Let’s be honest for a minute.

No one is more deserving of the 2016 Player of the Year title than Cullman’s Claire Jenkins.

Period. End of story.

But please feel free to continue reading …

The Bearcat softball phenom has already garnered the same distinction in Class 6A, as well as a place on the All-State first team as a designated hitter. Throw in a Super All-State selection, and it’s not too hard to see why Jenkins nabbed this particular honor for the second consecutive season. Jenkins also made the first team as a utility player in 2013 and was Hitter of the Year in 2014.

She spearheads an all-Cullman quartet on The Times’ 2016 All-Area Softball Team, includes Hannah Morton (Hitter of the Year), Olivia Schwaiger (Pitcher of the Year) and Stephanie Conner (Coach of the Year). The latter two are repeat winners from 2015.

But let’s get back to Jenkins for now.

The Alabama signee capped off her senior campaign with a robust .475/.569/.929 slash line. She also amassed 15 home runs, 69 hits, 37 RBIs, 21 doubles, two triples, 61 runs and 35 walks in 141 at-bats.

If EA Sports ever produced a softball game, those stellar stats — along with Jenkins’ smiling mug — might just grace the cover.

Black and Gold coach Stephanie Conner has talked about her star’s leadership, character and talent until she’s blue in the face.

So why not ask someone else to do the same? Let’s say … Hartselle coach Christy Ferguson.

The longtime captain of the Tiger softball program saw Jenkins and the Bearcats four times this spring, which resulted in four losses and Cullman’s first 6A, Area 15 Tournament title since 2010.

One of those victories came on Senior Night, when Jenkins smoked a leadoff homer against Ferguson’s team before hammering the final nail of a five-inning, 12-0 win with a walk-off, three-run jack.

Ouch.

But it didn’t take that kind of performance for Ferguson to realize just how special Jenkins was at the plate.

In fact, she’s seen it grow in spades throughout the years.

“She worked and traveled and attended many camps to put herself in the position she’s in,” Ferguson said. “All the work she’s put in, hearing all my girls talk about her and witnessing it myself, she’s deserving of everything she’s got this year. It was so hard to pitch to her. In, out, fastball, change, high, low … she could hit it all. She’s been doing it a long time.”

After four years of causing many, many problems for opposing pitchers, Ferguson is happy Jenkins will be departing for Tuscaloosa in the fall.

Even if it’s not for the reasons one might think.

“I’m very glad Claire’s taking her services to Alabama,” she said with a laugh. “No doubt. But it’s great to see players — and of course, Cullman is a huge rival — succeed. She’s done a lot of good for the sport. All the little girls who’ve watched her play want to be just like her. I’ve been really lucky during my career to have coached great players. You cannot sing the praises enough for what they do for a program. You just have to say the same things over and over again, because there’s nothing bad you can say.”

While fawning about Claire, it’s easy to forget her big sister, Jennifer, is a superb softball player in her own right.

The elder Jenkins graduated from Cullman in 2012 before continuing her playing career at Auburn University at Montgomery, where she proceeded with gusto in helping the Warhawks win two NAIA national championships.

Her role in getting Claire involved with the sport at an early age has helped form an unbreakable bond between the close sisters.

“Growing up, she always watched me play,” Jennifer said. “She just picked it up. Her work ethic … honestly, she literally eats and breathes softball. That’s what makes her so great. Because it means so much to her. She probably watched me hit and learned everything not to do. I hit line drives. Claire, she hits freaking bombs, man. She hit more homers in her freshman season than I did my whole career.”

Despite the aforementioned bond and their respective successes, the two sisters can’t help but talk a little bit of trash.

What else are siblings for?

“Watching her has kept me halfway sane,” Jennifer said. “I can live my softball dreams through her on the field. But I also say, ‘I won two national titles,’ and she always says, ‘Well, I’m going D-I.’ Then I always counter, ‘Well, when you get two titles, then come talk to me.’ It’s good fun.”

Although Jenkins shone consistently for the Black and Gold, she was hardly the only star on the team.

Schwaiger and Morton each blazed their own trails in helping Cullman win 38 games, claim the Northeast Regional Tournament crown and clinch a second consecutive state tourney appearance.

Schwaiger, a Snead State commit, finished her spring 31-13 with a save after slinging 248 innings and striking out 184 batters. Her 1.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP were among the lowest in the state and highlighted by a five-inning perfect game and no-hitter during the Bearcats’ march to Montgomery.

She also batted .333 with five homers and 35 RBIs en route to her third consecutive All-Area accolade.

Morton, on the other hand, was first on the squad in RBIs (53) and second in home runs (nine). The rising junior sported a .378 batting average and a .468 on-base percentage. She tallied 54 hits, 37 runs, nine doubles and one triple, while playing a mean third base.

The Lady Bearcats graced this year’s first team with abundance, as Sierra Easterwood (infield), Tiffani Schwaiger (infield), Taiya Ponder (outfield) and McKensi Burks (outfield) all nabbed spots following outstanding springs. Easterwood and Ponder, along with the aforementioned Morton, all made the first team for the second year in a row.

West Point — the thrice-defending county champion — and Fairview were next in line with three apiece. The Warriors were represented by Jeri Beasley (pitcher), Courtney Blackwood (infield) and Makayla Brown (designated hitter), while the Aggies were repped by Kalynn Holcomb (designated hitter), Carli Jo Ashley (infield) and Jada Golden (outfield).

Josie McDonald (utility) and MaKailey Speegle (catcher) provided Good Hope’s selections, while Bailey West (infield) and Rilee White (utility) nabbed positions for Cold Springs.

Addison’s Ragen Yarbrough (pitcher) and Holly Pond’s Kolby Holcombe (catcher) rounded out the honorary squad.

Holcombe is now a three-time All-Area choice, while Beasley, Yarbrough, Speegle, McDonald and Holcomb all made their second appearance on the short list — which is chosen by The Times’ sports staff — in as many seasons.

See below for The Times’ complete 2016 All-Area Softball Team, including honorable mentions:

The Times’ 2016 All-Area Softball Team

Player of the Year: Claire Jenkins, Cullman

Hitter of the Year: Hannah Morton, Cullman

Pitcher of the Year: Olivia Schwaiger, Cullman

Coach of the Year: Stephanie Barlow, Cullman

---

First Team

Pitcher

Jeri Beasley, West Point

Ragen Yarbrough, Addison

Catcher

MaKailey Speegle, Good Hope

Kolby Holcombe, Holly Pond

Infield

Sierra Easterwood, Cullman

Tiffani Schwaiger, Cullman

Bailey West, Cold Springs

Courtney Blackwood, West Point

Carli Jo Ashley, Fairview

Outfield

McKensi Burks, Cullman

Taiya Ponder, Cullman

Jada Golden, Fairview

Utility

Josie McDonald, Good Hope

Rilee White, Cold Springs

Designated Hitter

Makayla Brown, West Point

Kalynn Holcomb, Fairview

---

Honorable Mention

Addison: Callie Brewer

Cold Springs: Drew Sanders, Madison Holmes

Cullman: Elli Dixon

Fairview: Jordan Moore, Kayla Aleman

Good Hope: Erika Woodall, Morgan Goodwin

Hanceville: Logan Yates, Jadah Hurst

Holly Pond: Katie Burnham

Vinemont: Maddie Oliver, Corrina Saint

West Point: Molly Pendley, Olivia Ball