The 12-under Madison All-Stars celebrate their runner-up finish at the USSSA state tournament on June 27. (Contributed)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – The 12-under All-Star team with the Madison Softball League (MSL) recently made a splash at a state tournament on June 27, earning second place while putting a beatdown on their rivals from Athens in the process.

The tournament, a function of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), started with the Madison All-Stars beating Grand Bay 13-4 and a 9-3 defeat of Saraland.

On Saturday, the All-Stars put their best foot forward by beating the bitter rivals across the county line, Athens, by a score of 9-7. The Madison team played its way to the championship game by thumping West Alabama 9-1. Madison succumbed to the 31 North team in the title game to place second.

“This all-star season, and the tournament, was the culmination of the spring season,” head coach Jeremy Wells said. “A lot of the girls have played for two years. A lot of them know each other.”

The girls playing for the team had birthdays in 2002 and 2003, with the exception of a few athletes, including Ali Barnes, who pitched up a division.

“Part [of the team] played in travel trounaments together, and they all played in rec together,” Wells said.

Registration for the MSL’s fall season is currently underway. The league is also starting a travel team for interested girls in the fall season.

The state tournament was, as Wells said, a culmination of the spring season, which is regarded as the more competitive of the two seasons (fall and spring).

“It was an awesome season,” Wells said. “It was great, it was fun.”

More information on the league can be found at westco-softball.com.