The 27th AHSAA All-Star Sports Week got underway on Monday with the North baseball squad earning a win and a tie and the North golf All-Stars winning both the boys and girls competitions.

The North baseball stars struck early in Game 1 at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium to post an 11-4 win over the South, and struck late in Game 2 to salvage a 5-5 tie.

The All-Star competitions highlight this week’s Alabama High School Athletic Association Summer Conference, which also includes a Coaching School in a variety of sports, three banquets and a mandatory principals’ and administrators’ session on the final day of the conference on Friday. The Coaching School, banquets and special meetings are  being held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center this week – beginning Tuesday.

BASEBALL

North 11, South 4: The North All-Stars posted five runs in the top of the first inning and rolled over the South in the first game on Monday.

The North managed just six hits in the opener, but drew seven walks and  took full advantage of four South errors.

Hewitt-Trussville’s Brett Moseley got the rally started by drawing a walk from South starting pitcher Drey Barrett. Oxford’s Carter Johnson followed with a single and stole second. Moseley scored on a wild pitch, and two big defensive plays gave the South a chance to get out of the jam, but Hillcrest’s Evan Williams drew another walk and Mountain Brook’s James Graphos doubled in the second run.

The South clawed back to cut the lead to 6-3 with three runs in the bottom of  the second inning cashing in on a fielding error, two walks, two wild pitches and a two-run single by Benjamin Russell’s Gabriel Benton.

The North broke the game open with three runs in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a couple of errors and a clutch two-run single by Gordo’s Landon Fike. Fike’s two RBIs led the North in Game 1, and Benton had two hits and two RBIs for the South.

Westminster Christian’s Sean Lapinskes got the win for the North with Barrett taking the loss. Fike pitched two strong innings in relief for the North, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

Benjamin Russell’s Jaxon Hay pitched three strong innings for the South with three strikeouts and allowing three unearned runs. Gulf Shores’ Mac Anderson also struck out four in two innings. South 5, North 5: The North All-Stars took a 3-1 lead after two innings in the second game Monday night, but then had to claw its way from behind twice to clinch the tie. Landon Fike, who earned MVP honors for the North, had one RBI in the second game and two RBIs in the opener.

The South took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Spanish Fort’s Jack Holley singled to score Central-Phenix City’s Landon Beaver.

The North posted two runs to take the lead in the bottom of the inning thanks to two fielding errors, a hit-by-pitch and clutch single by Piedmont’s McClane Mohon. Fike got his RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

The North picked up another run in the bottom of the second when Hewitt-Trussville’s Brett Moseley singled in a run. The South rallied in the top of the third putting together a string of four straight hits – singles by Bibb County’s Matthew Cash, Gulf Shores’ Connor Gehr, Holtville’s Drey Barrett and Landon Beaver – and a triple by Spanish Fort’s Jack Holley to post three runs to take a 4-3 lead.

The South extended its lead to 5-3 in the top of the sixth when St. James’ Clinton Houser singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Jaxon Hay of Benjamin Russell.

The North scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score Carter Johnson of Oxford singled in one run and Oneonta’s Tyler Bartlett tied the  game with a sacrifice fly to left.

In the seventh inning, Holly struck out two for the South, and Johnson whiffed two in his only inning to preserve the tie. Lapinske threw two shutout innings allowing no hits, one walk and notching three strikeouts for the North. Cash hurled two strong innings for the South allowing two hits, no runs, no walks and striking out three. Five North hurlers combined to strike out 10, and the South’s four pitchers in game two whiffed nine.

The North improved its lead in the series to 24-16-4 with the win and tie.

GOLF

The North All-Stars swept the boys and girls golf competitions at Montgomery’s Arrowhead Country Club on Monday to extend their domination in the event. The North boys won 55-35 while the girls edged the South 48.5-41.5.

The victories pushed the North girls’ all-time advantage to 3-1. The boys hold a 4-0 edge.

Lindsay Lane Academy’s Chloe Ruble took top point honors with a 12.5-5.5 win over the duo of Callie Henderson of Foley and Daphne’s Samiya Bodalia to spark the North girls win. Her seven-point victory proved to be the difference as the South and North split the final four matches.

Baker’s Katelyn Foster and Mobile Christian’s Kristen Rachel won the No. 2 match 11-7 over Spain Park’s Emma Fortier and Hewitt-Trussville’s Aubrey Payne to claim top scoring honors for the South.

White Plains’ Isabel Rogers and Southside’s Mallory Brooks won the third match for the North 11-7 over Stanhope Elmore’s Kara Busbin and Andalusia’s Caroline Reeves.

Addison Spears of Fairhope and Avery Seitz of St. Paul’s won a 9.5-8.5 victory over the North’s Ellie Cothran of Cherokee County and Abi Cerwick of Helena, and the North team of Lauren Sheehy of Bob Jones and Clara Tran of Sparkman won the final match by the same score, 9.5-8.5 over Bayside Academy’s Causey Thompson and Fairhope’s Teal Gardner.

On the boys’ side, Athens Bible’s Luke Davis and Eli Edge of Westbrook Christian won the No. 1 match 11.5-6.5 over UMS-Wright’s John Stubbs. Hoover’s Caleb Thompson and Jake Monk beat Ken Brown of UMS-Wright 10.5-7.5 in the second match. Jonathan Peters of Homewood and Elliot Overton of Winfield won the fourth match 15-3 over William Hall of Montgomery Academy and Thomas Stewart of Trinity Presbyterian.

Vestavia Hills’ Pierce Becker and Hewitt-Trussville’s Gavin Isbell won a 10-8 decision over Enterprise’s Luke Thornton and Samson’s Coy Ingram in the fifth match.

Pike Liberal Arts’ duo of Braden Prestwood and Jackson Cleveland posted the South’s only win in the third match, 10-8 over Spain Park’s Wes Sauceda and Luke Ballintine to earn top scoring honors for the South. Peters and Overton won top scoring honors for the North.