Jake, David Ward help North squad split All-Star Sports Week games

By Staff
Scot Beard
HUNTSVILLE – Jake Ward learned a valuable lesson during the Alabama All-Star Sports Week in Huntsville.
He did not learn the trick behind throwing a major-league quality curve ball.
Nobody taught him how to hit to the opposite side of the field.
What he learned was that he has a lot of work to do before his senior season starts next spring.
"It made me realize I've got to work a lot harder," Ward said. "There is some good talent out there."
Many of the players at the All-Star game were Class 6A players and many have already committed to Division I college programs.
Ward's father, David, coached at the event and said the experience was good for his son.
"He made some good friends and met some of the guys he will play against next year," David said.
Jake performed well against the tough competition. He scored the first run of the opening game, which sparked the North to a 4-3 victory.
In the second game, a 7-5 loss, Ward drove in a run for the North and pitched one inning. He issued two walks, but did not allow the South to score.
It was the first time either Ward participated in the All-Star event and both will take good memories from the event.
"It was a great experience getting to see all of those great players on one field," David said. "There was a lot of talent on the field."
Jake said he enjoyed meeting the other players and playing at Joe Davis Stadium, the home of the Double A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
"It was a nice stadium and good field," Jake said. "It was a lot longer than our field."