Alabama high school softball playoffs: 31 players to watch in Gadsden area
The Alabama high school softball playoffs start this week with area tournaments and plenty of Gadsden standouts are gearing up to shine.
Area tournaments can be played starting Friday and going through Tuesday with teams getting about a week off until regional tournaments start from May 6 to 9. Most Gadsden area teams will be going to Albertville for regional play. The state tournament will be from May 13-17 in Oxford.
Here are 31 players to watch in the Gadsden area:
Jalyn Allen, Southside
Position: Pitcher
Why: Allen has gone an impressive 20-4 on the year, pitching 133 innings with 102 strikeouts and holding a 4.04 ERA.
Maggie Bennett, Etowah
Position: Catcher
Why: Bennett has 35 hits, 17 runs scored and 21 RBIs on the year.
Jasie Brooks, Southside
Position: Second base
Why: Brooks has hit .393 on the season with 26 RBIs.
Josie Bunch, West End
Position: pitcher, third base
Why: Bunch is one of the better pitchers in the area with an 1.51 ERA with 45 strikeouts on the year. She also hits .387 with 28 RBIs on the year.
Abi Bunt, Glencoe
Position: Shortstop, UTL
Why: Bunt has hit .542 on the season with 23 RBIs, 28 runs scored and four home runs.
Peyton Burrell, Southside
Position: Centerfield
Why: Burrell has stolen 32 bases on the year with a .485 batting average. She has 17 RBIs.
Briley Byrum, Fyffe
Position: Pitcher, first base
Why: Byrum has been hitting .426 on the season, so far, with 21 RBIs and 18 runs scored with eight doubles.
Kaitlyn Clough, Coosa Christian
Why: Clough has been hitting .346 for the Conquerors and has gotten on base at a 51% clip.
Jillian Delp, Coosa Christian
Why: Delp has been hitting .538 on the year with nine stolen bases.
Liddy Falkner, West End
Position: third base, shortstop, pitcher
Why: Falkner has hit .329 on the year with 27 runs scored and 24 RBIs while holding an 5.30 ERA for the Patriots.
Emma Finch, West End
Position: First base
Why: Finch has it .304 on the season with 23 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Sam Galloway, Fyffe
Position: Shortstop
Why: Galloway is hitting .522 on the year with 22 runs scored and 22 RBIs.
Lacey Grace Hall, Hokes Bluff
Why: Hall has been one of the top pitchers and has been consistent throughout the season.
Peyton Hall, Boaz
Why: Hall earned second team all-state honors last season and is looking to show out in the playoffs but first has to get out of a tough area tournament.
Maddie Harris, Sardis
Why Harris has been one of the top players for the Lions all season.
Audrey Haygood, Cherokee County
Why: Haygood has hit .419 on the year with 19 RBIs.
Maddie Hawkins, Fyffe
Position: Catcher
Why: Hawkins is hitting .420 on the year with 16 runs scored and 21 RBIs.
Emma Hill, Cherokee County
Position: Pitcher
Why: Hill holds an ERA of .519 on the season with 168 strikeouts and a 14-1 record.
Bailey Houston, Southside
Position: Catcher
Why: Houston has hit .442 on the season with 20 stolen bases and 18 RBIs.
Helena Ingram, Spring Garden
Position: Shortstop
Why: Ingram has hit .483 on the year with 31 runs scored and 22 RBIs.
Maggie Jarrett, Spring Garden
Position: Catcher
Why: Jarrett has hit .412 on the year so far with 17 runs scored and 32 RBIs.
Braylee King, West End
Position: Shortstop, second base, pitcher
Why: King holds a 6-2 record with a 3.60 ERA and 28 strikeouts while hitting .543 with 36 runs scored.
Abby Lea, Cherokee County
Why: Lea has hit .379 on the year with 27 RBIs and four home runs.
Brylie McCarver, Gaston
Position: Pitcher
Why: McCarver has pitched in 11 games with 40 strikeouts and is hitting .431 from the leadoff spot.
Bella Owen, Etowah
Position: Centerfield
Why: Owen has 26 runs scored and 15 RBIs on the season.
Abby Payne, Hokes Bluff
Why: Payne has been consistently been one of the top players for the Eagles, who are looking to get out of tough Etowah County area.
Ava Ramsey, Southside
Position: First base
Why: Ramsey has nine home runs on the year, three of which came last week and is hitting .483. She's added 40 RBIs with an 1.581 OPS.
Savannah Smith, Piedmont
Why: Smith has been one of the top players for the Bulldogs, who are looking to make their fourth straight Elite Eight.
Avery Steward, Spring Garden
Position: Pitcher, right field
Why: Steward holds an ERA of 2.34 with 67 strikeouts and a 11-5 record. She is hitting .518 with 31 runs scored and 15 RBIs.
AnnaKate Waldrep, Sardis
Why: Waldrep has helped lead the Lions all season and will try to help them get out of a tough area tournament.
Cayse Willett, Glencoe
Position: Third base
Why: Willett has hit .524 on the year with 39 RBIs, seven homeruns and 26 runs scored.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 31 players to watch in Gadsden area for Alabama high school softball playoffs
