Fitts named baseball Player of the Year

Pelham High School junior Trevor Fitts participated in the daily jogs with the rest of baseball players across the county, state and nation to get in top physical shape for the 2010 season.

However, Fitts had a different approach to off-season physical training than the majority of high school baseball players. The intensity he brings to his conditioning is what separates him from the pack, said Pelham coach Jeff Mauldin.

“He runs as if he’s being timed in the mile while everyone else is just getting a jog in,” Mauldin said. “He doesn’t do any more than the other guys, he just does it at a higher intensity level than everyone else.”

Fitts’ intensity provided the spark for the Panthers, who reached the quarterfinal round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2010. Fitts, who has verbally committed to play baseball at Mississippi State University, continued to add to his pitching repertoire and storied high school baseball career as he led Pelham to staggering 39-6 record and a national ranking.

Fitts struck out 151 batters in 92 innings with a 14-0 record and a 0.91 earned run average. Fitts set school single season records for wins, complete games, shutouts, and strikeouts. He also set school career records for saves, shutouts, wins and strikeouts.

Fitts was named an ESPN Rise Player of the Week during the season and was selected as a finalist for Gatorade Player of the Year.

Mauldin said Fitts, who pitched 14 complete games in 14 starts, frustrated batters with three “college-ready” pitches. Mauldin said he believes Fitts could be a potential selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.

“I’ve never had a more complete pitcher,” Mauldin said. “He can throw his fastball, curveball and change-up for strikes. I’ve never had a player as good as he is.”

Despite his individual success, Mauldin said Fitts still put his teammates first. Fitts pitched two complete games in a span of four days to help the Panthers defeat Spain Park in the second round of the playoffs.

“He’s willing to do anything it takes to be there for his teammates,” Mauldin said.

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2010 All-County baseball team

C – Carter White, Spain Park, Jr.

IF – Gage Holmes, Coosa Valley Sr.

IF – Tripp Martin, Pelham, Sr.

IF – Cary Baxter, Oak Mountain, Sr.

IF – Andrew Bishop, Pelham, Sr.

OF – Michael Bishop, Pelham, Sr.

OF – Logan Crook, Briarwood, Jr.

OF – Trent Posey, Calera, Sr.

DH– Davis Dudchock, Oak Mountain, Sr.

UT — Mikey White, Spain Park, So.

P – Trevor Fitts, Pelham, Sr.

P – Chris Ellis, Spain Park, Jr.

P – Braten Dill, Shelby County, Sr.

P – Jonathan Keller, Thompson, Jr.

Honorable mention: Trae Santos and Parker Curry, Pelham; Aaron Haag and Jake Lee, Spain Park; J.D. Crowe and David Dahl, Oak Mountain; Ian Murray and Jake Hester, Thompson; David Woods, Paul McKelvey and Daniel Robert, Briarwood; Josh Harkins, Chelsea; Kevin McNorton, and Evan McNeal, Shelby County; Zac Isbell and Adam Winterbottom, Calera; Brandon Lilly, Montevallo; Stephen Himic, Indian Springs; Brett Frizzell, Vincent; Doug Ledlow, Kingwood; Lance Benton and Jacob Henderson, Cornerstone; Jared Mims and John Bullen, Coosa Valley; Jakan Sylestine, Evangel; Brandon Mackey, Hope.

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Dunnaway leads All-County softball team

Chelsey Dunnaway has enjoyed a great senior year at Cornerstone Christian School, surpassing a milestone 1,000 strikeouts for her career.

That career mark, combined with leading her team to an Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 1A state championship against a schedule that included several top 10 teams, with the Chargers suffering only one loss, have qualified her as Shelby County’s softball Player of the Year.

“To pitch and hit fourth in the lineup is a good bit of pressure on a player but she handled it well,” said Coach Mark Armstrong.

Armstrong explained Cornerstone’s loss to Glenwood in Lee County was the only one of the season, and Glenwood went on to win the AISA Class 3A state championship. However, the Lady Chargers were able to defeat the Lady Gators in two out of three games.

Dunnaway ended the season with a 0.21 earned run average, 183 strikeouts, 12 complete games and seven shutouts. Dunnaway finished with a .521 Batting average and .608 on-base percentage at the plate.

Dunnaway, a three-sport star in volleyball, basketball and softball, owns several school softball records at Cornerstone and caps her career as the most decorated athlete in Chargers’ history.

Dunnaway has signed with Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, but several colleges still have their eyes on her.

“She definitely has the physical skills and attitude to play at the next level,” Armstrong said. “She’s a leader all the time, focused and has a ‘let’s get the job done’ attitude.”

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C – Tori Hollis, Chelsea, Sr.

IF – Kaylan Davis, Montevallo, Sr.

IF – Julie Moss, Oak Mountain, Sr.

IF – Caroline Seitz, Oak Mountain Fr.

IF – Heather McGuirk, Pelham, Jr.

OF – Shanise Hudson, Montevallo, Sr.

OF – Carley Toretta, Chelsea, Jr.

OF – Erin Whitman, Pelham, So.

DH – Nichole Davis, Cornerstone, Sr.

UT — Whitney Gillespie, Kingwood, Fr.

P – Chelsey Dunnaway, Cornerstone, Sr.

P – Morgan Reed, Briarwood, 8th

P – Caitlin Bice, Chelsea, So.

P – Rachel Rigney, Thompson, So.

Honorable mention: Olivia Mire, Oak Mountain; Becky Fox and Jessie Breland, Pelham; Hannah Camp, Erin Hornsby and Channing Haynes, Spain Park; Ashley Savage, Ashleigh Short and Ashley Sawyer, Thompson; Caroline Seay and Sara Kate Bracewell, Briarwood; Johnna Marie Barnes and Anna Cox, Chelsea; Courtney Shields and Brianna Buie, Shelby County; Katelyn Dean and Jocelyn Davis, Calera; Cloe Jones and Savanna Smith, Montevallo; Hollye Hamilton, Indian Springs; Tori Cato, Vincent; Madeline Lee and Lauren Rozof, Kingwood; Jana Armstrong, Destiny Dillard and Kailey Goodwin, Cornerstone; Emily Foster, Evangel; Tiffany Skinner, Hope.