Blessing in disguise

Initially, Hannah Borden wasn’t thrilled with her new set of circumstances. Primarily because it meant things around her had changed — and she admits she doesn’t like change.

When Taylor Burt was named the head softball coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School in summer 2017, Borden was forced to change teams within the Birmingham Bolts travel ball organization to comply with AHSAA rules. Borden played on Burt’s travel team at the time, and high school coaches are not allowed to coach their own players outside of school ball.

But after finishing out that summer with Keith Dorsett’s team, Borden realized the change wasn’t that bad and having Burt as her high school team’s coach was quite the addition.

“At first, I was not happy to leave the team,” Borden said. “But once school ball started, I got over myself and realized it was the best thing for us.”

That certainly proved to be the case in 2018, as the Huskies ripped off 46 wins and advanced to the state tournament in Burt’s first year at the helm. One of the key bats in the middle of Burt’s lineup was none other than Borden.

Borden, a catcher committed to Southern Miss, put forth a career year as a junior, leading the team with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in on the way to earning a spot on the Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state first team. 

“She gives you a chance to win a ball game every time she’s at the plate,” Burt said. “She really, really helped us out.”

The team’s state tournament berth was the program’s first since 2015. Although the Huskies came up short, losing their first two games and being eliminated, Borden said the key to such a great season was the team’s chemistry.

“I think it improved greatly over the last year,” she said. “There was no drama at all. That’s going to be even better this year.”

In large part thanks to that strong junior season, Borden was selected as one of nearly 40 players to participate in the North-South All-Star Games in July. The doubleheader features the top rising seniors in the state. Borden noticed a theme among many of the players chosen.

“I really just think it’s all the work we’ve put in over the years, playing competitive travel ball,” said Borden, who knew several of the players alongside her on the North team thanks to travel ball. “It makes sense who is in the game, because we’ve been playing for such a long time.”

At Montgomery’s Lagoon Park on July 17, Borden doubled twice and drove in two runs in the second game, as the North team won 4-3 after being shut out 3-0 in the first game.

Heading into her final high school season, Borden hopes to continue the trend she has established during her career. Her numbers have steadily improved each spring and if she’s going to improve upon her junior statistics, big things should be in store for Hewitt-Trussville.

Borden and Burt agreed her leadership contributions in 2019 will be just as important as her on-field production. And even with the change of circumstances midway through her high school tenure, it seems that everything worked out just fine. 

“She’s super smart, very mature for her age,” Burt said. “I’m fortunate and I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to coach her.”