E.A. Sports Today

Making his point

Donoho senior Mitchell Baker knows how to light up the scoreboard with more than 100 goals in soccer, 300 points in football

Tonight’s Calhoun County games
Saks (4-3, 3-2) def. Anniston (1-6, 1-4), 28-12
Cherokee County (6-2, 5-0) def. White Plains (0-7, 0-5), 37-7
Alexandria (3-4, 2-3) def. Douglas (1-6, 0-5), 68-34
No. 3-6A Oxford (8-0, 5-0) def. Fort Payne (0-7, 0-4), 35-10
Weaver (5-2, 2-2) def. Glencoe (3-4, 1-3), 34-15
No. 9-4A Jacksonville (7-0, 5-0) def. Oneonta (3-4, 2-3), 16-0
No. 1-3A Piedmont (8-0, 5-0) def. Wellborn (3-3, 1-3), 47-16
Randolph County (5-2, 1-2) def. Pleasant Valley (2-6, 0-5), 41-14
No. 3-1A Spring Garden (7-0, 5-0) def. Jacksonville Christian (3-4, 1-3), 55-13
Talladega County Central (3-4, 2-3) def. Donoho (2-5, 1-3), 44-22

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

Mitchell Baker sure can score that ball – several of them.

The Donoho senior has become a prolific scorer in two sports in a way that might only be possible at small classification schools.

Although the state’s published all-time lists don’t go deep enough, Baker is believed to be the first player in AHSAA history to score more than 300 points in football and more than 100 goals in soccer.

Going into tonight’s game against Talladega County Central, he has 331 football points and 110 soccer goals.

“I had no idea, but it’s a really cool feeling,” Baker said of his inclusion in the 300/100 Club. “I really don’t care about the numbers. I just like playing the sport with my team and my friends.”

Most of his football points have been produced by his feet. His 173 kicking points include 137 PATs (currently 18th on the AHSAA all-time list) and 12 field goals. He needs 15 more points to break into the state’s career list for kicking points.

(UPDATE: He got those points Friday against TCC, when he scored 16 in the Falcons’ 44-22 loss.)

His longest field goals are 44 yards, against Fayetteville last year and Appalachian last week.

“I tried it out in seventh grade to see if I liked it and I really liked it,” he said.

But he knows how to get in the end zone, too. He has 26 career touchdowns as a running back, receiver, defensive back and return specialist.

“I enjoy them all – defense, offense and kicking,” he said.

His attention moves to soccer in the spring and his 110 goals are tied for 11th on the AHSAA list. Ironically, he started his career as a goalie. The coaches put him in the field one game as a seventh grader, he scored two goals and has been a striker ever since.

The way Baker moves the scoreboard hasn’t gone unnoticed on the next level. He is receiving recruiting interest from some smaller schools (Birmingham Southern, Millsaps, Berry), and isn’t sure yet which sport he’d play in college.

“I haven’t talked to anybody about soccer; I’ve talked to some for football, kicking and playing (a position),” he said. “I still haven’t decided if I want to play sports; I don’t know, really.”

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Points as of Oct. 6

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