The Spalding Lady Jags soccer team sprinted to a 7-0 halftime lead en route to a 10-0 victory over the visiting Troup County Lady Tigers Friday night in non-region action at Memorial Stadium. It was the home and season opener for Spalding, which starts 1-0.

Spalding dominated the play taking 30 shots, while the Lady Tigers had only 1 shot. Lady Jags coach Wayne Gardner was pleased with the result and the play of his young team.

“We played all 19 players on our roster, and we got to see some players in different positions,” he said.

Spalding junior forward Reece McIver’s first goal came 3:30 into the match, followed by goals from junior midfielder Li Anne Harris, McIver again and 2 goals from freshman forward Marissa Hendrix for the 5-0 lead with 20:45 remaining. Goals from freshman Jordin Mitchell and sophomore Summer Griffeth minutes later gave Spalding the 7-0 halftime lead.

The second half was shortened to 20 minutes by the mercy rule. Ann Marie Martinez scored on a nice assist from Kristen Argila just 2 minutes into the half. Haylee McMahan scored on an excellent finish off a cross from Martinez 5 minutes later and McIver finished the scoring with a long-range blast past the keeper. Eight players scored or added assists in the match.

Spalding High hosts Mt. Zion-Jonesboro Wednesday in non-region play at Memorial Stadium. The Lady Jags kick off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Jags kicking off their home opener at 7:30.

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SHS BASEBALL SEASON-OPENER TODAY: The Spalding Jaguars baseball team gets its season underway with a non-region contest against the Sandy Creek Patriots today at 6 p.m. at Jaguar Field.

After the home opener, Spalding travels to McDonough to face non-region foe Eagle’s Landing Christian Friday at 6 p.m., followed by four straight home games. The Region 4-AAAA opener is Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. at home against Riverdale.

The Jags faced Jackson High in a scrimmage Friday, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh to get the 2-1 win. Spalding used 7 pitchers against Jackson — they only walked 1 batter and threw 69 percent strikes. The Jags went 22-9 last season, losing to Carrollton in the second round of the Class AAA state playoffs.

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HOMERS FUEL BEARS BASEBALL: John Pope blasted a 3-run home run and Keyston Fuller hit a 2-run shot to give the Griffin High Bears baseball team a big 16-3 win against Solid Rock Academy in scrimmage action last Thursday at the Bear’s Den.

The visitors from Riverdale were stymied in a game that was called after 3 innings due to the mercy rule. Daniel Gooden pitched 2 innings for the win. The Bears played their season opener Monday at Russell County (Ala.) and they play their home opener Feb. 27 against Region 4-AAAA foe Stockbridge at 5:55 p.m. The Bears went 8-16 last season.

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GRIFFIN SOCCER FALLS TO 0-2: BARNESVILLE — The Griffin High boys and girls soccer teams fell to 0-2 on the young season as they dropped matches to Rutland High Saturday in the second day of the Trojan Cup Tournament. The Lady Bears lost 4-0 to Rutland’s girls while the Bears fell 4-2 to the Hurricanes of Rutland.

The Lady Hurricanes scored all 4 goals on Griffin in the first half and were blanked by the Lady Bears in the second half. The Bears actually had a 2-0 lead on Rutland, but the Hurricanes rallied to tie the game at 2-2 at the half. Rutland scored the game’s final two goals in the second half to get the win.

Griffin lost their season openers Feb. 11 on the first day of the Trojan Cup, with the Lady Bears falling 2-0 and the Bears going down 7-0. The teams get back in action Wednesday at Region 4-AAAA foe Upson-Lee, starting at 5:30 p.m.

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CORRECTION: The Griffin Daily News incorrectly reported the name of a Griffin Christian basketball player in articles last week. The player’s actual name is Micah Mitchell. The GDN regrets the error and any confusion it may have caused.