Montgomery, AL – Donoho’s Connell is making her net presence known when volleyball is the final sport of this year’s AHSAA All-Star Sports Week. A review of local highlights during All-Star Sports Week:
Chris Randall finally got the full experience of coaching the AHSAA boys North All-Star golf squad this Monday and White Plains’ Isabel Rogers was able to play as a girl’s coach.
Both were triumphant.
The North boys were 55-35 winners The girls won 48.5-41.5, while the boys took 55-35. North girls came out on top with 48.5-41.5. The team consisting of Rogers as well as Southside’s Mallory Brooks won 11 of 18 holes, versus South teammates Kara Busbin (Stanhope Elmore) and Caroline Reeves (Andalusia) at Arrowhead Country Club.
The annual AHSAA All-Star Sports Week opened with golf on Monday, and baseball to follow. Its North baseball team consisted of the Alexandria’s Andrew Allen, Oxford’s Carter Johnson and Piedmont’s McClane Mohon.
The Monday round was Randall’s first chance as coach of his North All-Star boys’ team. The weather cut the round down to nine holes in the year 2019.
North South and South sides are split into two-person duos that are playing a match-play game. If the teams are tied on an opening, each team receives half of the points.
Teams practice on Sundays which is where the majority of coaching occurs.
“We’re training and getting to know the players until 7 pm and then we eat on the golf course.” Randall said. “Coaching requires you to visit, meet the students, observe them play the practice nine, and then keep track of their scores.
“My task is to mix them up. Who will play with who? Who will hit it wild and long? Who strikes it short and straight? Who is a fiery person? Which one is more relaxed? They play each other often and do not like each other and so, whom do I want to join forces with.”
The remainder of the time involves meetings and discussing game plans for the course.
Rogers and Brooks are friends and formed a natural pair.
“Me and her performed extremely well, as we had a connection through playing golf in high school in the same group,” Rogers said. “It was really enjoyable.”
Baseball
The North won Game 1 11-4. Game 2 was a 5-5 draw. Johnson, Mohon and Allen were the main players.
In Game 1 Johnson was 1-for-3, with one run and a stolen base. Mohon was 1-for-1, with two runs, a walk and two bases that were stolen.
Allen took the starting position and took the victory with two innings pitched before ending with a 6-3 lead.
In Game 2 Mohon went 1-for-2 and had an RBI, a walk RBI as well as a steal. Johnson hit 1-for-2, scoring an RBI and stole. Johnson was also able to pitch a flawless innings with two strikeouts.
Basketball
The Oxford’s Xai Whitfield scored 6 points and added an assist and rebound in the North girls defeated their South the South 80-44 in a game on Tuesday.
Additionally, for also for North, Spring Garden’s Chloe Rule played and scored two rebounding.
The South boys took the game 81-79.
Cross country
North girls’ and boys have swept. the Munford’s Dakota Frank finished third in 15:41.11. Nord’s Ethan Edgeworth won in 15:15.13.
Softball
In Randolph County’s game, Brantlee Wortham was 2-for-3 with an RBI Glencoe’s Abigail Bunt drove in a run when North held a 3-3 lead in Game 1. South 3-3 at the start of Game 1 before losing Game 2 6-5 on Wednesday.
Soccer
Donoho’s Erin Turley took three of the North girls 21 shots during an 3-2 win against South. North won the game 6-3. North boys, including Glencoe’s Aidan Cornutt, won 6-3.
Volleyball
Donoho’s Estella Connell scored an assist and block during the 3-1 defeat of North South in a game on Wednesday. With the football match between North and South scheduled to be played in December, the volleyball game ended All-Star Sports Week.
“It was amazing it was an entirely new experience” Connell said. “The training was fantastic particularly being able to know all the girls. But, in the game was a blast. We could come together and play like a team against an absolutely impressive team. It was amazing to see all the energy pour out.”
Connell has played on three state championship teams as well as an runner-up team from Donoho. How was the experience playing with the all-stars.
“It was fantastic,” she said. “It was like a state-level game. The game continued being a part of such incredible athletes was a thrilling adventure.”
