Time Out: "Lights, Bats, and Finish Lines"

You can feel it in the breeze and hear it under the stadium lights, football season has finally arrived in the Chattahoochee Valley. The high school regular season officially kicks off tonight the sound of pads being clipped on and whistles around the county all ignites tonight. After a long off-season filled with conditioning, scrimmages, and speculation, local teams are ready to write the first chapter of their 2025 campaigns.

The opening slate features plenty of intrigue. At Kinnett Stadium, the Columbus Blue Devils take on Miller County in a 7 p.m. matchup that will give fans their first real glimpse of how this year’s young Blue Devils squad has matured. Meanwhile, across town at Odis Spencer Stadium, the Hardaway Hawks will square off against Jackson, also with a 7 p.m. kickoff, in what could be an early statement game for a Hawks team eager to build momentum.

Friday night brings even more action. Northside battles the Shaw Raiders at Kinnett Stadium at 7 p.m., renewing a local rivalry that always brings energy to the stands. Over at Odis Spencer, Kendrick takes on Walker, a test that will show if Kendrick’s offseason work on discipline and fundamentals will pay off early. And for those willing to travel, the Carver Tigers hit the road to face Whitewater, a program known for physical play and speed, a challenge Carver will need to meet head-on. All Friday games kick off at 7:30 p.m., and each carries its own storyline worth watching.

While the gridiron is stealing much of the spotlight, the softball diamond has already been buzzing. On Tuesday, Brookstone gave their fans exactly the kind of home opener they were hoping for, taking down the Shaw Raiders 10-6. The Cougars had standout performances across the board, but Mary Carter Fort stole the show. In the circle, she pitched 3.2 innings without allowing an earned run, giving up only two hits. At the plate, she went 2-for-3, swiped four bases, crossed home three times, and added an RBI. Simply put, Fort was a difference-maker in every phase of the game.

Not to be outdone, Louise Gudger went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Rachel Knipe delivered a steady 2-for-4 day with two runs and one RBI. The Cougars were relentless in getting on base, finishing with an on-base percentage of .559, far outpacing Shaw’s .387. For the Raiders, the loss adds to a tough skid that now stretches to six games dating back to last season, leaving them at 0-4 to start the year.

Over at Hardaway, the Hawks took their show on the road Monday and returned home with a big win, defeating the Manchester Blue Devils 18-8. It marked Hardaway’s first win at Manchester since August 30, 2021. Neeraja Thomas was unstoppable, reaching base in all five of her plate appearances, swiping six bases, scoring twice, and driving in two runs — her highest RBI total since September of last year. Shelby Huff was just as dangerous, reaching base in four of five plate appearances with five steals, three runs, and four RBI. As a team, Hardaway posted an OBP of .659, leaving Manchester’s .333 in the dust. The win sends Manchester into a three-game losing streak, dropping their record to 1-3.

The Northside Lady Patriots also took the field Tuesday, engaging in an extra-inning battle against Veterans. The game was tight from start to finish, but Northside ultimately fell 8-7. Kennedy Williams went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Sidne Malone crossed home twice and added a stolen base. Three different Patriots notched at least one hit in the game, showing plenty of fight despite the loss. Northside drops to 1-1 on the season, while Veterans stays perfect at 6-0.

There’s still plenty of softball on the schedule this week. At 5:00 p.m., Troup heads to Northside, and at the same time, Shaw visits Marion County. Later, at 5:30 p.m., Manchester travels to Hardaway for a matchup that could help the Hawks keep their early momentum rolling. And it’s not just football and softball making noise. Cross country season is set to hit the ground running this weekend with Spencer and Columbus High competing at Brookstone starting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. For distance runners, it’s the first chance to gauge where they stand and build towards a long fall season.

From the first crack of the bat to the first roar of the crowd under stadium lights, there’s no doubt, Columbus sports are officially back. Whether you’re in the stands at Kinnett or Odis Spencer, on the bleachers at a softball field, or lining the trails for a cross-country meet, this is the time of year when the community comes alive. The only real question left is… which game will you be at?