Chelsea softball team receives championship rings

The Chelsea High School softball team was honored at last Friday's playoff football game, as the 2016 Class 6A state champions received its championship rings.

The team was introduced on the field at halftime.

"It was great to see the girls get together and be recognized once again for winning the state championship," head coach Heather Lee said. She led the Hornets to a 31-12 mark in her first season.

A group that graduated seven players off last year's team came back together to celebrate the moment.

"Especially for last year's seniors, to be able to come back and relive that with their teammates, that was really cool," Lee said.

One of those seniors is Alex Smithson, now playing at Southern Union State Community College. Smithson said that the team's stubborness kept them from success early on in the season, but the team turned it around to win the last seven games of the year and win the state title.

"I miss them more and more each day," she said.

Despite losing Smithson, along with McKenzie Bryant, Mallory Bradford, Bailey Coyne, Mallory Heisler, Tristan Ziannis and Lexi Preisendorfer, Smithson believes that Lee and assistant coach Rebecca Roper will get the most out of the program each year.

"They defnitely have a lot of talent coming up," Smithson said. "Regardless, Coach Lee and Coach Roper are going to make the best situation possible with what they have."

Smithson has not been bashful about showing off her ring.

"It looks real pretty with the diamond and the royal blue," she said.

Other 2016 team members included recent UAB commit and star pitcher Sarah Cespedes, Miranda Traylor, Allie Miller, Kathryne Shoop, Lexi Serio, Chloe Eidson and Camryn Smith.