New-look Huskies ready to prove themselves

The Hewitt-Trussville High School softball team has two Class 7A state championships and a runner-up trophy over the last three full seasons, as the Huskies have fully established themselves as one of the top programs in Alabama.

One of the key factors in that success has been a potent offense, possessing power and depth that few teams across the state can compete with.

But while the Huskies are gearing up to reach similar heights once again in 2023, that offense is going to look a little different. They probably will not hit as many home runs as in years past, as run production takes on a slightly different look.

“We’ve got some really good kids that are athletic,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Taylor Burt said. “We’re faster, so the name of our game is going to change a little bit.”

Hewitt lost a crop of seniors from last year’s team but will also be moving forward without star infielder Kenleigh Cahalan. Cahalan elected to graduate in December and enroll at the University of Alabama, where she is playing this spring. She has been a big part of the Huskies’ success over the last four years.

“She’s meant a lot,” Burt said. “Her and Hannah [Dorsett] in the middle, I’m not sure you can have two better middle infielders anywhere. She’s set a good example of work ethic, what it takes to be that good, and really helping bring our program to a level we had not seen before.”

This year’s Hewitt team will feature four seniors, in Dorsett, Gracie Reeves, Rubie Simon and Taylor Davis. Dorsett has contributed to the varsity team since she was in middle school and will anchor the Huskies’ offense at the top of the order one more season before heading to play at UAB.

Dorsett is one of a handful of returning Huskies that garnered significant experience a season ago. Simon was a key part of the outfield last year, while Sara Phillips, Olivia Faggard and Kate Hicks are also back.

Phillips, a Maryland commit, will be the Huskies’ ace pitcher and likely one of their top hitters as well. Faggard is committed to ULM and Chaney Peters is an Illinois commit, and both juniors are looking to be fixtures on the infield this season.

Hicks and Zaylen Tucker are going to be among the pitchers logging innings in addition to Phillips. Throughout her tenure, Burt has committed to using a pitching staff to make it through the season without wearing down a single arm.

Burt has seen positive signs in the team’s emerging leadership and wants the Huskies to define success on their own merit. She believes outsiders will doubt the potential of this year’s squad, due to the departing star power from last year’s runner-up team.

Hewitt will compete in Area 6 with Oak Mountain, Spain Park and Chelsea this season. If the Huskies advance, they will compete in a regional against two of Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Tuscaloosa County and reigning champ Thompson. Only two of those teams will even make it to the state tournament in Oxford.

“There’s a lot of reasons that this group wants to prove itself, we just have to make sure we channel that,” Burt said. “They want to prove to people that they can succeed, too.”