Staff reports

The North Jefferson News



A dozen players from the North Jefferson area had such dynamic seasons on the diamond this spring that they were named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State baseball and softball teams.

On the baseball side, Gardendale senior Josh Headley was named an outfielder on the Class 5A All-State baseball team.On the softball side, 11 girls were named to their respective classes All-State teams.

Mortimer Jordan head coach Laura Rickman was named the 5A Coach of the Year, after leading the Lady Blue Devils to a 50-4 mark and the state crown.

Among the 11 are five players from the 5A state champs at Mortimer Jordan. They include senior pitcher Michelle Cheatwood, senior third baseball Shelbey Faucett, sophomore catcher Morgan “Mo” Estell, freshman first baseman Blair Johnson and freshman shortstop Danae Hays.

Making the Class 4A team, were four members of the Corner Lady Yellow Jacket club that finished fourth at the state tourney. They include senior pitcher Elizabeth Allred, junior catcher Mandy Slatton, senior shortstop Haley Anderson and junior outfielder Jennifer Tolbert.

Making the Class 2A team were two members of the Fultondale Lady Wildcats squad that reached the sub-state playoffs, where they lost to eventual state third place finisher Ranburne. Junior catcher Haley Hill and eighth grade second baseman Cadi “Boo” Oliver were named on the 2A team.

For Cheatwood, Estell, Allred and Oliver, this year’s selections mark the second straight season each player had been honored by the ASWA.

Cheatwood finished her high school career with a 87-32 record, including going 25-2 this season. She won the clinching game at the 5A state tournament, giving Jordan its second state title in nine seasons.

Estell hit .490 with 14 doubles, eight triples and nine home runs. She scored 67 runs and drove in 44 more. Estell led the area with 23 walks.

Allred won 23 games, including two games at the 4A state tournament. She topped the 20-win mark for the third straight season. When she beat Ashford in Montgomery, it marked the first win by the Lady Yellow Jackets at the state tourney since 2004.

Fultondale’s amazing eighth grader Oliver, flirted with the .500 mark for the second straight season, before finishing at .485 with 13 doubles and six triples. She scored 37 runs in 34 games and drove in 26 more. In 2007, Oliver hit .475 during her seventh grade year.

The ASWA All-State selection committee is made up of prep sports writers from all across the state, including North Jefferson News sports editor Charles Prince.