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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

With another softball season getting underway in Alabama, all eyes are on Shelby County to see if it can live up to its historical standard of success.

Last year saw Helena, Spain Park and Thompson reach the state tournament while Calera and Pelham each made runs at regionals. This season, the level of talent across the board continues to be strong and could produce another banner year with multiple state title contenders as well.

Some of the best and brightest stars in the Class of 2025 will take their final bows as high schoolers while looking to go out on top, and just about every team has exciting young players who could build off their successful seasons last year and fill the shoes of the many legends who departed last season.

Here is a look at each team’s biggest storylines ahead of what should be another great spring of softball in the heart of Alabama.

 

Oak Mountain:

2024 Record: 22-19-1 (0-6 Class 7A, Area 6)

The Oak Mountain Eagles put together a solid campaign in 2024 as they finished just above .500 against a tough schedule, but they fell short against a brutal area of Spain Park, Vestavia Hills and Chelsea. Now, it only gets harder with the reigning state champion Hewitt-Trussville and a state tournament team in Hoover replacing the Jags and Hornets. That means it will be an uphill battle for the Eagles to get to regionals, but they have plenty of reasons to hope.

The chief reason is their strong returning production. While they said goodbye to All-State outfielder Emma Hawkins, Oak Mountain still has three All-County selections returning in 2025. Kelsey Crain broke out as just an eighth grader last year with an average of 7.6 strikeouts per seven innings as batters hit just .169 against her. She’ll anchor the rotation while a pair of strong veterans lead the offense in senior Anna DuBose, fresh off a .423 campaign, and junior Sheri Andrews, who hit just a hair under .400 at .397 as just a sophomore.

Of course, all eyes will be on area play to see if the Eagles can tangle with some of the top teams in Class 7A, but having an experienced foundation puts them a step ahead of other teams in the region.

Thompson:

2024 Record: 45-11 (4-2 Class 7A, Area 6), area runner-up, regional runner-up, 1-2 at state

It’s hard to picture a more loaded returning roster than the Thompson Warriors. While the Warriors have multiple spots to fill, namely from shortstop Dailynn Motes, catcher Laney Williams and outfielder Keara Hall, Thompson’s roster is filled with plenty of stars motivated from coming up short last year.

It starts with the Warriors rotation, which may be one of the best in the state. Thompson will be anchored by Indiana signee and Shelby County Pitcher of the Year Aubree Hooks, who struck out 145 batters while earning a 22-4 record, but she won’t be alone. Junior Kadyn Bush was one of the region’s most efficient swing-and-miss pitchers with a county-high 8.9 strikeouts per seven innings, and Autumn Ingle showed immense potential as a freshman last year.

As for the batting order, look for Olivia Tindell to provide a big spark for the offense along with Kelsey Burden, another player who made a big impact as an eighth grader a season ago. If other key veterans like Hannah Hobbs and Morgan Adolphus help fill in the offense around those two, expect the Warriors to be strong at the plate as well this year.

It took the eventual state champions in Hewitt-Trussville and a future Crimson Tide superstar in Daphne’s Miss Softball Vic Moten to dispatch Thompson in Oxford last year, so bank on the Warriors to make another deep run in 2025 should all the pieces come together.

Calera:

2024 Record: 28-22 (6-0 Class 6A, Area 5), area champion, reached regional consolation bracket finals

The Calera Eagles came heartbreakingly close to the state tournament last year, giving Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa a run for its money in the loser’s bracket finals after making a run to face Helena in the winner’s bracket finals. That capped off an undefeated run through area play that they rode to success once they got to Montgomery for regionals.

The biggest positive from that run? Many of their star players were either juniors or underclassmen. While the Eagles lost two of their biggest contributors, including last year’s county strikeout leader Kate Townley, most of their infield remains intact, including first baseman Lily Townsend, a .349 hitter, shortstop Mia Wade, who hit for .396 as a sophomore, and third baseman Kinley Rodgers, who racked up 45 RBI last season. All three made the All-County Second Team last year and will be poised to take another step this year.

What’s more, last year’s bonkers area of Carver-Montgomery, Stanhope Elmore and Chilton County is gone and replaced with their traditional area of Benjamin Russell and Chilton County, who were both under .500 last season. While it may take some time to adjust to life without their biggest stars, the Eagles should be well-positioned for another playoff run this year.

Chelsea:

2024 Record: 21-18-4 (2-4 Class 7A, Area 6)

The Chelsea Hornets held their own in Class 7A in their first season under Scott Lowery, only falling short against a pair of state tournament teams in area play. The road likely won’t be easier in Class 6A as Spain Park drops down with the Hornets into an area with Lowery’s former team Helena, but underestimate Chelsea at your own peril.

The Hornets lost two of their vocal leaders in Madeline Epperson and Baylor McCluney, but they return two of their biggest bats. Sydney Carroll has been as good of a power hitter as any in the region, and she proved that again last year, sending 11 of her 25 hits yard while earning a 1.154 OPS. With one more year before she heads to Mississippi State, expect her to find her best form in her final season. Katie Hopson joins her as another powerful bat to spark the Chelsea offense as she slugged .661 last year.

To capitalize on their power, Chelsea will need to fill the base paths so Carroll and Hopson can be set up for maximum impact at the plate. Caroline Brown, Alaysha Crews, Emma Parmley and Claire Purkey are all back from last year’s team and will be a key part in generating offense for the Hornets.

Chelsea will be without Carroll and Brown for the early stretch of the season as the Hornets make another deep run in the girls basketball playoffs, but when they return and the lineup gets time to gel, this could be a very dangerous team come area play.

Helena:

2024 Record: 40-9 (4-0 Class 6A, Area 7), area champions, regional champions, 0-2 at state

There was a stretch of the 2024 season where the Helena Huskies looked like the best team in Class 6A. The team never lost a step when Mark Sanders took over as head coach and used its talented veteran lineup to cruise through area play and the regional tournament.

However, just like in 2023, back-to-back losses in the state tournament ended the dream of turning that regular season success into a state title.

Now, Helena will need to navigate the loss of multiple key seniors, most notably the two-time Shelby County Hitter of the Year Presley Lively but also key scoring threat Emma Olive and defensive stalwart Hannah Steele.

However, if there’s one thing the Huskies will carry over from that successful 2024 team, it’s pitching. Two All-County pitchers return to the rotation in junior Hayden Traywick, who went 15-3 by giving up 0.22 runs per inning, and senior Marlee Parsons, who averaged a strikeout an inning a season ago. Look for those two to provide a solid defensive foundation to make up for losing talented defenders around them.

The lineup is not wanting for big-time bats either with Addison Draiss, Cammi Pugh, Harley Morrison, Destiny Brashears and Henley Traywick among the litany of players back from last year’s team. Expect them to bring some continuity from 2024’s success even as they step into new roles with the losses of Lively, Olive and Steele.

The biggest key for Helena will be which of those returning upperclassmen steps into the big shoes left by the departing seniors. If they do that, they might just navigate a brutal new Area 8 and set themselves up for another deep run.

Pelham:

2024 Record: 24-16 (2-2 Class 6A, Area 7), area runner-up, 2-2 at regionals

The Pelham Panthers made the most of their trip to the Central Regional as they picked up a pair of wins even as a No. 2 seed and got within a couple of games of the state tournament. Now, it’s all about building off of that experience as they face new challenges.

Due to reclassification, the Panthers will face a pair of state tournament teams and a pair of successful former 7A sides once area play starts. To navigate that schedule of Chelsea, Helena and Spain Park, Pelham’s veterans will have to step up when it matters the most.

One of those players who will be called upon both in the circle and at the plate is Jordan Young. She made the All-County First Team last season as a sophomore by allowing just 18 runs all year behind a 2.10 ERA and batting at a .374 clip. She won’t just have to be the top pitcher in the rotation but also one of the top bats to make up for the loss of a .452 hitter like Jordan Howard.

Beyond Young though, the Panthers have plenty of experience to help carry over the most successful parts of last season. Rebecca Roy will once again be an anchor behind home plate while veteran bats like Laini Stewart and Taylor Howard will be called upon as key parts of the order.

If Pelham can use the best aspects of last year’s run as a starting point for the year, coach Rachael McClure’s team will be a tough out in just about every game they play.

Spain Park:

2024 Record: 25-19 (4-2 Class 7A, Area 6), area runner-up, regional runner-up, 0-2 at state 

It’s tough to find a more talented veteran lineup than the one the Spain Park Jaguars will put forth in 2025. After making the state tournament a year ago in Class 7A, the Jags are back in 6A with some of the biggest pieces who got them out of the Florence regional.

Current UCLA Bruin Maggie Daniel may be gone, but just about every other key offensive contributor returns, including speedy All-County First Team selection Charlee Bennett along with veteran bats like Allie Whitaker, Teagan Huey, Tatum Lasseter, Klara Thompson and Reagan Roberts. Each of them provides a key skill to the lineup and will be crucial in carrying over last season’s offensive success.

However, it’s pitching that will be the biggest question for Spain Park this year. The Jags struggled getting off the field on defense last year, especially in the playoffs, and now they’ll be without their best swing-and-miss pitcher in Ella Ussery. Look for Jaley Young, who gained valuable experience last year as a freshman while serving as one of the team’s most high-leverage pitchers, to step into her shoes as the ace and anchor a very young pitching staff.

The Jags will have a difficult path to Montgomery and Oxford this year with Chelsea, Helena and Pelham in Class 6A, Area 8, but if they are able to match strong, efficient pitching with an effective offense, they will be a team to watch.

Briarwood Christian:

2024 Record: 5-21 (0-4 Class 6A, Area 7)

The Briarwood Christian Lions experienced some struggles in 2024 as they had to navigate a difficult area in Helena and Pelham as well as a tough schedule overall that led to just five wins on the year.

Now, coach Ashley Segreto’s team will look to put that in the rearview mirror as they take on a new classification in Class 5A, matching up with Shelby County, Central-Clay County and Sylacauga in area play.

The Lions lost one of the biggest bats from last season in first baseman Meredith Kellum, who led all county hitters in slugging percentage with 1.106 and OPS with 1.646 as she made the most of her limited plate appearances compared to some of the other players in the area from larger schools. One of the key pieces looking to replace her will be Ashley Heinemann, who while just being a sophomore has already established herself as one of the key pieces in the lineup.

Look for Heinemann along with senior Reese Collier and fellow sophomores Scout Staggs and Taylor Forrester to lead the way for the Lions as they chart a fresh path forward through a brand-new path to the playoffs, using the lessons learned from last year’s struggles to build themselves into something better.

Montevallo:

2024 Record: 0-23 (0-8 Class 4A, Area 6)

The Montevallo Bulldogs struggled on the softball diamond in 2024 as they went winless during the regular season. However, a new day has dawned for them as they claimed a win in their season opener against Dallas County, snapping a lengthy losing skid and bringing hope for the new season.

Like any team at Montevallo High School this season though, the Bulldogs will have to navigate a brand-new landscape in Class 5A. However, all four teams in Class 5A, Area 7 finished under .500 last season, so Montevallo will have opportunities to prove itself against Demopolis, Jemison and Selma as one of the two teams worthy of advancing to regionals.

The Bulldogs will need to rely on a young lineup in order to get out of the area and reach the playoffs. Sophomore Emily Thompson brings a strong presence to the pitching staff and has the ability to rack up strikeouts while in the circle. She’ll have a strong core of juniors around her to provide some upperclassman leadership, including third baseman Natalie Adams as well as Katie Bell, Maegen Gentry and Kyra Cleckey.

However, it’s the sophomores who will make up the heart of the batting order. Hannah Hill and Sarah Kayte Lash will occupy high-leverage spots in the order, so expect them to deliver on the offensive end along with eighth-grader Kaytlin Webb as the trio will be a key part of the team to build on going forward.

Veteran coach Tena Niven has just about seen it all for the Bulldogs, but now, she’ll lead Montevallo into Class 5A to develop the young core into a playoff contender.

Shelby County:

2024 Record: 16-9-3 (2-3 Class 5A, Area 7), area champions, 0-2 at regionals

The youth movement was in full effect for the Shelby County Wildcats in 2024, and they utilized those rising stars to make a marathon run through the Class 5A, Area 8 tournament and punch their ticket to the Central Regional as area champions.

Now, it’s all about taking that success and building off of it to make a deeper run in the playoffs.

Caitlan Bland had a breakout season for the Wildcats as a sophomore last year, racking up 12 home runs, 33 hits and 38 runs while earning a .446 batting average and the second-best slugging percentage and OPS in the county with 1.068 and 1.636, respectively. Look for her to lead the offense along with fellow junior Kaydence Connell, who had a solid sophomore season in 2024 to earn an All-County Honorable Mention.

Expect another tough road for Shelby County to make it to regionals with Sylacauga and Central-Clay County in the area along with Briarwood Christian dropping down from Class 6A. However, the Wildcats have the firepower to make some serious noise this year.

Vincent:

2024 Record: 16-16-2 (0-2 Class 2A, Area 8), area runner-up, 0-2 at regionals

While the Vincent Yellow Jackets benefitted from a bizarre two-team area last season to make the playoffs, they were still a very deserving side that picked up some solid wins in 2024. Now, they’ll look to build off that momentum to return to regionals and make some noise this time around.

Vincent will have multiple veteran pieces back from that team, including four seniors in McKenzie Fields, Harley King, Jaci Wallace and Jaci Young. Wallace will hold down the rotation along with sophomore Ava Grace Waldrop, and both of them have swing-and-miss stuff to help the Jackets get out of innings. The pair will also play a key role in the offense alongside big-time bats like Young and King, providing a solid offensive foundation to generate momentum in the batter’s box and translate that into runs.

Beyond the seniors though, look for juniors Taniya Robertson and Natalie Schiller, sophomore Madisyn King and freshman Kylie Newton to round out the lineup and learn from the seniors as they prepare to take the reins.

Vincent should be one of the favorites to emerge from its new three-team area with returning foe Southeastern and newcomer Ranburne. Should the Jackets succeed down the stretch and match great pitching with an opportunistic offense, they should be well positioned for the postseason.