3 Eagles named All-State

Oak Mountain set a school record with 30 wins in Derek Irons' first year as head coach of the Eagles. In order to have a great season, players have to have great seasons. Many did, and three of them were recognized as part of the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Baseball Team.

Joseph Hartsfield (first team pitcher), Ethan Holsombeck (second team designated hitter), and J.J. McDonald (honorable mention third baseman) all found their names listed in the Class 7A portion of the team.

"It's a great honor for our program to have three players on the All-State list. Joe, Ethan, and J.J. all had really good regular seasons, but great performances in our playoff games," Irons said.

Hartsfield was named to the first team, as he tied a single-season school record with eight wins on the mound. For the year, he was 8-2 with a 1.45 ERA in 72 innings. He allowed just 15 earned runs and 48 hits, while striking out 76 batters.

As good as he was overall, he finished the season on a tear. In the playoffs, he took the ball in the second game in each of the Eagles' first two series after a loss in Game 1. Each time, he was dominant, hurling a complete game shutout. Against Vestavia Hills, he allowed just one hit. The next weekend, against Hewitt-Trussville, he allowed just two hits and struck out 12, including eight straight at one point.

"Joe was dominant in his final four starts, two in area play and two in the playoffs. To perform the way he did against some of the best competition in the state with our season on the line says a lot about the player he is," Irons said.

Ethan Holsombeck set a school-record with 153 at-bats during the season, and finished the year with a .405 average, 40 runs, 20 RBIs, 15 doubles, and five triples. He also had a school-record 62 hits, "no small feat when you consider some of the talented players" that have played at Oak Mountain, according to Irons.

McDonald hit .388 and racked up 50 hits and 31 RBIs on the year. He also scored 26 runs and picked up eight doubles, two triples, and six stolen bases.