Congratulatory salutation's are in order for the Walker family.

After making an improbable run through the Alabama state playoffs, Spanish Fort received even more recognition as Gil Walker, son of head coach Donnie Walker, was selected to play in the 2007 All-Star Game in Huntsville.

Along with Walker fellow Baldwin County All-Stars Ryan Hines, Jonathan Blanchette and Joshua Huggins will represent the South team in the North-South Classic.

Walker had a stellar season racking up 25 RBI and belting two homeruns in his junior season. In the playoffs Walker batted over .500 and received words of approval from his father.

"He had a good year offensively, but not a great year," Walker said. "But he had a great year behind the plate. They (opposing teams) didn't run a lot and they didn't try. He throws on the bag and does a good job for us."

But with success comes pressure and that presence is dually strong for Walker being a coach’s son. Donnie Walker was catcher himself and played for the University of Montevallo and will quickly admit he's just as tough on family.

"I have been much harder on catchers since I am an old catcher," he said. "But my son gets it twice as hard because he's my kid. Sometimes I have to stop and think 'Am I on him because he is my son or am I on him because he is a catcher."

Walker also added with admiration for his son's accomplishments, "I was never as talented as he is and he works hard for it.

"I don't think people get how hard he works or how much pressure he is under being a coach’s kid. They know my name is Walker and when they hear Walker on the field they know it's a coach’s son and all the sudden he gets breaking balls on 2-0 counts. There is a certain unwritten expectation to have a certain level of excellence."

The Walkers made the recent move to the Spanish Fort area from Birmingham, and Donnie Walker said the transition can be tough for a coach’s son.

"It's part of when you coach your own," he said. "From the standpoint of moving into the area, it's a lot different than living here for 10 years. Everything is a little bit harder and for the most part it shows a player how to stand on his own two legs."

Even with the exposure draw for this event, Walker said the most important part of the All-Star experience is the relationships built over the event weekend.

"I think anytime you put yourself out there with some of the better players in Alabama you’re going to get seen a little bit," he said.

"He is going to be up there with a couple of guys from Daphne and is going to be around them for a while. He will get to know these guys and even though there is rivalry on the field, they develop friendships off the field that last a long long time."