Meet the 2023 AL.com Coastal high school softball Terrific 20
The Coastal Region sent seven teams to the AHSAA softball state championship tournament with three winning to the championship and Orange Beach capturing a title.
Class 7A Fairhope, which fell in the championship, and Daphne along with Class 6A Spanish Fort, Class 5A St. Paul’s, Class 4A champion Orange Beach, Class 2A J.U. Blacksher and Class 1A Leroy, which lost in the title game, all earned spots in the state championship tournament in Oxford.
Class 4A Orange Beach won its third straight title — the previous two in Class 2A — in only three years of existence.
The Coastal Alabama Terrific 20 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.
COASTAL ALABAMA SOFTBALL TERRIFIC 20
Mary Montgomery Mikayla Baumgartner pitches during the 2022 AHSAA softball championships at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Mikayla Baumgartner, Mary G. Montgomery, Jr., P/SS
Posted 12-9 pitching record with 152 strikeouts, .219 batting average against, batted .378 with 50 runs, 54 hits, 47 RBIs, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, .456 on-base, 1.246 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Satsuma’s Anna Jo Bonds bunts during the 2021 AHSAA softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Anna Jo Bonds, Satsuma, Fr., 1B/P
Batted .481 with 36 runs, region-best 78 hits, 67 RBIs, region-best 26 doubles, 8 home runs, .528 on-base, 1.330 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
Baldwin County’s Madilyn Byrd pitches against Calera during the AHSAA 6A softball championships at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Madilyn Byrd, Baldwin County, So., P
Posted 19-7 pitching record with a save, 241 strikeouts (10.3 per 7 innings), 12 shutouts, 1.89 ERA, .167 batting average against. Class 6A first team all-state.
Saraland’s Gracie Dees throws to first during a 2021 AHSAA softball state tournament game at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Gracie Dees, Saraland, So., 3B/P/CF
Batted .446 with 48 runs, 62 hits, 69 RBIs, 15 doubles, region-best 23 home runs, .527 on-base, 1.592 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Orange Beach’s KG Favors pitches during the AHSAA Class 4A softball state final between Houston Academy and Orange Beach at Jacksonville State’s Jana McGinnis Field in Jacksonville, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
KG Favors, Orange Beach, So., P/3B
Posted 22-7 pitching record with 206 strikeouts (9.5 per 7 innings), 10 shoutouts, 3 no-hitters, 1.57 ERA, batted .415 with 51 hits, 44 RBIs, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, .503 on-base, 1.235 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
Fairhope infielder Jesslyn Gordon readies for a play during a 2022 game. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Jesslyn Gordon, Fairhope, Jr., 3B/1B
Batted .414 with 35 runs, 63 hits, 32 RBIs, 8 doubles, 2 triples, .462 on-base, .956 OPS. Class 7A honorable mention all-state.
Spanish Fort’s Madison Griffith tracks down a long fly 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])
Madison Griffith, Spanish Fort, So., OF/C
Batted .467 with 44 runs, 49 hits, 20 RBIs, 34-of-36 stolen bases, .513 on-base, 1.056 OPS. Class 6A second team all-state.
Orange Beach’s Ava Hodo hits a triple during the AHSAA Class 4A softball state final between Houston Academy and Orange Beach at Jacksonville State’s Jana McGinnis Field in Jacksonville, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Ava Hodo, Orange Beach, Fr., C/2B/3B
Batted .453 with 37 runs, 68 hits, 75 RBIs, 14 doubles, 5 triples, 21 home runs, region-best 36 walks, .546 on-base, 1.597 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
Alma Bryant’s Emma Hudson runs the bases during a 2022 game. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Emma Hudson, Alma Bryant, Jr., 2B/3B/1B
Batted .496 with 51 runs, 56 hits, 55 RBIs, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, .597 on-base, 1.633 OPS. Class 7A honorable mention all-state.
Saraland’s Bre Hughes catches a fly ball during 2021 AHSAA softball state tournament action at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Bre Hughes, Saraland, Jr., SS
Batted .507 with 78 runs, 73 hits, 38 RBIs, 19 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, 25 stolen bases, .592 on-base, 1.537 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Daphne’s Abby Johnson 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])
Abby Johnson, Daphne, Fr., OF/UTL
Batted .433 with 56 runs, 65 hits, 45 RBIs, 13 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs, 21-of-22 stolen bases, .491 on-base, 1.291 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Scarlet Kirkland, Millry, Fr., P/OF
Batted .527 with 43 runs, 68 hits, 55 RBIs, 21 doubles, 7 triples, 2 home runs, 18-of-18 stolen bases, .591 on-base, 1.436 OPS. Class 1A second team all-state.
Caroline McLendon, St. Paul’s, Sr., OF/P/1B
Batted .400 with 37 runs, 46 hits, 25 RBIs, 10 doubles, 13-of-13 stolen bases, .450 on-base, .981 OPS. Class 5A second team all-state.
Leroy’s Gracie Mitchell bats during play at the AHSAA Class 1A softball state championship at Jana McGinnis Field in Jacksonville, Ala., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Gracie Mitchell, Leroy, Jr., OF/C
Batted .454 with 38 runs, 69 hits, 35 RBIs, 18 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 39-of-42 stolen bases, .551 on-base, 1.295 OPS. Class 1A Hitter of the Year and first team all-state.
Baker’s Emily Mizelle throws to first during 2021 AHSAA softball state tournament action at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Emily Mizelle, Baker, Sr., 3B/SS
Batted region-best .560 with 41 runs, 51 hits, 47 RBIs, 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 21 stolen bases, region-best .623 on-base, region-best 1.678 OPS. Class 7A second team all-state.
Daphne’s Victoria Moten pitches during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Victoria Moten, Daphne, So., P/1B/OF
Posted 26-5 pitching record with region-best 350 strikeouts (14.8 per 7 innings), 14 shoutouts, region-best 6 no-hitters, region-best 0.51 ERA, .074 batting average against, batted .418 with 38 runs, 59 hits, 64 RBIs, 14 doubles, 7 triples, 14 home runs, .488 on-base, 1.402 OPS. Class 7A first team all-state.
Orange Beach’s Teagan Revette celebrates her triple with coach Shane Alexander during the AHSAA Class 4A softball state championship tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Friday, May 19, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Teagan Revette, Orange Beach, Fr., 2B/C
Batted .416 with 62 runs, 67 hits, 61 RBIs, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 14 home runs, 31-of-32 stolen bases, .478 on-base, 1.310 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
Spanish Fort’s Kennedy Sevcik celebrates a two-RBI double 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])
Kennedy Sevcik, Spanish Fort, Jr., 1B
Batted .442 with 32 runs, 50 hits, 47 RBIs, 13 doubles, 10 home runs, .546 on-base, 1.369 OPS. Class 6A first team all-state.
Tia Titi, Gulf Shores, Jr., C/SS/3B
Batted .550 with 36 runs, 55 hits, 50 RBIs, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, 9-of-9 stolen bases, ..622 on-base, 1.662 OPS. Class 5A second team all-state.
Orange Beach’s Daigle Wilson crouches for a pitch during the AHSAA Class 4A softball state final between Houston Academy and Orange Beach at Jacksonville State’s Jana McGinnis Field in Jacksonville, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])
Daigle Wilson, Orange Beach, So., SS
Batted .434 with region-best 79 runs, 72 hits, 41 RBIs, 10 doubles, 6 triples, 6 home runs, region-best 65 stolen bases (69 attempts), .518 on-base, 1.193 OPS. Class 4A first team all-state.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fairhope’s Ryley Harrison pitches against Hewitt-Trussville during the AHSAA Class 7A softball state championship at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Ryley Harrison, Fairhope, Sr., P/1B
Posted 26-1 pitching record with 275 strikeouts (12 per 7 innings), region-best 17 shutouts, 3 no-hitters, region-best 3 perfect games, .070 ERA, .138 batting average against, batted .474 with 36 runs, 64 hits, region-best 76 RBIs, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 20 home runs, .572 on-base, 1.580 OPS. Miss Softball, Super All-State team, Class 7A Player of the Year, first team all-state.
RECENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2023: Ryley Harrison, Fairhope
2022: Ava Hodo, Orange Beach
2021: Alea Johnson, Fairhope
2020: No winner due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019: Alea Johnson, Fairhope
2018: Samantha Yarbrough, Fairhope
2017: Samantha Yarbrough, Fairhope
2016: Victoria Ortiz, Baker
2015: Lacey Sumerlin, Baker
2014: Deborah Elmore, Baker
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Faith Academy’s Mylee Stagner readies for play. (Submitted)
Mylee Stagner, Faith Academy, 8th, C/2B
Batted .480 with 29 runs, 47 hits, 40 RBIs, 11 doubles, 12 home runs, .522 on-base, 1.483 OPS. Class 5A first team all-state.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Barclay Kercher, Spanish Fort
RECENT COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2023: Barclay Kercher, Spanish Fort
2022: Shane Alexander, Orange Beach
2021: Shane Alexander, Orange Beach
2020: No winner due to COVID-19
2019: Lauren Stewart, Spanish Fort
2018: Donna Sunnycalb, Saraland
2017: LT Yelding, Daphne
2016: Derek Walters, Mobile Christian
2015: Tony Scarbrough, Baker
2014: Meghan Overstreet, UMS-Wright
BEST OF THE REST
Darleigh Jeter, J.U. Blacksher, Sr.
Molly Pitts, Mobile Christian, Sr.
Ana Acree, Alma Bryant, Jr.
Anna Leigh Price, Gulf Shores, Fr.
Aspen Gerald, Baldwin County, Sr.
Belle Sheffield, Satsuma, So.
Campbell Newell, Leroy, Sr.
Hailey Padgett, Mobile Christian, So.
Haley Hart, Spanish Fort, So.
Hannah Howard, Leroy, Jr.
Hayden Andrews, Satsuma, Sr.
Jayden Sawyer, Mary G. Montgomery, Sr.
Kaitlynn Robertson, Orange Beach, So.
Kayley Weaver, Leroy, Sr.
Laney Saucer, J.U. Blacksher, 8
Lilly Doggette, Millry, Fr.
Madeline Howard, St. Paul’s, Jr.
Mallory Earp, Fairhope, 8th
Morgan Maples, St. Paul’s, Jr.
Myleigh Dobbins, Saraland, Fr.
Tishona Young, Sweet Water, Fr.
Tori Taylor, Mobile Christian, Sr.
Victoria Nobles, Faith Academy, Jr.
Zion Howard, Thomasville, Fr.
Zoey Rooks, Jackson, 8th