By Daniel Evans

The Selma Times-Journal

Editor’s Note: This is the first half of a two part review of the top ten sports stories in Selma and Dallas County from the year 2014. The second half  of the year in review will run in Thursday’s edition of the Times-Journal.

10. AHSAA state track meet not returning to Selma in 2015

Memorial Stadium hosted the last three Alabama High School Athletic Association 1A-3A state track meets, but the competition will be racing to Cullman in upcoming years. According to officials, the 2014 track meet, which brings in nearly 200 schools each year and a flood of visitors, had its best year in Selma in 2014.

9. Veach headlines group of collegiate signees from Dallas County

Morgan Academy senior Kendall Veach signed a letter of intent to play softball at Auburn University next season. Veach had a batting average near .450 and she hit 14 homeruns during the 2013-2014 season.

Among other athletes that signed to play collegiate sports in 2014 were Keith’s Maurice Crumpton (Stillman), Selma’s Davian Brantley (Alabama State), Selma’s Mark Garrett (Tennessee-Martin) and Dallas County’s Justin Chandler (Faulkner University).

8. Jake Peavy traded again, wins World Series again

For the second straight season, area resident Jake Peavy was dealt before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, found himself on a World Series contender, and helped that team win the World Series. Peavy was traded from Boston to San Francisco in 2014 and helped lead the Giants to the championship. Peavy pitched well for the Giants, going 6-4 and posting a 2.17 ERA. He also won his first career playoff game, a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals in game one of the National League Division Series.

7. WCCS’ Simmons drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks

Wallace Community College Selma pitcher Kevin Simmons was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 16th round of the MLB Draft in June. Simmons caught the eye of major league scouts in the fall, when he started throwing the ball in the mid-90s. Simmons is believed to be the first player in the history of WCCS to be drafted in the MLB Draft, according to athletic director Marcus Hannah. He is currently pitching for the Missoula Osprey, a minor league affiliate of the Diamondbacks. He posted a 2-3 record and 3.61 ERA in 18 games for the Osprey.

6. Concordia women’s basketball team wins national championship

Despite going into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship tournament as the last team in, the Concordia College Alabama women’s basketball team won the national title. The Lady Hornets defeated Robert Morris Springfield in March 69-60 to win the school’s fourth women’s basketball championship. The Hornets are one of the favorites to win the title again this season too. The CCA women are ranked No. 1 in the USCAA women’s basketball poll after the first part of the 2014-2015 season.

Stories that didn’t quite make the Top 10:

The Selma Quarterback Club welcomed Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl, University of Alabama Athletic Director Bill Battle and “Mr. College Football” Tony Barnhart this season.

Morgan Academy’s soccer teams had their best years in program history in 2014. Both teams qualified for the AISA playoffs.

The Morgan Academy boys’ tennis team finished as the AISA state runner-ups.

Dallas County High School alumnus Cassie Daniels pitched through an arm injury — an avulsion fracture of the ulna — all season, but led Auburn University at Montgomery to a NAIA national championship. She was named MVP.