All-State Baseball & Softball Selections
MADISON- A trio of sophomores from Bob Jones and two Lady Senators from Sparkman highlight the local players chosen for the recently announced Alabama Sports Writers Association First-Team All-State Baseball and Softball selections for 2018.
The “Sophomore Sensations” for the Patriots include Dylan Ray, outfielder, Caden Rose, utility player, and Cam Hill, designated hitter. All three helped lead Bob Jones (36-14) into the semi-finals of the Class 7A Baseball Championship where the squad fell to Hewitt-Trussville.
Ray, regarded by some baseball experts as the top prospect in Alabama, had what some would call a spectacular season batting .377 with 67 RBIs and 13 homeruns. Rose hit .335 with 53 hits, six homers and scored 61 runs. Hill hit .379 with 11 doubles and eight homers.
Rose, proudly played four positions during the 2018 season making stops at shortstop, second base, pitcher and catcher. “I feel like I stepped up my game this season and by playing a lot of different positions I saw what others have to do to stay sharp,” said Rose, a two-sport star at Bob Jones. “This is a great honor to receive. I have colleges wanting me to play shortstop, as well as, my position as quarterback in football. I like playing shortstop the best. As for having three sophomores make the All-State team, that probably stems from us playing together in Madison since we were 10 years old.”
Bob Jones also had two players make the ASWA Honorable Mention list as John-Michael Riley, Jr. was listed as catcher and second baseman Mitchell Daly, sophomore.
In Class 4A, Madison Academy was represented by one player, junior Trey Dollar, who was an Honorable Mention at first base.
In softball, Sparkman had two players make the first-team selections. Senior Taylor Davis, a Western Kentucky signee, was one of those chosen at outfield, and junior Brooke Pooler was selected at the DH.
“I’m so proud of Brooke for her hard work and effort she put forth this season,” said Davis. “This is my third consecutive season of being chosen All-State and I felt like I had a good season and would have been disappointed if I didn’t have a good senior season. The end of the season didn’t turn out liked we hoped as we lost in the regionals. The day we needed to play our best, we didn’t.”
Second-Team selections included, C- Aubrie Lisenby, Bob Jones, Fr., 3B- Kamryn Warman, Sparkman, So., and UTL- Emma Jarrett, Bob Jones, Jr., while Honorable Mention choices included First Base- Sarah Simon, James Clemens, Jr.
In Class 4A, the Lady Mustangs of Madison Academy had four overall choices for the elite listing. On the First Team were junior Rachel Baker, 3B and outfielder Claire West, Jr. Honorable Mention selections were Catcher- Chelsea McGuff, Jr. and Second Base- MacKenzie Meadows, eighth.
