Coming Friday: Feature on Cherokee County All-Stars Ava Haygood, Nate Black

By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SAND ROCK – There will be plenty of Sand Rock flavor throughout the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery, which begins Monday.

For the first time since 2018, the Wildcats will have three athletes competing for the North, including the first Lady Wildcat – Kaitlin Stiefel – in cross country. The other two are Maddie Clanton (girls basketball) and Emma Sipsy (softball).

Stiefel and Clanton both compete on the same day – July 21. The North-South girls all-star cross county event begins at Gateway Park at 8 a.m. Clanton and the North-South girls basketball all-stars are scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. at the Montgomery Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

The action picks back up on Thursday, when Sipsy and the North softball all-stars battle the South in a doubleheader at Lagoon Park beginning at 4 p.m.

“It’s hard to get one (athlete) at a 2A school in North Alabama. To have three is pretty amazing,” Sand Rock girls basketball coach Lisa Bates said. “I’ve had lots of really good players not make it, just because it’s so tough. I know the process of selection. It’s 1A through 7A. You pretty much get one 2A player in the North. That’s how hard it is. Our girls work hard, so it’s nice for them to get recognized like that.”

It’s only the second time in school history that Sand Rock will have three athletes competing. Kirby DeBoard (girls basketball), August Gilliland (volleyball), and Brylie St. Clair (softball) represented the Wildcats back in the summer of 2018.

“I was growing up watching the people from 2018 play,” said Clanton, who averaged 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.1 assists per basketball game last season. “You get to be in their shoes and play the in the same thing that they were. It’s going to be a fun experience.”

Bates said Clanton earned the basketball selection committee’s attention with the 19 double-doubles she posted for the Lady Wildcats (23-11) last season.

In preparation for the all-star basketball game, Clanton said she’s been running a lot. She also said the Lady Wildcats have played in a lot of scrimmage games in June, including one at Jacksonville State against one of her North All-Star teammates in Plainview guard Sawyer Kate Hulgan.

Clanton said she has mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness playing in the all-star game.

“I know everyone is going to play to the best of their ability,” Clanton said. “College coaches are going to be there watching you. It’s going to be different, but I think it’s going to be fun. It’s another opportunity, and I’m excited for it.”

Stiefel also said she’s feeling a bit anxious for the cross country event. Unlike Clanton, she said she doesn’t know anyone she’s running with or against.

But like Clanton, she’s been running to help prepare.

“I’m running about 33 miles a week,” said Stiefel, whose personal record 5K time at Sand Rock is 20:56 set last season. “I’m surprised I got picked, but I’ve worked all season and I’ve tried my best every race to get chosen. I’m very nervous, but I’m also very excited to race everybody.”

Stiefel will be just the second Sand Rock cross country athlete to run in the all-star event. Caleb Yoder ran for the Wildcats two years ago.

Sand Rock cross country coach Mark Yoder said Stiefel burst onto the running scene when she was in seventh grade and has gotten better with each passing year.

“She’s put a lot of work in,” Coach Yoder said. “She’s been doing a lot of running in meets on her own.  She’s running six days a week. We don’t have a course to train on or track to run on. She’s having to find new and creative places to train.

“I’m tickled for her and excited she’s put herself in this situation. She’s one of 10 girls for the North who have the opportunity to start their season early. They’ll be competing against some of the best in the state of Alabama. Hopefully we’ve prepared her.”

Yoder said he’s talked to Stiefel about not being nervous about running alongside and against some of the state’s best.

“I think she’ll be ready for it,” he said. “I think she’ll run a decent time. We’ve talked about not trying to go down there and get a PR (personal record). Just go down and run a good, solid race and be competitive.”

Speaking of competitive, Sipsy has been just that for the Lady Wildcat softball team. She batted .477 with 11 home runs, 16 doubles, three triples, 15 walks, 21 stolen bases, 53 runs, and 50 RBIs for the Lady Wildcats (23-21-1) last season. She also pitches and has committed to Calhoun Community College.

“She’s just one of those utility players who can play just about anywhere I need her to. She’s never been a catcher, but she’s played just about everywhere else on the field,” Sand Rock coach Josh Bates said.

“She’s just a solid player. She’s going to do what it takes to make plays. When she’s in the circle, she’s going to bear down and do her best to get what we need – get us a ground ball, get us a strike. At the plate, she works tremendously hard. She’s going to give us chance. She steps in the box and you can count on her getting a hit. You can count on her to get us a spark.”

Sipsy said she doesn’t know what position her all-star coaches will have her playing. She’s just grateful to have the opportunity to play.

“I’m just super blessed and glad to represent Sand Rock athletics and Sand Rock softball,” she said.

To help her prepare, Sipsy said she’s played in travel ball tournaments throughout June, along with working on her own.

“I’ve worked on pitching and middle infield and hitting base hits instead of trying to over hit,” she said.

“Everybody’s going to be playing their best, and that’s exciting because you know everybody wants to win. I am a little nervous because everybody expects you to be the best of the best.”

But helping Sipsy with her nervousness is knowing one of her travel ball teammates is also on the North softball squad, Kylie Wilder from Etowah.

“We’ve played travel ball since we were younger and we’re on the same travel ball team now,” Sipsy said. “She’s committed to Gadsden State.”

Josh Bates said he talked to Sipsy about the all-star softball game shortly after receiving her selection letter.

“I told her just to enjoy this opportunity,” he said. “There are 18 girls on the team. They’ll try to play them all. Don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself. This is supposed to be a reward. You’re not expected to be seen or signed or anything like that. This is a reward for your accomplishments. Just go and have fun.”

Two athletes from Cherokee County High School will also be competing during All-Star Sports Week.

Nate Black has been selected as a North baseball all-star and will play on Monday at DABOS Park at 4 p.m. Ava Haygood will suit up for the North soccer and volleyball squads on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex, and Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Montgomery Multiplex at Cramton Bowl respectively.