Smile for ‘Possum’
- Updated: February 28, 2023
Donoho’s Elliott follows ‘a bunch’ of personal connections, sees ‘extra meaning’ in signing to play college baseball for Wallace State-Selma
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
Somewhere in the afterlife, “Possum” is smiling because a promising catcher he knew well will squat behind the plate in Selma.
Donoho’s Lucas Elliott made it official Tuesday, signing to play college baseball for Wallace State-Selma, a school that had more draw for him than baseball.
So many connections.
“There’s a bunch of relation to it,” he said. “I’ve pretty much grown up there my whole life, with my grandmother and grandfather being from there. I’ve been around Selma my whole life, and it has a lot of personal connections.
“You know ‘Possum.’ His whole family is from there.”
“Possum” was Elliott’s former teammate, the late Jase Alderman, who played football and baseball for Donoho. The 2020 graduate was part of the first Donoho baseball team to advance to the third round of the state playoffs, in 2019.
He died in 2021.
“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Jase Alderman ’20,” the Donoho School posted to its Facebook page on Sept. 1 of 2020. “Jase was a wonderful, kind, and caring member of the Donoho family. His gracious spirit was evident to all.
“Jase was the epitome of the school’s mission; he was humble, honorable, and hard working in all of his school endeavors. To know Jase was to love him, and the Donoho family loves Jase very much.”
Elliott was entering his junior year at Donoho when Alderman died and was a freshman when Alderman last played for Donoho.
Signing with Wallace-Selma “just has that extra meaning, because I’m going to be near them,” Elliott said. “They’ve always supported me when I’ve been at games.
“His mom and his dad are always at the games, and they have their special spot when I’m playing. They were there when I hit my first and second home runs here.”
Elliott had contact with other schools, including Huntingdon and Gadsden State. UAB and Arkansas State have talked to him as a prospect beyond junior college.
“It’s always been in my mind, since I was little, that I wanted to play college ball,” he said.
Elliott has been part of Donoho’s continued success since 2019. The Falcons reached the 2021 Class 1A state final series and the 2022 semifinals.
Primarily a catcher, who also sees time in the outfield, he batted .443 with a .567 on-base percentage as a junior. He had two home runs, eight doubles, one triple and 47 RBIs.
He was an all-state and All-Calhoun County selection.
“Elliot has been a true leader for the baseball team over the past four seasons, a staple behind the plate, never wanted to come out,” Donoho coach Steve Gendron said. “He has been a joy to coach, and I wish him a great senior season and much success in college.”
Cover photo: Family applauds Donoho’s Lucas Elliott on Tuesday after he signed to play college baseball for Wallace State-Selma. (Submitted photo)
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