Sports

All-Stars from start to finish

By GRIFFIN PRITCHARD - Herald Sports Editor
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For two Edgewood Academy graduates, it’s fitting that they end their baseball careers the way they began — as All-Stars.

Elliott Gaddy and Wynne Coleman bore the colors of their alma mater for a final nine-inning outing Tuesday night as part of the Alabama Independent School Association’s All-Star showcase at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium.

“We grew up together playing all-stars,” said Gaddy.

“We’ve been all-stars together ever since we were little and playing Dixie. It’s really cool that we end everything this way.”

Both Gaddy and Coleman pitched during the game.

Gaddy, who has signed with Jefferson State Community College, gave up a handful of hits and a run.

“I did alright,” said Gaddy. “I was out of shape though.”

Coleman took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning and allowed only one hit while forcing three batters to fly out.

“It was really exciting,” said Coleman, who plans to attend the University of Alabama this fall.

“It was my last time to pitch in a game and I did pretty good. I didn’t get embarrassed.”

Tuesday’s All-Star game was less about high school success and more of a junior college showcase.

Ten players have signed community college scholarships: Central Alabama Community College signed Cody Dykes (Glenwood) and Shay Jordan, Daniel Selph, Wes Cook and Daniel Cayton (all from Macon-East Montgomery Academy).

Tyler Bekton and J.D. Powell (Clarke Prep) signed with Alabama Southern Community College.

Barry Meeks (Patrician) signed with East Mississippi Community College and Jody Mason (Pickens Academy) signed with Shelton State Community College.

Three of the All-Stars in Tuesday’s game signed with four-year universities.

Austin Allison (Glenwood) will play for Samford University in the fall.

John Kreder (Lowndes Academy) will join the Faulkner University baseball team and Michael Meredith (Faith Academy) will stay in the Mobile area to attend and play baseball at the University of South Alabama.

“It was fun,” said Gaddy. “I liked playing against guys of that caliber. It always make me want to play up to their level and improve my game.”

The game, which ran a full nine innings, saw Gaddy and Coleman end their career on a losing note, as their National squad was beaten 9-6.

“It was a little sad,” said Coleman. “I definitely would have liked to have gone out on a win,” Gaddy added.

In the game, the Americans jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Jordan (Macon-East) walked and then scored on an error. Meeks (Patrician) singled and then was driven home by a Will Dismukes (Autauga Academy) single.

One inning later, the squad added another quartet of runs to their tally. The next inning Dismukes doubled to clear the bases and push the Americans further ahead 6-0.

The Nationals, who had been hitless through the first four innings, showed a shimmer of life in the top of the fifth inning and scored four runs, cutting the American margin to two runs, 6-4.

The National team knotted the game at 6-6 with two runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Tod Kilpatrick (Monroe) and Phillip McKinley (Monroe) scored on Dismukes.

Dismukes, needing Tommy John surgery at season’s end entered the game as a switch-pitcher, alternating between throwing right-handed and left-handed to the National batters.

The Americans put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth frame with a three-run rally.

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