Trey Allen has done it again. The recent Oak Mountain High School graduate followed up his national indoor high jump title by winning 2019 New Balance Nationals Outdoor high jump in June in Greensboro, North Carolina. Allen won the event in a jump off, clearing 6 feet, 11.50 inches. “This is a dream, a blessing,” Allen said in an interview following his triumph. “I came in … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Sonny DiChiara was somewhat awed at the outset of his freshman baseball season at Samford back in February. “The first few games were eye-opening,” DiChiara said. “I couldn’t believe I was playing Division I baseball.”The former Hoover first baseman struggled as he adjusted to college ball, but it didn’t last long. Once he figured things out, he put … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Until Jeri Beck arrived, softball was almost an afterthought at John Carroll Catholic. The Cavaliers fielded a team, but it wasn’t all that competitive. “They weren’t used to winning very many games,” Beck said. “They needed some consistency. They had five different coaches over a six-year period before I came.” Beck had been a successful softball coach … [Read more...]

By Blake Ells Briarwood Christian began the 2019 baseball season by losing its first 11 games. As of March 14, nearly a full month into the season, it was 1-14. Then, the Lions roared back, going 22-7 through region play and into the playoffs to finish as the AHSAA 5A state runners-up. They fell to Springville in the championship game. It’s for that remarkable turnaround … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Jamie Harris knows a special baseball player when he sees him. Several years ago, Harris laid eyes on Colton Lewis and noticed immediately that he was a gifted player. “I had my eye on him when he started coming to our camps when he was 10 or 11 years old,” said Harris, the head baseball coach at Vestavia Hills High School. “You could tell he was going to … [Read more...]