Rosters set for 2023 AHSAA North-South Baseball All-Star Game
Seven players who competed for state championships last week are among the choices to play in this summer’s 27th annual AHSAA North-South All-Star Baseball Game in Montgomery.
The two 18-member squads of rising seniors were announced today by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association. The game, part of the AHSAA’s All-Star Week, will be played on July 17 at Riverwalk Stadium. All-Star Week also includes competition in basketball, softball, volleyball, boys and girls soccer, cross country, tennis and golf. The 64th annual North-South All-Star Football Game was played in December in Mobile and won by the South, 42-7.
The North coaches for the 2023 All-Star Baseball Game are Mark Garner of Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Brandon Stocks of Fayette County with Keith Lucky of St. James serving as administrative coach. The South coaches are Chris Jacks of Gulf Shores and Richie Brooks of Benjamin Russell with retired coach Ken Whittle of Trinity handling administrative coach duties.
There are four players on the South roster who played in the state tournament last week. Caden Collier played shortstop for Class 2A state champion Ariton and batted .365 with two homers and 37 RBIs in 2023. Drey Barrett pitched and played in the infield for Class 5A state champion Holtville. He pitched the championship-clinching win over Sardis to finish 6-3 on the year. He also batted.381 with five home runs and 43 RBIs on the season. Landon Beaver played first base for Class 7A state runner-up Central-Phenix City. He batted .385 with four homers and 39 RBIs. Alex Sherman pitched for Class 4A state runner-up UMS-Wright. Sherman was 8-3 on the season with a 1.26 ERA and 96 strikeouts.
Three players on the North roster played in the state tournament. Gordo outfielder-pitcher Landon Fike helped the Green Wave finish as Class 3A runner-up. He was 6-1 on the mound and batted .315 with a home run and 19 RBIs on the year. Oxford shortstop-pitcher Carter Johnson helped the Yellow Jackets to the Class 6A state championship, batting .398 with five homers, nine triples and 36 RBIs. He tied an AHSAA state record with three triples in one game during the regular season. Vestavia Hills’ catcher John Paul Head was a key member of the Rebels’ first state title since 2000. He batted .351 with three homers and 35 RBIs.
The South won game one last year 7-6 and the teams tied 3-3 in the second game. The North leads the series 23-15-2.
2023 ALL-STAR BASEBALL ROSTERS
NORTH ALL-STARS
Player, School, Pos., Height/Weight
Andrew Allen, Alexandria, P, 6-2/185
Tylan Amerson, Minor, OF, 5-10/165
Tanner Bartlett, Oneonta, P, 6-0/205
Braden Booth, Bob Jones, P/3B, 6-0/180
Alex Brackin, Hatton, OF/P, 5-9/170
Landon Fike, Gordo, OF/P, 5-11/175
James Graphos, Mountain Brook, INF, 6-2/170
John Paul Head, Vestavia Hills, C, 6-0/205
Carter Johnson, Oxford, SS/P, 6-0/165
Sean Lapinskes, Westminster Christian, INF/P, 6-0/190
McClane Mohon, Piedmont, INF, 5-10/165
Brett Mosely, Hewitt-Trussville, OF, 6-3/185
Spencer Nicholas, Tuscaloosa County, P, 5-11/175
Corey Richardson Jr., Minor, 1B/P, 6-1/235
John Robicheaux, Mountain Brook, OF/P, 6-2/185
Andre Watts, Pleasant Grove, C , 5-11/240
Evan Williams, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, C, 6-3/220
Hunter Willis, Winterboro, SS, 6-1/165
SOUTH ALL-STARS
Player, School, Pos., Height/Weight
Drey Barrett, Holtville, IF/P, 6-3/200
Landon Beaver, Central-Phenix City, 1B, 6-3/200
Gabriel Benton, Benjamin Russell, OF/P, 6-3/210
Drew Britton, Pike Road, SS/P, 6-0/185
Matthew Cash, Bibb County, P/SS, 6-0/195
Caden Collier, Ariton, SS, 5-10/170
Eli Driskell, Faith Academy, P, 6-1/205
Bryant Durbin, Baker, OF/P, 6-2/170
Connor Gehr, Gulf Shores, RHP/SS, 6-2/165
Kaden Harrell, Mary G. Montgomery, 1B, 6-1/200
Jack Holley, Spanish Fort, C/OF, 5-11/185
Grant Horne, Northside Methodist, C/OF, 5-10/205
Clinton Houser, St. James, OF/IF, 5-9/NA
Andrew Lutz, LAMP, C/P, 6-0/170
Zachary McKinion, Mobile Christian, P, 6-1/205
Nolan Phillips, Fairhope, OF, 6-2/185
Alex Sherman, UMS-Wright, P, 6-2/205
Brooks Womble, Saraland, IF, 5-11/175