Alabama high school softball: 43 Gadsden area players to watch as the season gets underway
The Alabama high school softball season is getting underway this month and there are plenty of Gadsden area standouts who will look to make names for themselves this year.
Here are 43 softball players to watch:
Maggie Bennett, Etowah
Sophomore, UTL
Why: Bennett hit .312 last year with 30 RBI and five homeruns.
Makenna Bennich, Hokes Bluff
Why: Bennich hit .330 with 25 RBI and 25 walks.
Jasie Brooks, Southside
Senior
Why: Brooks is signed with Gadsden State and wants go out with a bang this spring.
Josie Bunch, West End
Senior, Picher/infield
Why chosen: Bunch played in the North-South All-star game last summer after 33 RBI and seven home runs last year. She was selected to the Gadsden Times 99 athletes to watch list.
Abi Bunt, Glencoe
Senior, Catcher
Why chosen: The Tennessee-Chattanooga signee played in the North-South all-star game last summer and was an All-state selection. She was selected to the Gadsden Times 99 athletes to watch list. She hit .490 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI.
Briley Byrum, Fyffe
Senior, pitcher, first base
Why: Byrum looks to be a standout for the Red Devils and will be one of the leaders on the team.
Emma Croy, Glencoe
Outfield
Why: Croy hit .491 with 41 RBI and 30 stolen bases last year.
Summer Crump, Glencoe
Pitcher
Why: Crump went 12-6 last year, while holding opposing hitters to a .277 batting average.
Liddy Falkner, West End
Senior, pitcher, third base
Why: Falkner has an offer from Gadsden State, and looks to break out this season.
Lauren Farmer, Etowah
Senior, infield
Why chosen: A five-year starter who can play multiple positions for the Blue Devils. She was selected to the Gadsden Times 99 athletes to watch list. She hit .325 with 22 RBI and 11 doubles.
Kendra Fay, Fyffe
Junior, Pitcher, third base
Why: Fay has begun to attract college interest and looks to have a big junior season.
Rosie Garrett, Southside
Senior
Why: Garrett is signed with Gadsden State and wants go out with a bang this spring.
Elizabeth Gilliland, Etowah
Sophomore, Pitcher
Why: Gilliland went 9-3 last year with 2.5 ERA.
Peyton Hall, Boaz
8th grade, Pitcher
Why: Hall earned second team all-state honors last year.
Jalyn Hannah, Sardis
Why: Hannah looks to be a breakout candidate this season.
Maddie Harris Sardis
Why: Harris looks to be a standout for the Lions this season.
Madeline Hawkins, Fyffe
Junior, Catcher
Why: Hawkins has begun to attract college interest and looks to have a big junior season.
Helena Ingram, Spring Garden
Junior, shortstop
Why: Ingram earned all-state honors after being both a contact and power hitter and is a stout defender.
Layla Ingram, Spring Garden
Junior, centerfield
Why: Ingram can cover a lot of ground in the outfield.
Sophia Jackson, Hokes Bluff
Why: Jackson hit .303 last year with 15 RBI.
Maggie Jarrett, Spring Garden
Junior, catcher
Why: Jarrett controls the base path from behind the plate.
Braylee King, West End
Sophomore, Pitcher, Middle infield
Why: King batter .429 last year with 29 runs scored and 16 RBI.
Abby Lea, Cherokee County
Senior
Why: Lea is signed with Northeast Alabama and looks to go out with a bang this spring.
Aubrey Maxwell, Glencoe
Why: Maxwell earned all state honors last year and hit .471 with 39 RBI.
Grier Maples, Boaz
Freshman, Pitcher
Why: Maples earned all-state honors last year after 156 strikeouts.
Alexia Molina, Susan Moore
Senior, Pitcher, UTL
Why: Molina is a do-it-all player for the Bulldogs and hit .342 last year with 15 extra base hits and a .600 on base percentage.
Sydney Noles, Boaz
Senior, outfield
Why: A Berry college signee and honorable mention all-state honoree, Noles hit .446 last season.
Bella Owens, Etowah
Sophomore, Outfield
Why: Owens is a three-year starter who .300 with 23 RBI and 15 stolen bases last year.
Makayla Owens, Sylvania
Senior, Catcher
Why: Owens is signed with Snead State and looks to have one final breakout season.
Abby Payne, Hokes Bluff
Senior
Why: Payne hit .482 last year with 58 RBI, while drawing 43 walks. She is signed with Gadsden State.
Adison Pierce, Albertville
Pitcher, UTL
Why: Pierce is the everyday starter for the Aggies while hitting .324.
Ava Ramsey, Southside
Senior
Why: Ramsey is signed with Gadsden State and wants go out with a bang this spring.
Ava Rhoden, Boaz
Junior, Second base
Why: Rhoden hit .546 with 31 stolen bases in route to All-state honors.
Kyndell Sammons, Sylvania
Senior, Pitcher
Why: Sammons is signed with Northeast Alabama and looks to have one final breakout season.
Savannah Smith, Piedmont
Senior, Utility
Why chosen: Smith, a Jax State signee, ended the 2023 season with an 1.43 era and 146 strikeouts with a no-hitter. As a hitter she bats .458 with 40 RBI and six home runs. She was selected to the Gadsden Times 99 athletes to watch list.
Avery Steward, Spring Garden
Junior, pitcher
Why: Steward is the leadoff hitter for the Panthers.
Grayson Tucker, Cherokee County
Senior
Why: Tucker is signed with Central Alabama and looks to go out with a bang this spring.
Anna Kate Waldrop, Sardis
Senior, outfielder
Why chosen: Waldrop signed with Southern Union and should be a leader for the softball program. She was selected to the Gadsden Times 99 athletes to watch list.
Daleigha Wheeler, West End
Freshman, Outfield, pitcher
Why: Wheeler hit .338 with 17 RBI last season.
Kylee Wilder, Etowah
Freshman, Shortstop
Why: Wilder hit .300 with 20 RBI and is going into her third year starting for the Blue Devils.
Cayse Willett, Glencoe
UTL
Why: Willett hit .432 last year with 40 RBI and four homeruns.
Lanie Williams, Cherokee County
Senior
Why: Williams is signed with Gadsden State and looks to go out with a bang this spring.
Kirby Wisner, Sylvania
Senior, Centerfield, pitcher
Why: Wisner is signed with Gadsden State and looks to have one final breakout season.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 43 Gadsden area high school softball players to watch
