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See a Utah player go all out for a catch in a state title game.MaxPreps 2017 Alabama preseason softball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. Sparkman (Harvest)2016 record: 50-16
Head coach: Dale Palmer
Sparkman won its fourth title in five years in 2016 and with a pair of standout pitchers and plenty of offense returning from that team, another state trophy is within reach. The pitching combination of
Kailey Stoker (Belmont signee) and
Lily Calvert are tough to beat. Stoker compiled a 22-7 record (earned a win in four state championship tournament games) with 90 strikeouts and 1.24 ERA. Stoker was first team All-State and Calvert received honorable mention. The Senators had three other All-State performers: Auburn signee and MaxPreps All-American
MacKenzie Nutt (who hit .444 with 12 homers, 76 RBIs, 17 doubles, five triples and 18 stolen bases), MaxPreps Underclass All-American
TJ Webster (who had a team-best .451 average, 58 steals, 65 runs and 24 walks) and junior outfielder
Taylor Davis (who batted .440 with 31 steals, 59 runs and team-best 77 hits). Add seniors
Haley Cope (UA-H),
Savannah Hayes (Northern Alabama) and
Courtney McFarland (Martin Methodist) and Sparkman is loaded.
See the MaxPreps Alabama softball computer rankings presented by the Army National GuardSavannah Hayes, Sparkman
Photo by John St. Clair
2. Sumiton Christian2016 record: 57-10
Head coach: Jessica Aderholt
The big three –
Kamree Lay (West Alabama signee),
Kendall Beth Sides (Alabama signee) and
Jenna Ergle (Boston College signee) – are back and it's their senior year. The latter two are three-time MaxPreps All-Americans who have put up monumental numbers. Sides turned in another spectacular season with 101 base hits, 104 runs scored and 82 stolen bases. Named the State 2A Player of the Year and to the All-Alabama Super Softball Team, she has scored 293 times and stolen 369 bases – both national records. Ergle is a three-time first team All-State and Alabama Super State honoree. She was named MaxPreps' 2014 National Freshman Softball Player of the Year. She set the national RBI record as a freshman in 2014 (127) and has 336 over the last three seasons. She's the only player in AHSAA history to break 100 RBIs in a season and she has done it three times — 127 in 2014, 103 in 2015 and 106 in 2016. Lay was 43-4 with a 1.59 ERA and 372 strikeouts in 209 innings. The Eagles have more than just the big three with
Savanah Langston (.486 batting average, 54 RBIs, 64 runs),
Anna Kate Tyree (combination of 68 runs and RBIs as an eighth-grader) and
Abbey Bice, who hit .285.
See the MaxPreps Alabama softball stat leaderboards3. Spain Park (Hoover)2016 record: 40-19
Head coach: C.J. Hawkins
Spain park lost only one main starter from last year's team that ended its season with a loss in the 7A state final game. The Jaguars return state 7A Player of the Year and Texas signee
Mary Katherine Tedder. With 20 home runs, a team-best .457 average, 74 RBIs, 74 hits, five triples and 31 walks, Tedder was a monster at the plate. Also back are eighth-grade pitcher
Annabelle Widra, who compiled a 13-5 record with 118 strikeouts and 1.94 ERA in 108 innings to earn second team All-State honors as a seventh grader,
Maddie Majors (Auburn commit),
Kate Campbell,
Julianna Cross (who hit .335 with 16 doubles and 38 RBIs) and
Jenna Olszewski (a .330 hitter).
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4. Hoover2016 record: 44-17-1
Head coach: Lexi Shrout
Expectations are high for Hoover to improve on its 44-17 (five one-run losses) record of 2016, as 16 players return and five of those have signed to play collegiately. Sophomore
Madeline Harris is back in the circle after going 17-5 with a 2.64 ERA. She's not overpowering, but effective. And she will have plenty of offensive support with the return of seniors
Abby Tissier (13 homers),
Kaley Anthony (10 homers, 13 doubles) and
Caroline Hart (six homers), who combined for 147 runs batted in. Other returnees include junior
Caroline Nichols (.361), senior
Jamie Gregg (.425 batting average, 77 runs scored and 52 stolen bases) and
Willa Green (.298 batting average, 37 RBIs). Tissier has signed with Auburn, Anthony with Tennessee State, Gregg with Mississippi State, Nichols with South Alabama and Hart with Spring Hill.
See the MaxPreps Alabama softball playoff brackets 5. Springville2016 record: 35-9, 5A state champions
Head coach: Chris Williams
The Tigers lost their top two hitters (22 homers and 89 RBIs), but everyone else returns from their 5A state championship team, including MaxPreps All-American and freshman standout
Abby Swaney (25-6, 0.79 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 177 innings). Swaney, who was named the 5A Pitcher of the Year, has committed to Samford. Also back are seniors
Ashlyn Perrin (.410, 48 RBIs),
Hannah Walker (.370 batting average and 30 RBIs),
Katie Emmal (.348 average) and juniors
Kaylee Chapman (.409),
Piper Long and
Annie Nolan. That's a lot of support for Swaney and other Springville hurlers.