaglettes have not allowed their opponents to score a single goal in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Athens offense has dominated playoff opponents, outscoring them 7-0.
The state soccer finals will be Saturday.
If both teams win, they will play for the championship at 9 a.m.
The ABS baseball team is returning to the state semifinals. Last season, eventual state champion Hackleburg eliminated the Trojans in two games on the road.
This year, ABS is hosting Shoals Christian — the team that eliminated Hackleburg in the second round.
The East baseball team has not lost a playoff game during the first three rounds, sweeping Cherokee County, Hamilton and Saks.
This week the Indians travel to Haleyville for the right to move to next week’s state championship series.