Photo by Kyle Parmley.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Hannah Dorsett (15) makes contact during a Sidney Cooper Invitational game on April 7 at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Georgia.
The Hewitt-Trussville High School softball team is holding its typical spot near the top of Class 7A as the postseason looms.
That has become the norm in recent years, as the Huskies have won two state championships and claimed a runner-up finish over the last four years. But there was some uncertainty surrounding the team entering this spring. Last season’s Miss Softball, Kenleigh Cahalan, graduated in December and enrolled at the University of Alabama, and the Huskies had a few more key positions on the field to replace as well.
But Hewitt-Trussville appeared to be rounding into form heading into April, fresh off a tournament win in the Gulf Coast Classic at the end of March. The Huskies were also off to a 4-0 start in Area 6 play as of press time.
It’s been a team effort for the Huskies to this point. The Huskies need hitting, pitching and defense to all work together in order to achieve their highest potential. They have a young pitching staff, led by junior and Maryland commit Sara Phillips. Kate Hicks, Zaylen Tucker and Kinley Poe have provided quality innings as well. All of them will be relied upon to pitch big games down the stretch.
“It’s something I’ve always been a firm believer in,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Taylor Burt said. “The biggest thing is I know how in the postseason you can’t ride an arm. We want all of our kids to be as prepared as possible for postseason.”
Burt said the team’s defense has been pretty solid to this point behind those pitchers, and one of the main cogs to that is new shortstop Hannah Dorsett. Following the departure of Cahalan, there was a decision to be made about shortstop. Despite having always played second base, the UAB signee embraced the move and has grown more comfortable with each practice and game.
“She’s taken it and run with it and became the leader of the infield,” Burt said. “She’s done an incredible job with it.”
Dorsett has even taken her bat to the next level this season, too. She’s a near-lock to reach base multiple times each game and has even hit the first few over-the-fence home runs of her varsity career.
“She’s the most selfless, just hard-working, ultimate teammate. She never gets the credit but deserves it,” Burt said.
Seniors Gracie Reeves and Rubie Simon have held down starting spots, and junior Division I commits Chaney Peters (Illinois) and Olivia Faggard (ULM) have provided plenty of run production in the middle of the order. Burt also pointed to the contributions of Tucker lately as well, solidifying the second spot in the order.
Burt also praised sophomore Ryleigh Wood for her play at second base and production in the ninth spot in the lineup. Others like AhKeela Honeycutt, Sarah Beth Golden and Lexie Kelly have come up in big spots as well in the bottom half of the order.
Getting consistent production out of that pitching staff and the rest of the lineup will be needed, as the Huskies attempt to navigate undoubtedly the toughest postseason road in 7A. An area with Spain Park, Chelsea and Oak Mountain, along with a potential regional featuring two of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County, will not be easy.
The regional tournament is set for May 11 in Albertville and the state tournament for 7A is May 19-20 in Oxford.
