Meet the 2023 AL.com Tennessee Valley high school softball Terrific 20
Two Tennessee Valley softball teams played for state championships this season while five others earned spots in the AHSAA state championship tournament.
Class 6A Athens and Class 5A Ardmore each won to the championship round before falling while Class 1A Skyline finished third and Class 5A Scottsboro was fourth. Others competing in the tournament were Class 7A Huntsville, Class 3A Danville and Class 1A Athens Bible.
The Tennessee Valley 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.
TENNESSEE VALLEY SOFTBALL TERRIFIC 20
Lilly Bethune, West Limestone, So., C
Batted .507 with 62 runs, 72 hits, region-best 88 RBIs, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs, .557 on-base, 1.578 OPS. Class 4A second team all-state.
Bentley Black, Priceville, Sr., SS/OF
Batted .484 with 64 runs, 61 hits, 62 RBIs, 16 doubles, 5 triples, 9 home runs, 18-of-18 stolen bases, .580 on-base, 1.484 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
Bronwyn Borden, Brewer, Sr., P/2B
Posted 12-2 pitching record with 193 strikeouts (11.3 per seven innings), 11 shutouts, 3 no-hitters, 1.52 ERA, .145 batting average against, batted .328 with 33 runs, 39 hits, 29 RBIs, 10 doubles, triple, home run, 12-of-12 stolen bases, .424 on-base, .878 OPS. Class 5A second team all-state.
Hazel Green’s Mariah Bazile drives the ball 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])
Mariah Bazile, Hazel Green, Sr., 1B/OF
Batted .485 with 53 runs, 64 hits, 47 RBIs, 17 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 13-of-13 stolen bases, .579 on-base, 1.413 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Emmorie Burke, Boaz, Sr., SS/UTL
Batted .509 with 55 runs, 55 hits, 62 RBIs, tied region-best 22 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs, .603 on-base, 1.779 OPS. Class 5A first team all-state.
Scottsboro’s Anna Stuart Dawson pitches during play at the AHSAA Class 5A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Anna Stuart Dawson, Scottsboro, Sr., P
Posted 16-5 pitching record with 216 strikeouts (10 per seven innings), 8 shutouts, 1.02 ERA, batted .267 with 9 runs, 35 hits, 24 RBIs, 2 doubles, triple, home run, .309 on-base, .630 OPS. Class 5A first team all-state.
Pisgah’s Madeline Flammia makes contact during the 2021 AHSAA Class softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Madeline Flammia, Pisgah, So., SS/C
Batted .386 with 47 runs, 44 hits, 26 RBIs, 13 doubles, 7 triples, 8 home runs, 22-of-25 stolen bases, region-best 40 walks, .545 on-base, 1.378 OPS. Class 2A first team all-state.
Blayne Godfrey, Hartselle, Jr., P/1B
Posted 16-11 pitching record with 2 saves, 274 strikeouts (12.5 per seven innings), 6 shutouts, 3 no-hitters, 2.10 ERA, batted .327 with 8 runs, 37 hits, 31 RBIs, 8 doubles, 5 home runs, .433 on-base, .964 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Alyssa Hastings, Buckhorn, Sr., SS
Batted region-best .593 with 54 runs, 70 hits, 33 RBIs, 17 doubles, 10 triples, 6 home runs, 18-of-19 stolen bases, .652 on-base, 1.711 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Huntsville’s Mari Hubbard readies for play during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Mari Hubbard, Huntsville, Jr., SS/2B
Batted .496 with 51 runs, 57 hits, 42 RBIs, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, 24-of-27 stolen bases, .604 on-base, 1.473 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Natalia Kenyatta, Bob Jones, Jr., 3B/C
Batted .495 with 50 runs, 49 hits, 29 RBIs, 20 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs, .574 on-base, 1.442 OPS. Class 7A honorable mention all-state.
Ardmore’s AG King tags out Brewbaker Tech’s Grace Hunter at third base during the AHSAA Class 5A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Thursday, May 18, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
AG King, Ardmore, So., 3B/C
Batted .399 with 61 runs, 59 hits, 54 RBIs, 9 doubles, 3 triples, tied region second-best 19 home runs, 16-of-18 stolen bases, .475 on-base, 1.360 OPS. Class 5A first team all-state.
North Jackson’s Destry Lambert pitches too Brooks during the 2022 AHSAA softball championships at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Destry Lambert, North Jackson, Sr., P/1B
Batted .387 with 33 runs, 46 hits, 48 RBIs, 12 doubles, triple, 15 home runs, .486 on-base, 1.369 OPS. Class 4A second team all-state.
Douglas’ MacKinley Portillo delivers a pitch in this file photo. (Submitted)
MacKinley Portillo, Douglas, Sr., P/C/OF
Posted 13-7 pitching record with 262 strikeouts (tied state-best 15.5 per seven innings), 2 shutouts, 2 no-hitters, 1.42 ERA, .124 batting average against, batted .521 with 26 runs, 50 hits, 37 RBIs, 11 doubles, 7 triples, 6 home runs, 13-of-13 stolen bases, .566 on-base, 1.535 OPS. Class 5A first team all-state.
Sparkman’s Cassie Reasner readies for play during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Cassie Reasner, Sparkman, Sr., SS
Batted .447 with 66 runs, 72 hits, 59 RBIs, 19 doubles, 3 triples, 14 home runs, 32-of-34 stolen bases, .494 on-base, 1.358 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Cataryna Schreiber, Madison Academy, Fr., P/1B
Posted 29-8 pitching record with 3 saves, region-best 311 strikeouts (11.6 per seven innings), 9 shutouts, 2 no-hitters, perfect game, 1.82 ERA, .189 batting average against, batted .529 with 29 runs, 63hits, 62 RBIs, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 13 home runs, .579 on-base, 1.587 OPS. Class 3A first team all-state.
Ardmore’s Ella Singletary pitches against Brewbaker Tech during the AHSAA Class 5A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Thursday, May 18, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Ella Singletary, Ardmore, Sr., P/2B
Posted 26-15 pitching record with 2 saves, 274 strikeouts (8.1 per seven innings), region-best 14 shutouts, 2 no-hitters, perfect game, 1.57 ERA, .273 batting average against, batted .355 with 36 runs, 54 hits, 18 RBIs, 5 doubles, 16-of-19 stolen bases, .437 on-base, .825 OPS. Class 5A first team all-state.
Skyline’s Olivia Treece tries to make contact during the 2022 AHSAA softball championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Olivia Treece, Skyline, Jr., P/OF
Posted 27-9 pitching record (region-best wins) with 2 saves, 292 strikeouts (12.1 per seven innings), 7 shutouts, 2 no-hitters, perfect game, 1.95 ERA, .124 batting average against, batted .381 with 28 runs, 48 hits, 43 RBIs, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, .477 on-base, 1.128 OPS. Class 1A first team all-state.
Athens Bible’s Cana Vining bats during the AHSAA Class 1A and 2A state softball tournament games at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Cana Vining, Athens Bible, Sr., P/SS
Batted .518 with 40 runs, 59 hits, 37 RBIs, 21 doubles, triple, 3 home runs, .556 on-base, 1.355 OPS. Class 1A second team all-state.
Madison County’s Allie Yeary looks to throw during the 2022 AHSAA 4A softball championships at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Allie Yeary, Madison County, So., OF
Batted .500 with 57 runs, 78 hits, 45 RBIs, 20 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 13-of-13 stolen bases, .556 on-base, 1.267 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Athens’ Morgan Stiles celebrates after making a diving catch during the AHSAA Class 6A softball state final between Athens and Wetumpka at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Morgan Stiles, Athens, Jr., SS
Oklahoma State commit batted .571 with state-best and school record 101 runs, region-best and school record 96 hits, 78 RBIs, tied region-best 22 doubles, 8 triples, region-best 23 home runs (school record 57 career homers), 23-of-26 stolen bases, region-best .654 on-base, region-best 1.862 OPS. Super All-State team, Class 6A Hitter of the Year and first team all-state.
RECENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2023: Morgan Stiles, Athens
2022: Emily Simon, Athens
2021: McKenzie Newcomb, Hazel Green
2020: No winner due to COVID-10 pandemic
2019: Kaylee Vaught, Pisgah
2018: Kylie Winton, Hartselle
2017: Annie Willis, Westminster Christian
2016: Mackenzie Nutt, Sparkman
2015: Annie Willis, Westminster Christian
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Mya Clark, Athens, Sr., OF/P
Athens’ Mya Clark pitches during the AHSAA Class 6A softball state final between Athens and Wetumpka at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Iowa signee posted 25-5 pitching record with 144 strikeouts (6 per seven innings), 10 shutouts, 3 no-hitters, perfect game, 2.16 ERA, .160 batting average against, batted .387 with 57 runs, 67 hits, region second-best 87 RBIs, 10 doubles, 7 triples, tied region second-best 19 home runs, 13-of-15 stolen bases, .462 on-base, 1.317 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ardmore coach Jacob Sparkman takes the runnerup trophy during the AHSAA Class 5A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Thursday, May 18, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Jacob Sparkman, Ardmore
RECENT COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2023: Jacob Sparkman, Ardmore
2022: Travis Barnes, Athens
2021: Kevin Thompson, North Jackson
2020: No winner due to COVID-19
2019: Al Rauls, Buckhorn
2018: Christy Ferguson, Hartselle
2017: Al Rauls, Buckhorn
2016: Dale Palmer, Sparkman
BEST OF THE REST
Abby Boyd, Madison Academy, Sr., OF/2B
Abby Newsom, James Clemens, Fr., SS/C
Addie Wallace, West Limestone, Jr., 2B
Addyson Butler, Athens Bible, So., 1B/C
Allie Cole, Hazel Green, So., P/1B
Alyssa Smart, Scottsboro, Sr., P/DH
AP Slaten, Westminster Christian, Fr., SS/OF
Aubrey Reed, Danville, So., 3B/C
Audra Bellomy, Skyline, Jr., 3B
Ava Rhoden, Boaz, So., 2B, UTL/ OF
Avery Wynne, North Jackson, Jr., C
Breia Rusk, Brewer, So., 3B/2B
Bri Tyson, Decatur Heritage, So., INF/P
Briley Miller, Lindsay Lane, Fr., 1B/SS/3B
Charlotte Herron, Bob Jones, Jr., SS
Claire Wright, Austin, So., OF/OF
Claudia Barron, Pisgah, Sr., OF
Eden Parker, Sparkman, So., P/3B
Ella Baswell, New Hope, 8th, 1B/3B/P
Ella Boyd, Sparkman, Sr., P/DP/RF
Ellie Riley, Ardmore, So., CF
Haley Waggoner, Athens, So., C
Isabella Guest, Danville, So., 2B
Isabella Myers, Huntsville, Jr., OF/3B
Jayla Ross, Skyline, Jr., C
Kaelyn Jones, Hartselle, Jr., SS/2B
Kaila Holloway, Bob Jones, So., 1B/P
Katie Hastings, Buckhorn, So., OF/2B
Katie Norgard, Hartselle, Fr., 3B/1B
Katie Shuler, Huntsville, Jr., 3B/P
Kylei Russell, West Morgan, Jr., OF/3B
Macy Hancock, Madison County, Sr., 3B
Raegan Wall, Hazel Green, Jr., OF
Sara Sanders, Ardmore, Sr., C
Sarah Stewart, DAR, Jr., CF
Savannah Thompson, Clements, Sr., 3B/LF