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ABOUT
Alannah “A1” Rogers is a 2022 multi-sport athlete in softball and wrestling and, between the lines, plays literally every position on the field.
The left-hander’s normal positions are pitcher, second base and outfield, but she also played a lot at shortstop and is just as good on the mound, routinely shutting down some of the best teams in the West.
From a hitting perspective, Alannah has been batting in the 1-spot on the 18 Gold Team since she was 13 on a roster that included 10 players committed to schools like Stanford, Seton Hall, Furman, Manhattan, UTEP and more.
Not surprisingly, when Sept. 1’s Contact Period started where college coaches could call, text and/or write current juniors, Alannah heard from many top programs and has received multiple scholarship offers.
This summer was just another typically strong year for “A1” at the plate as she hit .568 and has become known to be one of the toughest outs in Arizona, which is how she got her other nickname from opposing teams: AOB (Always On Base).
What makes the story about this great lefty who can play the infield at a high level, pitch with a nasty change and a bat leadoff with speed and great hitting numbers most compelling is her size.
Alannah is typically the smallest player on the field and when she is facing the larger batters, one thought that comes to mind is David and Goliath. A1’s favorite quote is “let your faith be bigger than your fears.”
If you ask the junior, her goal each game is to outplay the competitor in her position from the opposing team. A1 may be athlete who is small in stature, but she plays fearless against any competition.
Alannah began playing softball at the age of 6 and has consistently played up age levels to face the best competition. A1’s love of the game and her competitive side started at age 4, when she was the bat girl for her older sister, Alexis Roger’s softball team.
Alannah will quickly admit that her softball inspiration is her sister, who just graduated from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina after playing there for four years.
Although Alexis is six years older, it never stopped A1 from competing with her on and off the field. At age 8, A1 was put on the roster for her sister’s team when they attended 14U nationals in California. She fearlessly went to plate facing girls six years older with the support of Alexis, who is her biggest cheerleader.
At age 13, Alannah was asked to try out for the Arizona Hotshots 18U Gold team, and made it. She has been playing for Coach Brian Georges since that time and traveled throughout the years to many top events such PGF Nationals, Zoom Into June and Colorado Sparkler to name a few.
And because of her size, talent and relentless work ethic, there is probably not a softball family or club coach that does not know or have heard of A1 in Arizona. The good news for the Southwest standout is the word is traveling fast beyond Arizona and lots of college coaches have taken notice and have interest her, seeing the value this small package will bring to a college program.
A junior at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise, Arizona, Alannah is a multi-sport athlete who excels in softball and wrestling and made the varsity softball team her freshman and sophomore year.
The talented athlete made the varsity wrestling team when Coach Shane Tamez saw her running the track and asked her to try out for wrestling. A1 was hesitant, but finally agreed and today admits she loves the intense workouts and felt the conditioning would also help her softball.
Alannah’s debut wrestling meet for Willow Canyon was the Mile High 6 state tournament at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott, Arizona where she placed 3rd in the tournament. Currently, she works with a weight trainer to continue the intense workout.
Interestingly, Alannah’s sister holds the softball hitting record at Willow Canyon High and A1’s goal is to not only win a state championship, but to beat her sister’s career hits mark.
She was on track to do it before the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19 as Willow Canyon, coached by Donnie Tizzano, looked like a favorite to also win a State Championship before the season ended early going 7-1-1 with a 5-0 record in power point games.
“On a team full of star caliber players, Alannah is the cream of the crop, the straw that stirs the drink and the best of the best,” says Coach Tizzano. “Every one of her teammates would say the same thing, but you will never hear Alannah say those words. She is a humble superstar with a legendary work ethic. She inspires others to pursue greatness by doing what she feels she needs to do in order to compete at the highest level. I believe our kids work as hard as they do in part, so they don’t disappoint A1.”
The high school coach explains that Alannah has the ability to lead without saying a word and inspires others to be the best they can be.
“Alannah teaches kids to be great by being great in everything she does. As a matter of fact, she will hate that I am saying this—she’ll appreciate it immensely but will not like it! A1 does not want the spotlight on her, she wants it on our team. On the field she is a fierce competitor with an even keel demeanor. You’ll never know if she is 0-for-4 or 4-for-4 by watching the way she carries herself.”
Click on the video below to see some of A1’s highlights from this summer:
In whatever she does, at whatever position, Tizzano marvels at how the junior utility player makes it look easy.
“A1 is a hit machine,” he continues. “She shattered the single season hits record as a freshman and even though our season ended in nine games, she is still on pace to break her sister’s all-time hits record. Although 200 career hits mark looks out of reach now, I am not betting against her.”
A1’s has had plenty of shining Willow Canyon High moments, but her coach’s favorite is when she entered the game against Pinnacle High with runners on second and third with no one out, then proceeded to strikeout the side.
Alannah says one of her favorite memories is her freshman year playing varsity when she hit for the cycle with a walk, single, double, triple, and her first career high school home run.
“In no way will I be able to describe what she means to our program,” Coach Tizzano concludes. “The joy she brings to everyone that is a part of our program is immeasurable.”
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