Photo by Kyle Parmley
Vestavia Hills’ Mary Sanders James (20) hits the ball during a Class 7A, Area 5 tournament game against Thompson on May 3, at Tuscaloosa County High School in Tuscaloosa. Sanders was given the opportunity to play in the North-South All-Star Game in July as one of the state’s top rising seniors.
Mary Sanders James realized quickly that she fit in.
Admittedly a little apprehensive about being part of a team that featured several players with college softball in their futures, James thought she might be a little out of place at the North-South All-Star Game in July.
“I came in not knowing anybody but it was a really good experience,” she said.
The Vestavia Hills High School senior may not be pursuing the sport in college, but she found her place on the North team, in a two-game series which featured nearly 40 of the state’s top players from the class of 2019. The games were played at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park July 17.
“If I really wanted to try to play in college, I could,” James said. “I just expected everyone else to be so much better, but I feel like I could hang with them.”
The doubleheader all-star series was split amongst the North and South teams, with the South winning Game 1, 3-0. The North team rallied in Game 2, winning 4-3 on a walk-off home run by Hatton’s Emma Latham.
Notably, James made a running catch in left field in the first game and scored a run in the second game. For the Rebels, she has started in right field since her days as a freshman.
“San’s just a good kid,” said Vestavia Hills head coach Lissa Walker. “She works hard. She’s just one of those players that coaches love to coach.”
Last spring, James had her best season yet. She hit for a .403 batting average, scored 42 runs, drove in 20 runs and stole 17 bases.
“She’s started believing in herself a little bit more,” said Walker. “Her work ethic has gotten a lot better and she’s gotten a lot stronger.”
Aside from her on-field contributions, Walker recognizes the significance of James’ other contributions to her high school team. Her infectious smile permeates a dugout and she is proof that it’s possible to play at a high level without the game being “her life.”
“It helps the younger ones see that you can go out and enjoy playing without it consuming your life,” Walker said. “She’s successful, has fun, but she can have fun doing other things, too.”
James vividly remembers her days as a “terrified” freshman. That experience helped her last season as she played next to Annie Kate Parks, a freshman who played center field for Vestavia Hills.
“It was cool,” James said. “We were really close and it was cool to watch her grow. The difference by the end of the year, she was confident. It was fun to see [the other freshmen] gain their confidence and watch them grow.”
James — who will attend Auburn University — has played for the Millennium travel ball team in the summer since eighth grade and recently concluded her run with that team with an undefeated summer season. All she has left is one more high school season, as the Rebels hope to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2016.
“I want to make it fun for my whole team and be a leader for the girls,” she said.
