Meet the 2023 AL.com Birmingham Region softball Terrific 20
A trio of Birmingham Region ASHAA teams earned spots in the softball state championship tournament.
Class 7A Hewitt-Trussville won its third championship in the past five seasons while Thompson finished fourth in Class 7A and 6A Helena played in Class 6A competition.
The Birmingham Region softball team honors players regardless of class, position or school year and was selected by the al.com sports staff with nominations from coaches.
Players from the team below are listed alphabetically.
BIRMINGHAM REGION SOFTBALL TERRIFIC 20
Hoover’s Hannah Christian singles for an RBI during the Hoover at Tuscaloosa County high-school softball game in Northport, Ala., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Hannah Christian, Hoover, Jr., OF
Batted .488 with 39 runs, 61 hits, 31 RBIs, 14 doubles, triple, home run, 10-of-10 stolen bases, .534 on-base, 1.174 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Paci Clark, Shelby County, Sr., 1B
Batted .468 with 53 runs, 44 hits, 45 RBIs, 8 doubles, triple, region-best 12 home runs, .551 on-base, region-best 1.508 OPS. Class 5A second team all-state.
Thompson’s Chalea Clemmons pitches during play at the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Chalea Clemmons, Thompson, Sr., 1B/P
Posted 13-3 pitching record with 2 saves, 150 strikeouts (10.5 per seven innings), 2 shutouts, 2.24 ERA, .140 batting average against, batted .446 with 30 runs, 58 hits, 55 RBIs, 15 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, .534 on-base, 1.334 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Olivia Cummings, Corner, Sr., P
Posted 31-8 pitching record (region-best wins) with 211 strikeouts (7.6 per seven innings), region-best 11 shutouts, 2 no-hitters, 1.48 ERA. Class 4A first team all-state.
Spain Park’s Maggie Daniel connects with the ball during the 2022 AHSAA softball championships at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Maggie Daniel, Spain Park, Jr., C/1B
Batted .444 with 36 runs, 55 hits, 39 RBIs, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 10 home runs, .563 on-base, 1.394 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Vestavia Hills’ Tait Davidson pitches during a 2022 game. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Tait Davidson, Vestavia Hills, Jr., P/1B
Posted 22-14 pitching record with region-best 9 saves, region-best 254 strikeouts (11 per seven innings), 1.52 ERA. Class 7A second team all-state.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Olivia Faggard celebrates an out during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Olivia Faggard, Hewitt Trussville, Jr., 3B/UTL
Batted .435 with 49 runs, 70 hits, 60 RBIs, region-best 17 doubles, triple, 9 home runs, 9-of-11 stolen bases, .503 on-base, 1.223 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Hoover’s Bella Foran makes contact during a 2022 game. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Bella Foran, Hoover, Jr., SS
Batted .458 with 47 runs, 60 hits, 38 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 9-of-9 stolen bases, .533 on-base, 1.205 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Spain Park’s Katie Flannery readies for play during a 2022 game. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Katie Flannery, Spain Park, Sr., SS/3B
Batted .481 with 53 runs, 62 hits, 28 RBIs, 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 10-of-10 stolen bases, region-best 41 walks, region-best .609 on-base, 1.454 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Vestavia Hills’ Kayla Franklin sneaks in a tag during a 2021 AHSAA softball state tournament game at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Kayla Franklin, Vestavia Hills, Sr., SS
Batted .409 with 58 runs, 54 hits, region-best 61 RBIs, 6 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, 29-of-33 stolen bases, .529 on-base, 1.249 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Sophie Gant, Gardendale, Jr., UTL
Batted .475 with 35 runs, 56 hits, 55 RBIs, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, .529 on-base, 1.274 OPS. Class 6A second team all-state.
Hoover’s Carolyne Hecklinski delivers to first during the Hoover at Tuscaloosa County high-school softball game in Northport, Ala., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Carolyne Hecklinski, Hoover, Sr., 2B
Batted .471 with 35 runs, 64 hits, 38 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 10-of-10stolen bases, .490 on-base, 1.078 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Helena’s Presley Lively reaches for the ball during the 2022 AHSAA softball championships at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Presley Lively, Helena, Jr., OF
Batted region-best .535 with region second-best 65 runs, 76 hits, 31 RBIs, 7 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, region-best 67-of-71 stolen bases, .602 on-base, 1.300 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Helena’s Victoria Mauterer pitches during play at the AHSAA Class 6A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Victoria Mauterer, Helena, Sr., 1B/P
Posted 10-5 pitching record with 45 strikeouts (3.8 per seven innings), 2 shutouts, 2.18 ERA, .207 batting average against, batted .390 with 31 runs, 53 hits, 44 RBIs, 11 doubles, triple, 2 home runs, 7-of-8 stolen bases, .427 on-base, .917 OPS. Class 6A second team all-state.
Thompson’s Dailynn Motes throws to first during play at the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Dailynn Motes, Thompson, Jr., SS
Batted .469 with 52 runs, 68 hits, 47 RBIs, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 10-of-21 stolen bases, .491 on-base, 1.284 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Chaney Peters celebrates her home run against Fairhope with coach Taylor Burt during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Chaney Peters, Hewitt Trussville, Jr., C/UTL
Batted .373 with 23 runs, 57 hits, 31 RBIs, 14 doubles, triple, 9 home runs, .465 on-base, 1.118 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Sara Phillips pitches against Fairhope during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Sara Phillips, Hewitt Trussville, Jr., P/DP
Posted 22-1 pitching record with a save, 209 strikeouts (10.6 per seven innings), 9 shutouts, region-best 3 no-hitters, region-best 1.22 ERA, batted .340 with 13 runs, 32 hits, 25 RBIs, 3 doubles, triple, 3 home runs, .427 on-base, .917 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Spain Park’s Ella Reed pitches during a 2022 game. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Ella Reed, Spain Park, Sr., P
Posted 20-9 pitching record with 225 strikeouts (9.5 per seven innings), 6 shutouts, 1.77 ERA, .182 batting average against. Class 7A second team all-state.
Vestavia Hills’ Miah Simmons makes contact during a 2022 game. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Miah Simmons, Vestavia Hills, Sr., P/1B
Posted 7-1 pitching record with 2 saves, 64 strikeouts (5.9 per seven innings), 2.39 ERA, batted .346 with 45 runs, 46 hits, 51 RBIs, 10 doubles, 8 home runs, .433 on-base, 1.034 OPS. Class 7A honorable mention all-state.
Thompson’s Laney Williams readies for play during a 2022 game. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Laney Williams, Thompson, Jr., C/2B
Batted .433 with 34 runs, 52 hits, 30 RBIs, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 16-of-17 stolen bases, .507 on-base, 1.140 OPS. Class 7A honorable mention all-state.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hewitt-Trussville’s Hannah Dorsett dives for the ball against Fairhope during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville, Sr., SS/2B
UAB signee batted .506 with region-best 88 hits, 62 runs, 34 RBIs, 5 doubles, region-best 7 triples, 5 home runs, 61-of-62 stolen bases, .557 on-base, 1.483 OPS. Super All-State team, Class 7A Hitter of the Year, first team all-state.
RECENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2023: Hannah Dorsett, Hewitt-Trussville
2022: Kenleigh Cahalan, Hewitt-Trussville
2021: Annabelle Widra, Spain Park
2020: No winner due to COVID-19
2019: Carlee McCondichie, Gardendale
2018: Annabelle Widra, Spain Park
2017: Mary Katherine Tedder, Spain Park
2016: Mary Katherine Tedder, Spain Park
2015: Haley Crumpton, Thompson
2014: Kaleigh Todd, McAdory
2013: Whitney Gillespie, Pelham
2012: Haylie McCleney, Mortimer Jordan
2011: Marcy Harper, Hoover
2010: Leigh Streetman, Hueytown
2009: Heather Parker, Mortimer Jordan
2008: Lindsay Dunlap, Hueytown
2007: Whitney Larsen, Vestavia Hills
2006: Shanon Young, Hueytown
2005: Jessie Lupardus, Hoover
2004: Brittney Wise, Mountain Brook
2003: Kristina McCain, Gardendale
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Oak Mountain’s Emma Hawkins. (Submitted)
Emma Hawkins, Oak Mountain, OF
Batted .434 with 27 runs, 46 hits, 13 RBIs, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 10-of-11 stolen bases, .496 on-base, 1.015 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Hewitt-Trussville coach Taylor Burt directs her team during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
RECENT COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2023: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
2022: Kevin Todd, Thompson
2021: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
2020: No winner due to COVID-10 pandemic
2019: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
2018: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
2017: Barry Brake, Gardendale
2016: Heather Lee, Chelsea
2015: Karen Johns, Hewitt-Trussville
2014: Suzanne Serrano, Briarwood Christian
2013: Dusti Roberts, Hewitt-Trussville
2012: Russell McCartey, Chelsea
2011: Laura Rickman, Mortimer Jordan
2010: Lissa Walker, Hueytown
2009: Laura Rickman, Mortimer Jordan
2008: Lissa Walker, Hueytown
2007: Jeff Thomas, Leeds
2006: Lissa Walker, Hueytown
2005: Lissa Walker, Hueytown
2004: Jim Brown, Hoover
2003: Brad Myrick, Gardendale
BEST OF THE REST
Anna Kate Smith, Corner, Fr.
Brooklyn Cochran, Bessemer Academy, Jr.
Bryanna Kemp, Hueytown, So.
Carson Cox, Bessemer Academy, Fr.
Catey Thomas, Gardendale, Sr.
Elizabeth Zaleski, Oak Mountain, Sr.
Jessica Gray, Pelham, Jr.
Kaitlyn Raines, Hoover, So.
Kathryn Bryars, Chelsea, Sr.
Keara Hall, Calera, Jr.
Mary Beth Allen, Helena, Sr.
McKenzie Little, Pelham, Jr.
Monica Rose, Pleasant Grove, Jr.
Morgan Dupree, Shelby County, Sr.
Olivia Tindell, Thompson, So.
Sydney Carroll, Chelsea, So.
Tyeshia Williams, Calera, Jr.
Zaylen Tucker, Hewitt Trussville, So.