ALL-STAR SPORTS WEEK: 30th edition arrives with several local players scheduled to participate
Montgomery Academy’s Jarrett Friendly is scheduled to play in Tuesday’s all-star basketball game at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex. (File Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
The 30th annual Alabama All-Stars Sports Week returns to the Capital City, with games running from Monday to Thursday in the afternoon and evening and coaching and rules clinics running in the mornings.
The games start on Monday morning with boys and girls golf at Arrowhead Country Club and on Monday afternoon with a baseball doubleheader at DABOS Park.
Area golfers participating for the South team include Trinity’s Whit Bixenman, Montgomery Academy’s Jackson McIntyre and Prattville’s Cam Mahnke. The North all stars lead the boys’ series 5-1 and the girls’ series 4-2.
Baseball participants for the South include Prattville second baseman Christian Alexander, Wetumpka shortstop Miller Lombardi and Tallassee catcher Brue Milner. Wetumpka’s Russ Brooks will be one of the South coaches, hoping to repeat the 2025 results, which narrowed the North lead in the series to 24-18-5.
On Tuesday, the cross country all stars kick off the day’s competition at Gateway Park at 8 a.m., followed by boys and girls tennis at Lagoon Park Tennis Center at 5 p.m., the girls basketball game at the Multiplex, also at 5 p.m., followed by the boys at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Montgomery Academy’s Elle Ingram will compete for the South all stars in girls cross country, which will be coached by LAMP’s Paul Daniel. The North has won six of the eight races in both girls and boys.
LAMP’s Riley Godwin will run for the South boys, which will be coached by Wetumpka’s Jessica Holbert.
The tennis competition will include two area girls and three boys as the South attempts to win its second match in the five-year series. Last year, the South girls won for the first time.
Montgomery Academy’s Lola Campbell and Wetumpka’s Mary Ellis Baker will participate for the South girls team, while Montgomery Academy’s Ford Morano, Alabama Christian’s Jiwu Kim and Wetumpka’s Mark Evans will play for the South on the boys team.
In girls basketball, Park Crossing forward Markeira Collins will play for the South, along with St. James’ Natalie Barton and Stanhope Elmore’s Heaven Bailey. The team will be coached by Katie Barton of St. James as the South attempts to win its fifth game in the 29-game series.
Montgomery Academy forward Jarrett Friendly will be one of three South players in the all-star game, along with Prattville’s Deshawn Hall and Wetumpka center Tomorian Suddith. The North leads the series 51-31.
On Wednesday, the softball doubleheader will start at 4 p.m. at Lagoon Park Softball Complex. At 5 p.m., the girls soccer game will start at Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex, followed by the boys game at approximately 7 p.m.
Competing for the South in softball are Pike Road’s Addison Belyeu, Wetumpka’s Lalah Culpepper, Tallassee’s Cheyann Easterling, Kaitlyn Hudson of St. James and Lexie Smith of Wertumpka. The North leads the series 29-27-2.
In girls soccer, area participants representing the South include Marbury’s Belle Boyer, Prattville’s Kirsen Cisneros, Catholic’s Chayse Jordan. St. James’ Ragan King and Pike Road’s JK Longnecker. The team will be coached by Trinity’s Bryson Chapman. The North has won 19 of the previous 24 meetings.
In boys soccer, the South team includes Nick Davis of Wetumpka, Austin Ledkins of Prattville, the Pike Road duo of Shawn Haywood and Patricio Hernadez, Trinity’s Thomas McLemore, Tallassee’s Jenil Patel and Jacob Stubblefield of Montgomery Academy. The North has won 17 of the previous 22 meetings.
The games will conclude on Thursday afternoon with the volleyball match at the Multiplex. Catholic’s Kierstyn Green, Prattville Christian’s Maren Diefenderfer and Morgan Springer of Montgomery Academy will participate for the South team, which will be coached by Catholic’s Jenn Denham and will be seeking its 12th win in the 28-game series.
In addition to the games, a week-long convention includes mandatory rules clinics for coaches and coaching clinics that include guest speakers such as Shelton State Community College baseball coach Bobby Sprowl, new University of Alabama women’s basketball coach Pauline Love, Kennesaw State men’s basketball coach Antoine Pettway and flag football coach Thomas Sowell, formerly the flag coach at Marbury High and now the flag coach at Central Alabama Community College.
The week also includes an athletic director and principal’s meeting on Friday, a sportsmanship luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel on Friday and the annual championship banquet on Thursday night to honor the coaches who have won state titles over the last year.
That list includes Montgomery Academy’s Chris Colvin in boys and girls cross country, Stanhope Elmore bowling coach Kenny Wilson, Montgomery Academy boys basketball coach Jeremy Arant, St. James girls basketball coach Katie Barton, St. James girls tennis coach Geoff Waring, Montgomery Academy golf coach Hunter Bronson and St. James softball coach Mark Hall. Former LAMP athletic director Robb McGaughey is scheduled to pick up an award for the Golden Tigers’ tennis team, which won the 4A-5A boys title, as well.
30th ALABAMA ALL-STARS SPORTS WEEK
Monday
Golf, Arrowhead Country Club, 9 a.m.
Baseball (DH), DABOS Park, 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Cross Country, Gateway Park, 8 a.m.
Tennis, Lagoon Park Tennis Complex 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 6:45 p.m.
Wednesday
Softball (DH), Lagoon Park Field 6, 4 p.m.
Girls Soccer, Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex, 5 p.m.
Boys Soccer, Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex 7 p.m.
Thursday
Volleyball, Multiplex at Cramton Bowl 2 p.m.