Photo by Kyle Parmley
Corey Goguts. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
The Birmingham area continues to produce some of the best high school softball anywhere in Alabama, and the 2026 season was no exception. The All-South Metro Team aims to recognize the best players in the area for the season.
Corey Goguts capped off an exceptional career at Hewitt-Trussville, winning Player of the Year honors after another extraordinary year. Vestavia Hills eighth grader Kate Flanagan has burst onto the scene with a great season, while Harper Looney carried Hewitt to another state title, as the duo shares Pitcher of the Year honors.
Homewood’s Madison Letson broke a state record with 16 consecutive at-bats with a hit earlier in the season. She finished the year with an eye-popping .636 average and .688 on-base percentage.
Hewitt-Trussville coach Taylor Burt is Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to yet another state championship.
Player of the Year: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville
Hitter of the Year: Madison Letson, Homewood
Pitchers of the Year: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills, and Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville
Coach of the Year: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills; the eighth grader dominated area hitters, posting a 21-4 record with a 1.04 earned run average and 174 strikeouts in 141 innings.
Pitcher: Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville; led the Huskies back to a state title, finishing 21-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 141 2/3 innings. She was a dominant 6-0 in the state tournament.
Pitcher: Jaley Young, Spain Park; went 11-5 with 109 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA for the Jaguars.
Catcher: Chloe Wade, Spain Park; batted .396 with 42 runs batted in and eight home runs for the Jaguars.
Infield: Erin Coleman, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the most productive hitters in the area, batting .407 with 72 RBIs and 72 hits for the Huskies.
Infield: Addison Ferrell, Vestavia Hills; put together a strong sophomore year, batting .393 with 57 hits and 29 RBIs.
Infield: Avery Chaney, Hoover; a steady presence at shortstop for the Bucs, batting .394 with 56 hits and 40 RBIs.
Infield: Julia Willingham, Chelsea; drove in 32 runs and hit .363 with 18 doubles for the Hornets.
Infield: Reagan Roberts, Spain Park; batted .338 with 52 hits, 29 RBIs and 36 stolen bases.
Outfield: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook; put together one of the area's best offensive seasons, batting .576 with 57 hits, 39 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
Outfield: Presley Hull, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the area's top hitters, batting .475 with 85 hits and 56 RBIs in 59 games.
Outfield: Madison Letson, Homewood; the area's Hitter of the Year batted .636 with 77 hits and 65 runs scored.
Outfield: Emily Williams, John Carroll; finished with a .465 average, 42 RBIs and 11 doubles for the Cavaliers.
Designated hitter: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville; the Player of the Year batted .618 with 29 home runs, 91 RBIs and 94 runs scored.
Designated hitter: Mollie Hanson, Hoover; drove in 45 runs and hit .346 with five home runs for the Bucs.
Designated hitter: Abby King, Spain Park; batted .389 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Jaguars.
Utility: Claire Carver, Hoover; batted .423 with 47 hits, 26 RBIs and 27 stolen bases for the Bucs.
Utility: Lorelei Beck, Chelsea; drove in 49 runs and hit .374 with eight home runs and 15 doubles for the Hornets.
Utility: Marian Cummings, Oak Mountain; went 12-7 in the circle with a 2.02 ERA while batting .427 with 32 RBIs at the plate.
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Anne Hope Howell, Homewood; went 16-6 with a 2.74 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 110 innings for the Patriots.
Pitcher: Aaliyah Hayes, Hoover; the eighth grader went 10-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings.
Pitcher: Maxie Provost, Spain Park; went 14-5 with a 2.44 ERA for the Jaguars as a freshman.
Catcher: AT Goldman, Mountain Brook; batted .333 with 20 RBIs and seven doubles for the Spartans.
Infield: Rylie Redden, Oak Mountain; batted .427 with 41 hits and 19 RBIs for the Eagles.
Infield: Cate Bruce, Hewitt-Trussville; contributed as a freshman, batting .364 with 43 hits for the Huskies.
Infield: Molly Shea, Mountain Brook; batted .374 with 40 hits and 27 RBIs for the Spartans.
Infield: Allie Stuman, Homewood; batted .366 with 34 hits and 22 RBIs for the Patriots.
Infield: Kloeanne Smith, Homewood; batted .356 with 36 hits and 20 RBIs for the Patriots.
Outfield: Ryanne Head, Vestavia Hills; batted .372 with 42 hits and 28 RBIs as a freshman for the Rebels.
Outfield: Hannah Claire Miller, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .325 with 50 hits for the Huskies, including several clutch hits in the postseason.
Outfield: Emily Stuman, Homewood; went 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA in the circle and batted .449 at the plate as an eighth grader.
Outfield: Reagan Lawson, Hoover; batted .348 with 47 hits and 23 stolen bases for the Bucs.
Designated hitter: Chloe Krackenberger, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .359 with 60 hits and 37 RBIs for the Huskies.
Designated hitter: Klara Thompson, Spain Park; had 20 stolen bases and six home runs for the Jaguars.
Designated hitter: Kindal Whistle, John Carroll; batted .477 with 31 hits, 28 RBIs and seven home runs for the Cavaliers.
Utility: Morgan Minich, Mountain Brook; batted .400 with 30 hits and 32 RBIs for the Spartans.
Utility: Caroline Brown, Chelsea; batted .384 with 28 hits and four home runs for the Hornets.
Utility: Lilly Ferguson, Vestavia Hills; pitched and played second base for the Rebels, racking up 53 hits and 41 RBIs.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitcher: Caroline Chaney, Hoover; Rachel Reed, Hewitt-Trussville; Maggie Bell, Hewitt-Trussville; Maddie Prevallet, Oak Mountain; Mackenzie Wedell, Mountain Brook; Charlotte Kearse, Mountain Brook.
Catcher: Ashley Heinemann, Briarwood; Taylor McLaughlin, Hewitt-Trussville.
Infield: Hannah Walker, Vestavia Hills; Emily Renda, Hewitt-Trussville; Lucy Robinett, Homewood; Peighton Letson, Homewood; Teagan Huey, Spain Park; Addison Green, Oak Mountain; Hallie Kelly, Oak Mountain.
Outfield: Sadie Wilson, Chelsea; Jordan Weiner, Spain Park; Cheyenne Conner, Hoover; Jakayla Byrd, Homewood.
Designated hitter: Allie Whitaker, Spain Park; Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook.
Utility: Sadie Sutton, Chelsea; Anna Kate Shea, Mountain Brook; Larsen Cummings, Briarwood.
