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Mar. 29—Baseball and softball have been in full swing for more than a month, and several teams have started to separate from the pack.
Most teams have played at least 20 games by this point, forming a clearer picture of which are the best.
Here's a power ranking of the top five local baseball and softball teams so far:
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Softball
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No. 5 Ardmore Tigers
State ranking: No. 8 in Class 5A
Record: 15-6-1
Who's shining: Addison Mikel, AG King
The skinny: Few teams have been as consistent in softball in north Alabama as Ardmore over the past several years, and this year is no exception.
To make things better for the Tigers, they're heating up, having won eight of their last 10 games.
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No. 4 Austin Black Bears
State ranking: No. 8 in Class 7A
Record: 17-8-1
Who's shining: Arden Breedlove, Claire Wright
The skinny: Austin has really picked up steam since the beginning of March. The Black Bears have won nine of their 12 games this month. That includes big wins over Spain Park (3-2) and Athens (11-2).
Arden Breedlove continues to be a force at the plate, homering three times in the last two games.
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No. 3 Lawrence County Red Devils
State ranking: No. 3 in Class 5A
Record: 20-9
Who's shining: McKinley McCaghren, AB McKay
The skinny: Lawrence County returned a lot of experience this season, and it's paying off in a big way.
Lawrence County has already reached 20 wins despite playing some of the state's best teams. So far, the Red Devils hold wins over Ardmore, Athens, Austin and Spain Park.
McCaghren, a move-in from Danville, has given the Red Devils a strong one-two punch along with Bella Cross in pitching, and the lineup has shown the ability to have any player pop-off at the plate.
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No. 2 Athens Golden Eagles
State ranking: No. 2 in Class 6A
Record: 17-8
Who's shining: Lily Lowery, Amaya Green
The skinny: Despite losing their head coach and 2024 Decatur Daily player of the year Morgan Stiles off last year's state championship team, the Golden Eagles haven't dropped off.
Chuck Smith, who led Athens' baseball team to the quarterfinals last season, has stepped in nicely as the new head coach. Lily Lowery, Amaya Green and Caitlyn Tedford, all of whom played on last year's team, have stepped up and played a key part in Athens' No. 2 ranking in Class 6A.
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No. 1 West Limestone
State ranking: No. 3 in Class 4A
Record: 23-2
Who's shining: Lily Bethune, JuliAnn Kyle
The skinny: A year after winning over 30 games, West Limestone has been an unstoppable force.
The Wildcats' last loss came at the end of February to Ardmore, a team they've beaten twice since. West Limestone is currently on a 17-game winning streak.
Bethune is making her case for Class 4A hitter of the year, while Kyle has been almost untouchable as a pitcher. The latter struck out 17 batters in a 1-0 win over Rock Island on Thursday.
Class 4A is stacked with teams like Orange Beach and Curry, but the Wildcats are right there with them.
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Baseball
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No. 5 Lawrence County Red Devils
State ranking: Received votes in Class 5A
Record: 14-7
Who's shining: Parker Frost, Caden Norwood
The skinny: After reaching the second round of the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016, the Red Devils returned 11 seniors who are paying dividends so far.
The Red Devils face their biggest test of the season this week, however, facing Russellville in an important area series.
—
No. 4 Athens Golden Eagles
State ranking: Received votes in Class 6A
Record: 14-5
Who's shining: Hudson Marks, John Lawrence Chittam
The skinny: After advancing to the Class 6A quarterfinals last year, Athens has a new head coach in Mike Murphree.
The Golden Eagles are nevertheless putting together a strong season, having won nine of their last 12 games.
—
No. 3 Athens Bible Trojans 11-4
State ranking: No. 7 in Class 1A
Record: 11-4
Who's shining: Luke Murell, Chandler James
The skinny: Despite having a young roster last season, Athens Bible reached the second round of the state playoffs. Now with all those players back, the Trojans have put together another strong season so far.
Luke Murell, son of head coach Brad Murell and grandson of long-time former head coach Bill Murell, has baseball in his blood, but he hasn't been the only star. Chandler James and Ethan Barnes are just a couple of players who have been key to Athens Bible's success.
—
No. 2 Hartselle Tigers
State ranking: No. 1 in Class 6A
Record: 16-6
Who's shining: Easton Nelms, Cole Miles
The skinny: Hartselle may be No. 2 in the power rankings, but the Tigers are ranked No. 1 in Class 6A.
Despite having a new head coach (Brad Phillips) for the first time since 1988 and basically an entirely new roster from last year's state runner-up team, Hartselle is still the cream of the crop in Alabama's second largest classification.
The Tigers have once again reloaded, with three of their players — Nelms, Miles and Ty Marsh — committed to Division I schools.
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No. 1 Decatur Heritage Eagles
State ranking: No. 3 in Class 2A
Record: 15-2
Who's shining: Olsen Howard, Paxton Tarver
The skinny: After a two-year retirement, head coach Steve Meek is back and has the Eagles blowing through nearly everyone they face. So far Decatur Heritage has outscored its opponents 170-58.
Meek has a lot to work with. Olsen Howard, Paxton Tarver and Rafer Jones are just a few of the players having big seasons for the Eagles. That doesn't even include senior pitcher Brady Wilson, an Auburn commit who is due for a breakout after coming over from basketball in early March.
— [email protected] or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2
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Most teams have played at least 20 games by this point, forming a clearer picture of which are the best.
Here's a power ranking of the top five local baseball and softball teams so far:
—
Softball
—
No. 5 Ardmore Tigers
State ranking: No. 8 in Class 5A
Record: 15-6-1
Who's shining: Addison Mikel, AG King
The skinny: Few teams have been as consistent in softball in north Alabama as Ardmore over the past several years, and this year is no exception.
To make things better for the Tigers, they're heating up, having won eight of their last 10 games.
—
No. 4 Austin Black Bears
State ranking: No. 8 in Class 7A
Record: 17-8-1
Who's shining: Arden Breedlove, Claire Wright
The skinny: Austin has really picked up steam since the beginning of March. The Black Bears have won nine of their 12 games this month. That includes big wins over Spain Park (3-2) and Athens (11-2).
Arden Breedlove continues to be a force at the plate, homering three times in the last two games.
—
No. 3 Lawrence County Red Devils
State ranking: No. 3 in Class 5A
Record: 20-9
Who's shining: McKinley McCaghren, AB McKay
The skinny: Lawrence County returned a lot of experience this season, and it's paying off in a big way.
Lawrence County has already reached 20 wins despite playing some of the state's best teams. So far, the Red Devils hold wins over Ardmore, Athens, Austin and Spain Park.
McCaghren, a move-in from Danville, has given the Red Devils a strong one-two punch along with Bella Cross in pitching, and the lineup has shown the ability to have any player pop-off at the plate.
—
No. 2 Athens Golden Eagles
State ranking: No. 2 in Class 6A
Record: 17-8
Who's shining: Lily Lowery, Amaya Green
The skinny: Despite losing their head coach and 2024 Decatur Daily player of the year Morgan Stiles off last year's state championship team, the Golden Eagles haven't dropped off.
Chuck Smith, who led Athens' baseball team to the quarterfinals last season, has stepped in nicely as the new head coach. Lily Lowery, Amaya Green and Caitlyn Tedford, all of whom played on last year's team, have stepped up and played a key part in Athens' No. 2 ranking in Class 6A.
—
No. 1 West Limestone
State ranking: No. 3 in Class 4A
Record: 23-2
Who's shining: Lily Bethune, JuliAnn Kyle
The skinny: A year after winning over 30 games, West Limestone has been an unstoppable force.
The Wildcats' last loss came at the end of February to Ardmore, a team they've beaten twice since. West Limestone is currently on a 17-game winning streak.
Bethune is making her case for Class 4A hitter of the year, while Kyle has been almost untouchable as a pitcher. The latter struck out 17 batters in a 1-0 win over Rock Island on Thursday.
Class 4A is stacked with teams like Orange Beach and Curry, but the Wildcats are right there with them.
—
Baseball
—
No. 5 Lawrence County Red Devils
State ranking: Received votes in Class 5A
Record: 14-7
Who's shining: Parker Frost, Caden Norwood
The skinny: After reaching the second round of the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016, the Red Devils returned 11 seniors who are paying dividends so far.
The Red Devils face their biggest test of the season this week, however, facing Russellville in an important area series.
—
No. 4 Athens Golden Eagles
State ranking: Received votes in Class 6A
Record: 14-5
Who's shining: Hudson Marks, John Lawrence Chittam
The skinny: After advancing to the Class 6A quarterfinals last year, Athens has a new head coach in Mike Murphree.
The Golden Eagles are nevertheless putting together a strong season, having won nine of their last 12 games.
—
No. 3 Athens Bible Trojans 11-4
State ranking: No. 7 in Class 1A
Record: 11-4
Who's shining: Luke Murell, Chandler James
The skinny: Despite having a young roster last season, Athens Bible reached the second round of the state playoffs. Now with all those players back, the Trojans have put together another strong season so far.
Luke Murell, son of head coach Brad Murell and grandson of long-time former head coach Bill Murell, has baseball in his blood, but he hasn't been the only star. Chandler James and Ethan Barnes are just a couple of players who have been key to Athens Bible's success.
—
No. 2 Hartselle Tigers
State ranking: No. 1 in Class 6A
Record: 16-6
Who's shining: Easton Nelms, Cole Miles
The skinny: Hartselle may be No. 2 in the power rankings, but the Tigers are ranked No. 1 in Class 6A.
Despite having a new head coach (Brad Phillips) for the first time since 1988 and basically an entirely new roster from last year's state runner-up team, Hartselle is still the cream of the crop in Alabama's second largest classification.
The Tigers have once again reloaded, with three of their players — Nelms, Miles and Ty Marsh — committed to Division I schools.
—
No. 1 Decatur Heritage Eagles
State ranking: No. 3 in Class 2A
Record: 15-2
Who's shining: Olsen Howard, Paxton Tarver
The skinny: After a two-year retirement, head coach Steve Meek is back and has the Eagles blowing through nearly everyone they face. So far Decatur Heritage has outscored its opponents 170-58.
Meek has a lot to work with. Olsen Howard, Paxton Tarver and Rafer Jones are just a few of the players having big seasons for the Eagles. That doesn't even include senior pitcher Brady Wilson, an Auburn commit who is due for a breakout after coming over from basketball in early March.
— [email protected] or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2
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