Photo by Sarah Finnegan
Brooke Burback (2) throws the ball back to the pitcher during an AHSAA Class 6A state tournament game at Lagoon Park in Montgomery. Burback was named to the all-state team after hitting 11 home runs in 2018.
Several local student-athletes were named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state softball team after strong seasons on the diamond.
In the area, 11 players were recognized. Headlining the list was Class 7A pitcher of the year and first-team player Annabelle Widra. Widra helped lead Spain Park to a runner-up finish at the 7A tournament and finished her freshman season (her third varsity season) with a 23-8 record in the circle.
Widra posted a 1.98 earned run average in 176 1/3 innings and struck out a whopping 264 hitters on the year while allowing 134 hits.
Her teammate Maddie Majors made the first team as well after an impressive junior season in center field for the Jags. Majors served as the team’s primary leadoff hitter and finished with a .477 batting average and .531 on-base percentage. The Auburn commit homered nine times and drove in 47 runs, while striking out just five times on the year.
Also from Spain Park, first baseman Caroline Wooley and shortstop Bailey Bowers were named honorable mention. Wooley smacked 11 homers with 41 RBIs and Bowers finished the year with a .459 average.
Spain Park advanced to the 7A championship series and finished as the runner-up in the class for the second time in three seasons.
Sarah Cespedes’ arm led Chelsea to the Class 6A state tournament for the third season in a row. The UAB signee was named to the second team after posting a 3.42 ERA in 147 1/3 innings of work.
Brooke Burback, Chelsea’s catcher, was also named to the second team. The UAB commit slugged 11 home runs and posted a .559 on-base percentage for the season. The Hornets finished fifth at the state tournament.
After making the 7A state tournament for the first time since 2003, Oak Mountain landed three players on the honorable mention list. Catcher Cassady Greenwood, a Louisville signee, drove in 53 runs and hit .416 in her final season with the Eagles.
Torie Denkers hit 11 homers as the designated hitter. Outfielder Jenna Galloway notched 27 extra-base hits on the season. The Eagles finished the season with a 28-17 record.
In Ashley Segreto’s initial season as Briarwood head coach, a pair of Lady Lions players were honored for their contributions. Third baseman Riley Coyne, who will play for Miami (Ohio), crushed 12 home runs and drove in 46 runs in 96 overall at-bats to earn second-team honors in Class 5A. Second baseman Lydia Coleman gave Briarwood a weapon at the top of the lineup, as she was named honorable mention after a season in which she registered a .530 on-base percentage and racked up 21 stolen bases.
