ALABAMA ALL-STAR SPORTS WEEK: STJ's Johnston pulls double duty

St. James Sydney Johnston will suit up in both the all-star basketball and softball games this week. (File Photo)

By TIM GAYLE

Sydney Johnston isn’t the type of player you would expect an offensive outburst from, but the St. James senior will definitely be playing to win in this week’s 29th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week competition.

“It’s definitely very important to all of us, but especially to me because I’m super competitive,” she said. “I like to win. I don’t like to lose at all. I think it’s another accomplishment we can get under our belt if we can win.”

Johnston is one of a handful of all-stars historically that will get to play in two different sports, playing in the all-star basketball game on Tuesday at the Multiplex and the all-star softball game at Lagoon Park Softball Complex on Wednesday.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to play both,” she said. “I’m really just trying to put in the work -- softball with my hitting a couple of times a week and then basketball I shoot some at the house. It’s really just getting my form right for softball and basketball.”

She has met for an all-star practice session with her basketball team and is impressed by her team’s talent.

“I think we have a lot of talent and a really good chance of winning it,” Johnston said. “I think we have really good posts, shooters and dribble-drive people. I think we have a good range of talent.”

 Johnston has that type of talent as well, a valuable member of the St. James girls’ basketball team for the last three years. But she’s more of a one-size-fits-all utility player, averaging just 3.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this past season in helping her team to the Class 3A championship game.

“These all-star games sometimes turns into more of a one-on-one type of game, but having coached her in basketball, the reason she’s not as offensive in high school is she’s playing with a lot of girls on her high school team that are offensively gifted and she will adapt to whatever role you need her to do,” said St. James coach Mark Hall, who has served on the girls team as an assistant coach in the past. “She’s going to give you what you need.”

Johnston knows her scoring opportunities will be rare in the all-star game but she doesn’t care how many points she scores as long as the South all-stars win. 

“Thinking about my stats, like points per game, I’m not up there in the higher point average,” she said. “I really just think when I have the opportunity to shoot, I’m going to shoot but if I see someone open and I think they have a better shot than me, I’m going to give it to them because that’s what I usually do.”

Her favorite sport, she said, is “definitely softball.” Overlooked initially, her all-star softball coach (Hall) was able to add her to the roster after several of the players opted for the travel ball nationals, leaving the South in need of players.

“Sydney wants to play college softball at some level, so getting this chance is going to help her a lot,” Hall said. “Of course I’m biased but I felt she should have been on the team to begin with. She can play anywhere and usually wherever she plays, she plays it as good as anybody. Last year, she played primarily second base, this year it was more at shortstop. She can play anywhere.”

Johnston makes Hall’s point by noting her favorite position isn’t second base or shortstop, but rather than outfield.

“During the summer, I get to play outfield, I get to play third, I get to play short, second,” she said. “I like the outfield a lot. But honestly, I just like wherever I’m put.”

At the plate, she hit .375 for the Trojans in leading them to the Class 3A finals, striking out just twice. Like her basketball resume, she isn’t noted for her offensive power, but rather her dependability.

She’s eager to take the field Wednesday for the all-star softball doubleheader and hopes to improve her stock among college recruiters while leading the South to victory.

“I have a couple of colleges looking at me for softball so I’m really excited about that,” she said. “I know one teammate is from Catholic (Rylee Wilcoxson) and we’re on the same travel team. We’re really excited about the opportunity to play with each other against really good pitchers.

“Personally, I think I can do whatever I can at the plate, that’s all up to me. Hopefully, it’ll carry over to my teammates.”

ALABAMA ALL-STAR SPORTS WEEK

Monday

Girls golf, Arrowhead Country Club, 9 a.m.

Boys golf, Arrowhead Country Club, 9 a.m.

Baseball, Riverwalk Stadium, 4 p.m. (DH)

Tuesday

Girls cross country, Gateway Park, 8 a.m.

Boys cross country, Gateway Park, 8 a.m.

Girls tennis, Lagoon Park Tennis Center, 5 p.m.

Boys tennis, Lagoon Park Tennis Center, 5 p.m.

Girls basketball, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 5 p.m.

Boys basketball, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday

Softball, Lagoon Park Softball Complex, 4 p.m. (DH)

Girls soccer, Emory Folmar Soccer Complex, 5 p.m.

Boys soccer, Emory Folmar Soccer Complex, 7 p.m.

Thursday

Volleyball, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 2 p.m.