By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer Several local athletes are excelling while school’s not in session in various forms of sports. They are as follows: The Oak Mountain 14U baseball squad captured the USSSA Alabama AA State Championship with an 8-2 win over Pelham on June 8. The squad won all but one game on its way to the title. The Eagles are made up of athletes from Oak Mountain Middle School, and are coached by Billy Dennis.

Maddie Bentley lifted her way to a top three finish, as the Briarwood student took the silver medal in the three separate lifting categories in the 2014 USA Weightlifting National Youth Championships in Dayton Beach, Fla., held June 13-15. Bentley trains at Godspeed Elite Fitness in Hoover.

The Alabama Bruisers came to play in the USSSA “Summer Showdown” softball tournament May 31. The team team took second place in its first tournament of the summer, held at Liberty Park May 31. Alabama Bruisers played the Chaos, taking a 6-2 win, following up by winning 2-0 over Blue Crush, another win due in part to a three-run homer by Samantha Rowley midway thru the game to win by a final score of 4-0 and a 9-1 loss to Tupelo Express. Have a team or athlete that deserves recognition? Send all updates, briefs or results to drew.granthum@shelbycountyreporter com.