Mortimer Jordan head coach Laura Rickman was named the North Jefferson News Coach of the Year.

By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



Another year, another sweep of The North Jefferson News softball awards by the Mortimer Jordan Lady Blue Devils.

For the second straight season, the Lady Devils won the Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Coach of the Year awards.

This year, all three winners repeated capturing the honors they won after the 2007 season.

Jordan senior Michelle Cheatwood won her second Pitcher of the Year award (in 2007, she was a co-winner of the award along with Gardendale’s Tyler Easterling). Cheatwood won 24 games, lost only two and went unbeaten in the postseason, including winning the Class 5A state championship game over Hartselle.

Cheatwood finished her career with a 87-32 record and led the Lady Devils to four straight appearances at the 5A state tournament.

Cheatwood’s teammate, sophomore catcher Morgan “Mo” Estell won her second Player of the Year award after hitting .490 with 14 doubles, eight triples and nine home runs. She scored 67 times and drove in 44 runs.

In 2007, as a freshman, she won the award while playing first base for the Lady Devils when she hit .542.

Jordan’s head coach Laura Rickman led the Lady Devils on a season-ending 33-game winning streak. A streak which began when Jordan held a 17-4 record and ran to the end of state tournament play.

The Devils wouldn’t lose again as they captured the second state softball title in school history.

In 2007, Rickman had led Jordan to a third place finish at the 5A state tourney, afterwards, she was named the NJN’s Coach of the Year.