By Staff
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
This year's All-Area team was hard to narrow down. There was a surplus of talent on the softball diamond this year, as was evidenced by three teams making the playoffs and two advancing to the state tournament.
And do not be surprised if you see some of these names again on next year's All-Area team. Of the 13 members, just three were seniors this season.
This is the 2006 Hartselle Enquirer All-Area softball team.
Coach of the Year – Shane Alexander, Hartselle
Runner-up:
Holly Little, Danville
The coaching job done by Alexander this season was impressive. In 2005, the Lady Tigers finished with a record of 23-24, but in 2006 they improved to 41 wins and advanced to the state tournament in Montgomery. Hartselle eventually finished the season in third place in the Class 5A state tournament.
With a majority of his players returning next season, Alexander appears to have done a fine job of continuing Hartselle's tradition of softball excellence.
Also having an outstanding year was Danville's Holly Little, who helped coach the Lady Hawks to their third-straight playoff appearance. The Lady Hawks finished tied for seventh place at the Class 3A tournament in Montgomery and finished with a record of 32-21.
Pitcher of the Year – Breanna Segars, Hartselle
Runner-up:
Sara Champion, Falkville
Segars was the lone pitcher named on every coach's ballot, and for good reason. The Hartselle junior set a new school record with 24 wins and just seven losses and her ERA of 1.16 led the team.
But it was the postseason where Segars really shined. At the state tournament in Montgomery, she pitched three shutouts as Hartselle defeated Oxford 2-0 and 4-0 and knocked off Huntsville 1-0.
Runner-up was Falkville's Sara Champion, who had an ERA of 3.57 and struck out 78 batters in 98 innings of work as the Lady Blue Devils' ace.
Player of the Year – Charleston Wilson, Danville
Runner-up:
Catie Keel, Hartselle
As one of just two seniors on the Lady Hawks, Wilson had to be a team leader from the beginning. As Danville's starting catcher, she rose to the challenge all season long and earns the nod as this year's Player of the Year.
Wilson hit a team-high batting average of .395 and was a jack-of-all-trades for the Lady Hawks. In a Danville sweep against Sumiton Christian in the first round of the state playoffs, she stole five stolen bases in two games. She was named to the Alabama Sportswriters Association All-State team in 2005.
Keel was a leader for Hartselle all season long, hitting for a team-high .350 batting average and knocking in 20 runs. She scored 42 runs and stole 25 stolen bases for the Lady Tigers. Keel led the team in average, hits, runs, stolen bases and on-base percentage.
First team
Joining Segars and Champion in the pitching rotation are Hartselle's Mary Curtis and Danville's Brittany Atkins.
Curtis was a solid No. 2 starter for Hartselle. Against Saks at the Gulf Shores Beach Blast tournament, she threw the Lady Tigers' only no-hitter of the season.
She also had perhaps the biggest hit of the postseason for the Lady Tigers, knocking in a game-winning RBI single in the seventh inning against Huntsville at the state tournament in an elimination game.
Atkins was the ace on Danville's pitching staff and also hit for a .290 average at the plate. She threw a one-hitter in Danville's 7-0 win over Sumiton Christian in the first round of the playoffs.
The designated player is Danville's Bethany Evans, who hit .385 during the season, a mark that ranked second on the Lady Hawks.
Filling in the infield are Falkville's Savannah Story, Priceville's Jessica Kennedy and Hartselle's Kayla Orr and Shanice Johnson.
Story was Falkville's third baseman and hit for a .298 average for the Lady Blue Devils. The senior scored 10 runs and collected 18 RBIs.
Orr was the power bat for Hartselle this season, leading the team in doubles, triples, home runs and RBIs. She hit eight home runs and knocked in 37 runs. She scored 30 runs and hit for a .290 average while playing solid defense at shortstop.
Johnson tied for the team lead in hits and doubles and hit for a .315 average. She collected 35 runs and scored 27 runs for the Lady Tigers and was one of two Hartselle players to be named to the All-State Tournament team in Montgomery.
As a senior, Kennedy was a solid force at the plate for a Priceville team that finished the season with a 30-15 record.
In the outfield are Hartselle's Keel and Kristy Pevahouse and Danville's Erin Gillett.
The sophomore Pevahouse was the other Hartselle player named to the All-State Tournament team and was a solid leadoff batter for the Lady Tigers. She hit for a .285 average and scored 25 runs. Her 15 stolen bases tied with Segars for second on the team.
Gillett played solid defense all season long as Danville's left fielder.