By: Brett Greenberg
TUSCALOOSA, AL. - Here's a look at what to expect from area softball teams this season. Here are 18 players to watch this season. Abigale Billings, Gordo, Fr.: Billings, a pitcher and outfielder, posted a .315 batting average with nine doubles, two home runs and 40 RBIs. Billings returns as the No. 1 pitcher after an 8-2 season with a 3.75 ERA.
Isabelle Billings, Gordo, Fr.: The twin sister of Abigale, Isabelle joins her sister after posting a .446 batting average with 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 52 RBIs. Billings struck out just seven times in 148 at-bats. Both Isabelle and Abigale have started since the seventh grade.
Jewel Brooks, Brookwood, So.: Brooks, who ended the season as Brookwood's No. 1 pitcher, posted a 1.50 ERA on varsity while hitting .733 on junior varsity as a freshman.
Rylee Butler, Brookwood, Sr.: The Samford signee hit .430 and is a slap-hitting outfielder. She had 21 stolen bases last year.
Abby Grace Cameron, Demopolis, Sr.: Cameron, a senior shortstop, posted a .226 average last season while showing her defensive prowess with just four errors.
Becca Leigh Chadwick, Northside, Jr.: A member of the Tuscaloosa News' Super 9 All-Area team in 2021, Chadwick hit .460 with 13 home runs along with a 1.73 ERA. The pitcher/infielder is committed to UAB.
McKinley Hubbard, Brookwood, Jr.: Hubbard blasted seven home runs with 24 stolen bases last season to put together a .440 batting average, .516 OBP and .760 slugging percentage line.
Weezie Hughes, Demopolis, Jr.: Hughes is a junior catcher who posted a .319 batting average and a .968 fielding percentage while starting all games behind the plate in 2021.
Maci Humber, Tuscaloosa County, Jr.: Humber, another infielder and catcher, posted a .358 batting average with three home runs last season.
Hannah Miles, American Christian Academy, Sr.: The UAB commitment hit .480 with 24 stolen bases in 2021 and struck out just four times in 102 at-bats.
Ashton Moorer, Demopolis, So.: Moorer, who struck out 221 batters as a freshman, posted a 1.29 ERA last season.
Kinley Pate, Northside, Sr.: The Samford signee carried a .493 batting average with 78 runs scored and 52 stolen bases in 2021 along with eight triples.
Karlee Pierson, Brookwood, Sr.: The Marion Military Institute signee batted .412 in 2021 with five home runs along with 38 RBIs.
Mallory Sluder, Southern Academy, Jr.: The 2021 AISA Pitcher and Player of the Year posted a 0.96 ERA in 160 ⅓ innings pitched with 315 strikeouts. Sluder hit .406 for the AISA 2A champions. Alana Spann, Tuscaloosa County, Jr.: Spann, an outfielder and slap hitter, posted a .355 batting average along with a .951 fielding percentage.
Lily Stone, Northside, Sr.: The Montevallo signee batted .448 on the season and will start at catcher for the fourth season in a row. Stone posted 63 RBIs in 2021.
Abbie Strickland, Tuscaloosa County, Sr.: Strickland, a senior infielder and catcher, led Tuscaloosa County in offensive categories including batting average (.391) and home runs (7) along with a .956 fielding percentage. Kaylee Talton, Paul W. Bryant, Jr.: Talton, an outfielder who didn't commit a single error for Paul Bryant in 2021, batted .610 with 36 hits and 32 RBIs in just 59 at-bats. Reach Brett Greenberg at bgreenberg@gannett.com or follow @74talk on Twitter.
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