Spartans named honorable mention All-South Metro

The 2020 high school softball season was far from a normal one, with the season ending just a month after it began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some teams played a bevy of games in that time, while others were not able to get on the field as much in that time. Mountain Brook was able to get 14 games in before the season was cancelled.

Understanding that not all things would be equal, the Alabama Sports Writers Association decided against naming an all-state team this season. But we at Starnes Media felt it important to recognize the local players who had standout seasons, and thus put together an All-South Metro team for the first time.

FIRST TEAM

• Pitcher: Annabelle Widra, Spain Park; the junior Michigan commit led the charge for an undefeated Jags team. As a pitcher, she posted a 9-0 record with a 0.53 ERA. At the plate, she hit for a .549 average and slugged eight home runs.
• Pitcher: KK Hughes, Hewitt-Trussville; the South Alabama signee led the Huskies’ pitching staff, going 7-0 with a 1.00 ERA for the season.
• Pitcher: Brookelyn Cannon, Hoover; the junior Troy commit put together a strong start to the year, striking out 60 hitters in 50 innings. She posted a 2.30 ERA and hit for a .313 average and three homers.
• Catcher: Gwynnie Hornibrook, Vestavia Hills; the junior Samford commit hit .333 with three homers and 14 RBIs for the Rebels.
• First base: Crystal Maze, Hewitt-Trussville; the Troy commit slugged five homers and drove in 11 runs, while hitting .485.
• Second base: Charlotte Phillips, John Carroll; the sophomore hit for a .442 average with two homers and 11 RBIs, while splitting time at catcher as well.
• Third base: Kenleigh Cahalan, Hewitt-Trussville; the freshman left-hander hit six home runs and drove in 20 runs, while hitting for a .523 average.
• Shortstop: Jenna Lord, Hewitt-Trussville; the junior Alabama commit finished with a team-high eight homers and 21 RBIs.
• Infield: Alexis Anderson, Spain Park; the senior hit for a school-record .553 average for the unbeaten Jags.
• Infield: Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville; the sure-handed freshman hit for a .421 average as the Huskies’ second baseman.
• Outfield: Riley Sullivan, Oak Mountain; the junior West Alabama commit hit for a .414 average with three homers and 13 RBIs for the Eagles.
• Outfield: Jakaria Byrd, Homewood; the Patriots’ spark plug hit for an impressive .633 average, stole seven bases and drove in nine runs.
• Outfield: Lydia Coleman, Spain Park; hit for a .455 average for the Jags.
• Outfield: Gracie Hillman, Hoover; hit for a .421 average and stole 11 bases for the Bucs.
• Utility: Abi Brown, Oak Mountain; the senior FIU signee finished her career by hitting for a .376 average.
• Utility: Macey Ogle, John Carroll; impressed at the plate and in the circle for the Cavs, hitting.429 with four homers and 18 RBIs, as well as posting a 5-1 record.
• Utility: Anyce Harvey, Hewitt-Trussville; the Middle Tennessee commit hit .436 with 15 RBIs.
• Utility: Claire Boone, John Carroll; hit .452 with three homers and 14 RBIs while splitting time between catcher and second base.

SECOND TEAM

• Pitcher: Arden Plugge, Vestavia Hills; the UAB signee wrapped up her prep career with a 0.93 ERA, winning all three of her decisions.
• Pitcher: Tyler Erwin, Chelsea; the junior struck out 45 batters and posted a 2.40 ERA, while driving in seven runs at the plate.
• Pitcher: Ella Reed, Spain Park; impressed in her first extended varsity action, going 11-0 with a 0.82 ERA.
• Catcher: Brooke Burback, Chelsea; the UAB signee hit three home runs and drove in 11 runs.
• First base: Chloe Brittain, Spain Park; the junior hit .375 with four homers for the Jags.
• Second base: Elizabeth Zaleski, Oak Mountain; hit .385 with two homers in a short season for the Eagles.
• Third base: Hunter Dunn, Homewood; impressed for the Patriots, slugging five homers, driving in 20 runs and hitting .524 overall.
• Shortstop: Mary Claire Wilson, Vestavia Hills; the Liberty signee hit .417 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
• Infield: Jordan Moore, Hoover; the Samford signee hit .333 with four homers.
• Infield: Lindsay Parker, Spain Park; hit .417 in her final year with the Jags.
• Outfielder: Jordan Walker, Pinson Valley; also played shortstop and pitched for the Indians, going 3-1 with 25 strikeouts in the circle.
• Outfielder: Abigail Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville; the Samford signee hit for a strong .455 average in her senior season.
• Outfielder: Blakley Watts, Briarwood; hit for a .410 average and finished with a .625 on-base percentage.
• Outfielder: Kyndall Bailey, Ramsay; the Purdue commit hit a gaudy .857 with six homers and 29 stolen bases for the undefeated Rams.
• Utility: Katie Flannery, Spain Park; hit for a .500 average and three homers in limited action for the Jags.
• Utility: Charity Bibbs, Vestavia Hills; posted a 5-2 record and 1.85 ERA pitching in addition to slugging four home runs.
• Utility: Taylor Harrington, Spain Park; finished her final season with a .377 average.
• Utility: Maggie Daniel, Spain Park; hit .353 with two homers as an eighth-grader.

HONORABLE MENTION

• Pitcher: Abigail Bryars, Chelsea; Ka’Mya Hampton, Pinson Valley; McKenzie Cagle, Pinson Valley.
• Catcher: Hannah Presley, Hoover; Maggie Reaves, Mountain Brook.
• First base: Meredith Kellum, Briarwood; Kylie Hicks, Pinson Valley.
• Second base: Karson Rich, Chelsea; Abby Brown, Homewood.
• Shortstop: Sara Frances Berte, Mountain Brook; Caroline Campbell, Briarwood; Olivia Bergert,Chelsea.
• Outfielder: Katie Norris, Hoover; Mackenzie Thompson, Spain Park; Mallory Ogle, John Carroll; Harper Niblett, Hoover; Catherine Grace Couch, Mountain Brook; Emma Bauer, John Carroll; Zoe Couch, Homewood.