By Lee DavisLuke Toulitatos will freely admit he doesn’t suffer from stage fright. The rising senior at Homewood isn’t an actor. He’s a basketball player. He’s always in his comfort zone on a basketball court with the game on the line. “I never get nervous,” Toulitatos said. “I seem to play better when the pressure is turned up a little bit. I enjoy the big … [Read more...]
Mountain Tigers: Former Area Stars Part of Auburn Title Run
By Lee Davis Over The Mountain softball fans probably felt a little like deja vu while watching Auburn University’s impressive finish in the College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City last week. Four former area stars – Hoover’s Madison Dickey and Marcy Harper, Spain Park’s Madi Gipson and Mountain Brook’s Courtney Shea -- were all part of a Tiger team that won the … [Read more...]
Legends and Iron: Rebels’ Potter and Eagle Coach Lead 2016 All-OTM Baseball Team
By Lee Davis Sonny Potter’s genetic makeup might suggest that he’s a fine athlete. His grandfather was Jimmy Sidle, an All-American quarterback at Auburn University in the early 1960s. While Sidle’s footsteps are large, his grandson more than filled them in the 2016 baseball season. Potter was a driving force for Vestavia Hills as the Rebels posted a 30-8 record, at one time … [Read more...]
Spain Remains: Jags’ Hawkins and Tedder Share Top Player, Coach Honors
By Lee Davis There was a time when Spain Park softball wasn’t a very big deal. “Before we got here they even gave an award if a girl just dived for a fly ball in the outfield,” Lady Jaguar coach C.J. Hawkins recalled. “We had to change that mindset from the very beginning.” The mindset did change, and a decade later, Spain Park is one of the state’s elite softball programs. … [Read more...]
Three-Wheeled Calling: Former Spartan Track Coach Leads Local AMBUCS Non-Profit
By Lee Davis After leading Mountain Brook to 68 state championships in track and field over a four-decade career, Greg Echols decided to retire. But at the relatively young age of 60, Echols still needed a path for the rest of his life. Last February, he found it. Echols, now 61, became executive director of the Greater Birmingham chapter of AMBUCS, a non-profit … [Read more...]