February 1 marked the return of fishing season at 20 of Alabama’s 23 State Public Fishing Lakes. Commonly known as state lakes or county lakes, these waters are noted for their amenities and their quality fishing for bream, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie (in some lakes). Because these smaller lakes warm more quickly than larger reservoirs, early spring fishing can be excellent. Anglers may fish from the pier, bank, rental boat or personal boat.

“State public fishing lakes are the ultimate family fishing destination,” said Jack Turner, State Lakes Supervisor for the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF). “All lakes except Pike County Lake have a concession building with snacks, drinks, restrooms and personnel who provide fishing advice. The concessionaires have mowed areas along the shoreline for fishing.

The No. 18 Auburn Montgomery baseball team swept its non-conference doubleheader at Blue Mountain College on Tuesday, taking the opening 7-1 and the nightcap 8-1.

In the opener, junior Blake Bearden and sophomore Bryan Young each drove in a pair of runs and senior Will Ruffin tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings to lift the Warhawks (3-3) to the victory.

AUM scored three runs in both the first and second innings, while adding a single run in the fourth. The Toppers (3-4) were able to avoid the shutout with an unearned run in sixth inning.

Ruffin (1-0) struck out a season-best six hitters in the outing, scattering just three hits in the contest. Fellow senior Blake Woo worked around three walks to close out the sixth inning, while junior Nathan Taylor tossed a scoreless seventh.

Bearden finished with two of the Warhawks’ seven hits, including a double. Senior Shane Turner, as well as juniors David Carter and Josh Thompson, also collected RBIs.

The No. 18 Auburn Montgomery baseball team dropped both games of its season-opening doubleheader to No. 12 Lindsey Wilson on Saturday, falling 11-6 in game one and 4-2 in game two.

The Warhawks (0-2) struggled offensively, putting together just nine hits in the twin bill. AUM also left 16 combined runners on base in the doubleheader.

“I think we have a lot of growing up to do,” 27th-year head coach Q.V. Lowe said. “We are a young team, but our approaches at the plate were not very good. We had some pitchers give up a lot of free passes, either by walks or hit by pitch, the next thing you know, we throw a ball away and them we are in trouble. We have to get tougher as a ball club.”

Senior Shane Turner connected on three of those hits, finishing the opener 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Fellow senior Chad Mansmann had two hits and a pair of runs scored. In game two, junior Brett Wellman finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run batted in.