Alabama high school softball: 44 players to watch in the Tuscaloosa area in 2024
With the Alabama high school softball season upon us, there are impactful players to watch in the Tuscaloosa area.
The softball season starts Feb. 15 for all AHSAA schools.
Softball area tournaments will run from April 26-28. Regionals will run from May 6-9, at four different locations statewide: Gulf Shores, Montgomery, Albertville and Florence.
To close out the season, state tournaments will begin on May 13, and will be played in Oxford.
Here are 44 Tuscaloosa-area players to watch for the season:
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Sydney Elam, American Christian Academy
Senior, pitcher/outfielder
The senior, who is signed with MMI, pitched to a 15-4 record, a 2.50 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 2023. She also batted .425 with 25 RBIs.
Charli Kyser, American Christian Academy
Senior, pitcher/utility
The senior, who is signed with Samford, batted .417 with 37 RBIs in 2023 for the Patriots.
Molly Barger, American Christian Academy
Junior, catcher
The junior had a batting average of .396 last season for the Patriots along with 41 RBIs.
Ronni Kate Ward, Brookwood
Senior, catcher
The MMI signee had a .350 batting average with a .540 slugging percentage, 14 extra-base hits and three home runs for the Panthers in 2023. She was also named to second-team All-State.
Kennedy Childers, Brookwood
Sophomore, outfielder
The sophomore started 44 games as a freshman last season, totaling a .360 batting average and .690 slugging percentage with 19 extra-base hits and seven home runs for the Panthers in 2023.
Amori Morrison, Brookwood
Sophomore, pitcher
Morrison started 15 games and pitched 72 innings as a freshman, going 9-6 with 68 strikeouts and a 3.30 ERA for the Panthers in 2023.
Kylee Grace Roy, Brookwood
Junior, third base
Roy has been starting since her freshman season and started 49 game last season. In 2023, she batted .360 with 46 hits, 10 doubles and a home run.
Ashton Moorer, Demopolis
Senior, pitcher
Moorer has 856 career strikeouts in her time with the Tigers and posted a 1.75 ERA last season.
"We have high expectations for her this year and are excited about her closing in on 1,000 K's", coach Stephen Clements said.
Lizzie Thornton, Demopolis
Sophomore
Thornton started most games in her freshman season, posting a .259 batting average with 18 RBIs.
Allie Hughes, Demopolis
Sophomore
Hughes also started a majority of the games last season for the Tigers, totaling a .260 batting average with 26 RBIs in 2023.
"We have a wealth of young talent in the upcoming freshman and sophomore classes and have high expectations for them," Clements said.
Ensleigh Kennedy, Fayette County
Senior, pitcher/first base
Kennedy started all 32 games as a junior last season with a .262 batting average, .425 slugging percentage and 13 singles, five doubles, a triple and 20 RBIs. In the circle, she had a 4.40 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 2023.
Delilah Hallman, Fayette County
Sophomore, designated player
Hallman started 18 games at first base and DP last season. Her season was cut short due to an ACL injury. In 2023, Hallman had a .160 batting average, .240 slugging percentage, eight singles, a triple and three RBIs.
Skyi Lewis, Fayette County
Freshman, shortstop
Lewis started 30 games as an eighth-grader last season with a .239 batting average, .682 OPS, .282 slugging percentage, 15 singles, a double and triple, 10 stolen bases, 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored. She also made four double plays defensively.
Aubrey Deavours, Fayette County
Freshman, second base
Deavours started 28 games at second base last season, totaling a .167 batting average, .500 OPS, .167 slugging percentage, five RBIs, 14 runs and nine stolen bases for the Tigers.
Abigail Billings, Gordo
Junior, pitcher/utility
Billings recorded a .458 batting average with 14 doubles and 13 home runs for the Green Wave last season. As a pitcher, she posted a 2.42 ERA.
Isabella Billings, Gordo
Junior, catcher/utility
Billings recorded a .473 batting average with 20 doubles and 10 home runs for the Green Wave in 2023.
Nichole Dockery, Hillcrest
Senior, shortstop
Dockery posted a .300 batting average with 10 doubles, 29 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for the Patriots in 2023.
Mackenzie Harper, Hillcrest
Senior, pitcher/first base
Harper had a .346 batting average with 11 doubles and 26 RBIs at the plate for the Patriots in 2023. In the circle, she recorded 19 wins with 167 strikeouts and a 2.60 ERA.
Jewel Brooks, Hillcrest
Senior, pitcher/outfielder
Brooks recorded 18 wins with 89 strikeouts and a 2.67 ERA for the Patriots in 2023. She also batted 280 with 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
Kylee Dunn, Hubbertville
Senior, outfielder
Dunn had a batting average of .518 last season for the Lions. She signed a scholarship to play at Snead State Community College.
Neveah Hoobler, Hubbertville
Junior, pitcher
Hoobler posted a .506 BA with a .680 OBP and 40 RBIs for the Lions in 2023. She will be the Lions' starting pitcher this season.
Elliott Williams, Northridge
Junior, third base
Williams led the team in hits, RBIs and slugging percentage in 2023, as well as finishing second on the team with a .401 batting average. She is also second on the team with hits and on-base percentage.
Mary Hays Henderson, Northridge
Sophomore, piitcher/catcher/first base
Henderson led the team in hitting with a .540 batting average, .587 OBP and in pitching wins. She also finished second on the team in RBIs last season.
Sara Lee, Northside
Senior, utility
Lee recorded 115 AB last season for a .287 average, .383 slugging percentage and 24 RBIs for the Rams last season. She signed on to play at Mississippi College.
Avery Sharbutt, Northside
Junior, first base
Sharbutt recorded 121 AB last season for a .413 batting average, .579 slugging percentage and 37 RBIs for the Rams in 2023.
Caroline Jones, Northside
Sophomore, catcher
Jones hit at a .377 clip with a .562 slugging percentage and 35 RBIs in her first year with the Rams in 2023.
Lilly Vold, Pickens Academy
Junior, third base/pitcher
Vold missed 14 games due to injury last season but recorded a .524 batting average with 11 hits, a home run, three RBIs and five stolen bases. She also pitched two games with 12⅓ innings pitched with five strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA.
Karli Crocker, Pickens Academy
Senior, pitcher
Crocker pitched in 18 games for the Pirates last season, going 90 innings with 98 strikeouts and a 3.34 ERA. She is committed to Gadsden State Community College.
Sarah Aaron, Kensley Jolly, and Maddy Smith, Sipsey Valley
Aaron and Jolly (outfield), Smith (utility)
"These three seniors have been an instrumental part of qualifying for the regional tournament for the past three years", coach Bradley Atchenson said.
Barkley Higginbotham and Katie Grace Lowery, Sipsey Valley
Higginbotham and Lowery (pitchers/infielders)
"Both carried the team from the circle last season, pitching us into post season competition", Atchenson said.
Kasey Jo Hayes and Ashleigh Brasfield, South Lamar
Hayes is a senior pitcher and first baseman for the Stallions. Brasfield is a sophomore pitcher and utility for the Stallions this season.
Lily Lucas, Tuscaloosa Academy
Freshman, pitcher/shortstop
Lucas led the Knights in defensive fielding last season at .964. She also batted leadoff and recorded 24 stolen bases in 2023.
Anna Claire Johnson, Tuscaloosa Academy
Eight grade
"She played every position for us on the field last year, and she's a very versatile athlete," coach Colt Youngblood said.
Morgan Langkawel, Tuscaloosa Academy
Junior, catcher
"A team captain from last year, Morgan's a great bat for us in the four hole and she has tremendous leadership skills", Youngblood said.
Holly Beth Brooks, Tuscaloosa County
Junior, catcher
Brooks recorded seven doubles, three home runs and 20 RBIs for the Wildcats in 2023. She also caught for 251 innings. Brooks is committed to Alabama.
Peyton Earp, Tuscaloosa County
Junior, outfielder/pitcher
Earp got moved up to varsity as a 10th-grader last season. She recorded a .520 batting average with six doubles, two triples and seven stolen bases.
Karlie Beth Beasley, Tuscaloosa County
Junior, pitcher/shortstop
Beasley's season was cut short due to injury in 2023. She pitched 22⅓ innings with 34 strikeouts and a 0.62 ERA while allowing just a .093 batting average to opponents.
Kennah Beth Lacy, Winfield
Junior, pitcher/third base
Lacy recorded 18 wins with 110 strikeouts and a 2.76 ERA in 2023. She batted .352 with five home runs and 65 RBIs. She was second-team All-State in 2023 and is a Wallace State commit.
Hannah Kimbrell, Winfield
Freshman, shortstop/pitcher
Kimbrell, a second-team All-State selection in 2023, recorded just three errors at shortstop for the Pirates last season. In the circle, she pitched eight wins with 78 strikeouts and a 2.29 ERA. She batted .355 with seven home runs, 57 RBIs and 21 steals.
Willia Simmons, Winfield
Junior, pitcher
Simmons hit .367 with seven home runs for the Pirates in 2023. She also had 11 wins pitching with 73 strikeouts and a 2.74 ERA.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama high school softball 44 Tuscaloosa area players to watch in 2024
