Sparkman has the rings, Senators loaded with talent again

Sparkman softball players Kailey Stoker, Mackenzie Nutt, and Courtney McFarlen show their championship rings at FCA Media Day on Jan 29. (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)

HUNTSVILLE- A late season surge last year powered Sparkman to their first state championship in 7A but the Senators won’t be overlooked by anyone this season. James Clemens spent most of last season as the top ranked team but Sparkman will start this season as the preseason #1 team in 7A.

Sparkman has a strong senior class with four players already signed; Kailey Stoker (Belmont), Mackenzie Nutt (Auburn), Haley Cope (UAH) and Savannah Hayes (UNA).

Cope and Mayes played first base and designated player.

Nutt has settled at second base and Stoker plays shortstop when not pitching.

Nutt led the team with 76 RBI and smacked 12 home runs.

“We’re excited to get on the field. The young players are real talented and will add a lot to the team,” Nutt said.

Stoker is recovered from a shoulder injury that limited her pitching last season.

She used the time away from the circle to work on her hitting. The result was a .379 batting average with 67 hits, 14 doubles, 6 home runs, and only 4 strikeouts in 197 at bats.

She still pitched two games in the Senators run to the state 7A Softball Championship plus starred at the plate. She and series MVP Mackenzie Nutt socked back-to-back home runs as Sparkman defeated Spain Park for the title.

“We need to be better than we were last year,” Stoker said. “Our goal is to be the best we can be for each other.”

Stoker says she doesn’t feel pressure.

“We don’t look at it as having a target on our back. We focus game to game trying to be the best we can be. Doing the things Coach Palmer has shown us to do.”

Defensively, Nutt has as strong an arm as you will see in high school softball. She played shortstop as a sophomore.

“I’m real excited about Auburn. I went and watched them practice to see what I’m getting myself into,” Nutt said. “I’ll play second this year, at Auburn I don’t know yet either second, short, or third.”

She also took an official visit over a football weekend last year.

If the seniors are not enough to keep opposing coaches up at night sophomore T.J. Webster led the team with .451 batting average plus 24 walks. Also back is junior Taylor Davis with her 77 hits and 59 runs scored.