FROM STAFF REPORTS

Sixteen teams will compete in softball this season in Shelby County.

BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN LIONSAHSAA Class 5A, Area 7Head Coach: Suzanne SerranoLast Season: 18-18Roster: Meredith Botes, Sara Kate Bracewell, Carleigh Brown, Allie Chapman, Amy Hale, April Harrison, Bellamy Hawkins, Madeline Lamon, Blakeley Marlow, Lauren Parks, Hannah Sankey, Caroline Seay, Kit Stallings, Megan Thompson and Ashley Wright.Season Outlook: Suzanne Serrano takes over as head coach after serving as an assistant the past four years. This year will be a rebuilding year, as the Lions have no seniors and only four juniors on a young squad that is eager to learn.

CALERA EAGLESAHSAA Class 3A, Area 7Head Coach: Chris McCrackinLast Season: 5-17Roster: Ashlea Andrews, Brooke Andrews, Savannah Burleson, Jocelyn Davis, Katelyn Dean, Kayla Gaines, Heather Giddens, Kymber McGiboney, Brooke Roberson, Tandreka Rodgers, Rachel Turnbloom and Felicia Woodson.Season Outlook: The Eagles struggled last season, but head coach Chris McCrackin is confident his team is ready to turn the corner. The two Brookes, Andrews and Roberson, are the only two seniors on a young team. Utility player Rachel Turnbloom will also look to anchor a solid defense.

CHELSEA HORNETSAHSAA Class 5A, Area 6Head Coach: Russell McCarteyLast Season:18-23, Second RoundRoster: Emma Anderson, Johnna Barnes, Jennifer Bradford, Anna Cox, Stephanie Hollis, Tori Hollis, Rachel Kelley, Morgan Pence, Lindsay Pruitt, Alex Skipper, Jennifer Thurman, Carley Torreta and Lacey Walton.Season Outlook: Expectations are high for Chelsea, despite having a young team that includes three freshman, two sophomores and only one senior. With the youth, comes depth, which will play a major factor in a chance for improvement this year.

COOSA VALLEY REBELSAISA 1A, Region 1, Area 1Head Coach: Jean SprayberryLast Season: 3-11Roster: Sara Abbott, Cassie Brock, Sami Clinkscales, Olivia Cobb, Amy Coogler, Cortney Davis, Holly Dunn, Tara Guthrie, Courtney Jemison, Jenna Mann, Tyger Paris, Kaylan Rich, Amelia Ripley, Kelsey Stewart, Terri Sprayberry and Nancy Yang.Season Outlook: The Rebels look to spend this season as a training and rebuilding year, with only one senior on the roster and a majority of the team made up of middle schoolers.

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHARGERSAISA 1A, Region 1, Area 1Head Coach: Mark ArmstrongLast Season: 26-0, State ChampionsRoster: Jana Armstrong, Nicole Barrett, Brittney Calma, Brooke Calma, Ashley Collins, Nichole Davis, Destiny Dillard, Brittany Duke, Chelsey Dunnaway, Hope Finley, Kailey Goodwin, Chasity Payne and Olivia Snider.Season Outlook: Mark Armstrong looks to build off a two-year record of 41-5 as Cornerstone head coach, as the Chargers begin their title defense. Nine of 12 players return from last year’s team, including dominant pitcher Chelsey Dunnaway and five other starters.

EVANGEL CHRISTIAN LIGHTNINGICSGAHead Coach: Barry ArmstrongLast Season: 13-8Roster: Lisa Armstrong, Taylor Black, Leslie Edwards, Emily Foster, Kate Foster, Ryan Hopson, Julia Motes, Holland Price, Katie Wood and Katie Watts.Season Outlook: Sophomore pitcher Ryan Hopson, junior shortstop Lisa Armstrong and junior first baseman Katie Wood will pace the Lightning, who hope to battle for the ICSGA championship this season.

INDIAN SPRINGSAHSAA 3A, Area 7Head Coach: Pam AbernathyLast Season: 12-5Roster:

Betsy Battistella, Alesa Boyle, Morgan Cahn, Veronica Ciniglio, Tiary Degrate. Olivia Garvey, Hollye Hamilton, Katelyn Hickman, Julia Horn, Yili Huo, Carter Long, Sara Lowery, Christina Malmat, Kate Massey, Bess Matlock, Michelle Rezonzew, Aliya Rubelstein, Tullia Rushton, Margaret Sandy, Casey Stewart, Jillian Theibert and Caroline Thrasher.Season Outlook: Four-sport starter Jillian Theibert looks to be Springs’ ace in the circle and a strong bat at the plate, while other offense will come from Morgan Cahn, Kate Massey and Bess Matlock.

KINGWOOD CHRISTIAN LIONSAISA 2A, Region 2, Area 2Head Coach: Rusty RozofLast Season: 15-14Roster: Natalie Alacon, Karley Chamblee, Kayla Fanning, Whitney Gillespie, Rachel Holsombeck, Kaylyn Ingram, Lesley Ingram, Emily Laney, Madeline Lee, Heather Matzke, Lauren Rozof, Ashley Shirley and Sarah Waremburg.Season Outlook: The Lions qualified for state last season before falling to Lowndes and Jackson. Kingwood has two seniors on this year’s team, but the young Lions are already off to a hot start, outscoring South Montgomery 21-3 in the first two games.

MONTEVALLO BULLDOGSAHSAA Class 3A, Area 6Head Coach: Ron HolsombeckLast Season: 25-16, First RoundRoster: Haley Anderson, Hope Anderson, Amanda Broadhead, Whittney Farrington, Laci Hochstrasser, Shanise Hudson, Kayla Irwin, Cloe Jones, Anna Nix and Kylie Stansell.Season Outlook: This may be the most balanced team Ron Holsombeck has ever had at Montevallo. With speed on the base paths and decent power at the plate, the Bulldogs look to get over the hump and make it to the state tournament in Montgomery for the first time. Two new players with post season experience are Hope and Haley Anderson, who played at Cornerstone last year.

OAK MOUNTAIN EAGLESAHSAA Class 6A, Area 11Head Coach: Danny DuboseLast Season: 23-27Roster: Megan Abernathy, Ashley Bice, Erin Carpenter, Jessica Cooley, Louise Gibson, Emily Graves, Mandi Headrick, Nicole Kehr, Franki Mello, Abby Mire, Julie Moss, Cadie Renta, Allyson Ritenour, Jordan Thompson and Regan Wade.Season Outlook: The Eagles are lacking depth and will rely heavily on the pitching of junior Louise Gibson. Head coach Danny Dubose will look for a powerful punch at the plate from Jessica Cooley and strong defense from seniors Ashley Bice and Allyson Ritenour. A hand full of junior varsity girls will rotate up to the varsity, one of which may provide the surprise the Eagles are looking for.

PELHAM PANTHERSAHSAA Class 6A, Area 10Head Coach: Amy SullivanLast Season: 43-13, First RoundRoster: Ellen Ann Bentley, Missy Braune, Jessie Breland, Sarah Casey, Brittany Contorno, Christin Crocker, Jennifer Davis, Kelsey Dennis, Hailey Glynn, Nadja Klipfel, Heather McGuirk, Amanda Miller, Faith Moate, Holly Parmer, Lindsay Price, Katie Serio, Emily Sharman, Kat Spence, Jamie Wallace and Trish Zettler.Season Outlook: Three seniors return for the Panthers, including pitchers Kelsey Dennis and Trish Zettler. The Panthers will look to repeat as regular-season area champs and get past Hueytown in the area tournament.

SHELBY RAIDERSAISA 1A,

Region 1, Area 1Head Coach: Pam McDanielLast Season: 7-7Roster: Courtney Baugh, Alyson Bailey, Chelsea Carter, Christina Daley, Chandler Davenport, Kaitlyn Davenport, Victoria Deliz, Krystal Fochtmann, Rebekah Fowler, Sarah Fowler, Sarah Glass, Katlyn Green, Camilla Hanson, Gloria Keetzer, Kimbrell Lee, Maryann Lee, Taylor Miller, Tiffany Morgan, Jackie O’Brien, Taylor Perry, Jessie Sharp, Savannah Upton, Caitlin Wilke and Katie Wilson.Season Outlook: Shelby Academy will be looking to get back to the state tournament as the Raiders return seven starters from last year’s squad, including seniors Kimbrell Lee and Alyson Bailey.

SHELBY COUNTY WILDCATSAHSAA Class 5A, Area 6Head Coach: Ashley PhillipsLast Season: 22-10, State TournamentRoster: Meagan Billingsley, Cycola Buie, Shelli Chapin, Courtney Lawshe, Brooklyn Phillips, Blair Pierce, Jessica Pennington, Meredith Sellers and Elizabeth Waldrop.Season Outlook: Shelby County is coming off a state tournament run in 2007 with plenty of talent, but having only nine players on the roster will mean the Wildcats can’t sustain any injuries. The Wildcats’ lone senior, Meredith Sellers, has already signed a scholarship to play at Jacksonville State next season, and she will be expected to groom Shelby County’s seven juniors. Brooklyn Phillips will take over the pitching duties held last year by Kassadie Jones.

SPAIN PARK JAGUARSAHSAA Class 6A, Area 11Head Coach: C.J. HawkinsLast Season: 18-35Roster: Amber Cardwell, Kimberlee Dunn, Lindsay Ehlman, Shelby Graham, Maria Gulas, Channing Haynes, Emily Knight, Keri Krake, Sam Langford, Kayla Leone, Clair Majors, Carley Shaw, Lakin Spear, Lauren Tant and Melissa Wilson.Season Outlook: C.J. Hawkins takes over the Spain Park program after spending nearly a decade at Clay-Chalkville and hopes to continue her winning ways of nine area titles and six state tournaments. This year, however, will be a molding year with four seniors and five juniors.

THOMPSON WARRIORSAHSAA Class 6A, Area 10Head Coach: Stacey LingenfelterLast Season: 27-24-1Roster: Amy Burch, Shaylin Gehring, Brittany George, Loraine Maldonado, Laurel Riley, Ashley Savage, Nicole Scorby, Marly Terrell, Kaitlin White, Briana Williams and Kim Wilson.Season Outlook: The Warriors struggled in the tough Class 6A, Area 10 last season, and with the loss of six seniors from last year’s squad, Thompson will be looking to build for the future in a challenging area against Pelham and Hueytown. Expect big things from Kaitlyn White, who is returning from an injury.

VINCENT YELLOW JACKETSAHSAA Class 2A, Area 7Head Coach: Amy SlagleLast Season: 7-13Roster: Alyssa Brockman, Leighann Burkett, Erika Carlisle, Raven Chapman, Jasmine Frazier, Joleen George, Marianna Green, Jerrica Hamilton, Courtney Holston, Dezirae Howard, Randee Isbell, Brooklyn Jones, Jessica Posey, Brittany Powell, Nikki Rivera, Amanda Shaw, Amber Shaw, Kim Swaim, Amanda Threatt and Taylor Wilson.Season Outlook: The Jackets will be young and unexperienced this season and will have to learn on the fly. Erika Carlisle, the team’s lone senior, will be splitting time between softball and track, but head coach Amy Slagle is confident in the senior’s athletic and leadership abilities.