HS softball 2026

MADISON – The action on the diamonds of the high school softball fields is now underway for the 2026 season as the four local schools each send competitive squads into what could be a very interesting season of play. The squads will feature a team which will try and fill in gaps left over after placing third in the state last season, a team that is rebuilding, but with experience, a returning varsity team with lots of talent on deck and a team with a new coach, but with three All-State returnees.

Let’s take a look at the 2026 season for the four squads.

Bob Jones

“With two seniors, we are a rather young team, which makes me excited for the future of our program,” said Braeden Netherton, head coach of the Bob Jones softball program on her thoughts for the upcoming season’s team, which is rebuilding after an 8-32 record in 2025, but bringing a bundle of experience within the youth of the team.

The two senior Lady Patriots are Alexis Hamilton (P/1B, Sr.) and Nahlani Simpson (C/UTL, Sr.) both of whom are expected to be essential to the success of the 2026 team. Hamilton pitched 37 innings with 14 strikeouts last season while having 12 hits and 8 RBIs at the plate. Simpson, who signed with Jackson State Community College, is the team’s catcher and utility player who played in 33 games a season ago where she scored 17 runs with a .152 batting average and a .788 fielding average.

Netherton, who is in her second year as Bob Jones head coach, is looking to the pitcher-catcher duo of Carson Horton (P/ OF, Jr.) and Ryleigh Heddy (C/UTL, Jr.) to make headway into the season schedule. Like the junior class, sophomores have three members of the team roster and are led by Bella Giesbrecht (OF, So.) who is expected to be a force in the outfield and at the plate. Joining Giesbrecht from the class of sophomores is Evelyn Gauthier (C/UTL, So.) and Kaydence Brown (UTL, So.) who should provide some experienced talent.

The remainder of the roster features one freshman and three eighth graders, all of whom Netherton is looking to add potential success. “The talent, drive and dedication my players show every day prove their willingness to do whatever it takes to grow the program and help continue the tradition of success,” said Netherton.

James Clemens

For the first time in his five years as James Clemens head coach and possibly in his 15 years as a coach of high school softball, Bradley Kimbrough has a returning varsity team including 10 returners. According to Kimbrough, there’s a lot of talent on deck. “We started six freshmen and one middle school player on our varsity last season and we have had lots of growth and competitiveness through this learning process they obtained through our 18-26-2 record last season,” said Kimbrough.

Four seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and two freshmen make up the 2026 roster for the Lady Jets.

The primary pitcher in 2025 was Preslee Etheridge (P/1B, So.) who returns after posting a season with 116 innings pitched in 31 games with a 5.20 ERA. She also had 40 hits and 37 RBIs as a batter on offense. The leadoff hitter was and will be Makayla Mann (P/UT, Fr.) who had 134 at bats with 24 RBIs. She also scored 44 runs. Another freshman, Makaila Lee (UT, Fr.) is what Kimbrough describes as a huge upside to the team with great potential in her first season with the Lady Jets.

James Clemens softball also has two well accomplished two-sport athletes within its lineup as Hayden Southern (C/1B, Sr.) is a member of the school’s swim team where she starred in the 50 and 200 freestyle events, and Jaslyn Ragan (P/OF, Jr.) a member of the James Clemens basketball team.

New to the Lady Jets in 2026, but certainly not a stranger is Farrah Payton (UT, Sr.) who played at Sparkman High last season as a junior, but was in the Jets’ program in grades 8, 9, and 10.

“We had a great off-season and look forward to this season with the most wonderful group of girls,” added Kimbrough. “They are talented. They work hard. They are great people. The sky is the limit for this group if they commit themselves.”

Sparkman

The Sparkman Lady Senators lost two impactful and experienced seniors off last season’s team which finished third in the state and was 40-15-1 for the season. Laila Watkins and Eden Parker were All-State selections and will certainly be missed, but third-year head coach Macie Morris has one returning All-State player as Bella Mayfield (SS/P, Jr.) had 138 at bats posting 61 hits, 22 RBIs with a .442 batting average. She had 26 stolen bases and scored 47 runs.

“Bella is ranked in the top 10 in Class 7A among her offensive and defensive statistics,” said Morris. “She is our starting shortstop, but will see some action within the circle as well.”

Additional returners include Krimson Phillips (UTL, Sr.), Raychel Harmon (UTL, Jr.) and Caitlyn Pollard (P/3B, Sr.). Morris is also looking at newcomers to the Lady Senators’ program to help fill in those gaps left over from a season ago. Those first putting on a Senators’ uniform for the first time are Shariah Hespeth (INF/C/UTL, Jr.), Kennedy Hardin (OF/1B, Jr.) and Maggie VanDeWynckel (OF, So.) whose brother, Brenner, is a member of the Sparkman baseball team. Harmon is being looked to provide depth and leadership both offensively and defensively while seniors Pollard and Carlee Towry (P/1B, Sr.) will make their way to the mound for the Class 7A Senators.

Madison Academy

The Class 3A Mustangs are in a unique position for the 2026 season. For the first time in 27 years, the Lady Mustangs will not have Dean Clark within the coaching staff. After the last 12 seasons as head coach and 13 years as middle school head coach, Clark decided to retire after he led his team to 551 wins including a 36-5 record a season ago making their way to the Elite 8 in the state. Clark may be gone, but he left a bevy of talent for the team in 2026 for first-year head coach Alyssa Walker, who was an assistant the last two years for Clark.

Walker takes over a team with five returning starters, three of which were named All-State after a terrific season a year ago. Leading the elite players is UAB commit and three-time First Team All-State selection Cat Schreiber (P, 5-10, Sr.) who doubles up as a pitcher and at the plate. In 2025, she batted .509 with 10 homeruns, 14 doubles with 50 RBIs. In the circle, she was 27-5, which included six no-hitters. She had 288 strikeouts in 170 innings pitched and a 0.490 ERA. Another returning, All-State senior is Mya Western (C/INF, 5-5, Sr.) who stood at the plate for a .505 average with 10 homers, eight doubles and 54 RBIs. She is a Bevill State commit. Rounding out the All-State returnees is who Morris called, “a returning highlight.” Evie Stephenson (OF, 5-3, Fr.) who last year as an eighth grader had the third highest batting average on the team at .495 with 60 hits and 40 stolen bases.

Overall, Walker has the two seniors, three juniors, six freshmen, two eighth graders and three seventh grade players to choose from in her first season as head coach.

“I am super excited about this season as our players have put in the work during all of the off-season and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together on the field this spring,” said Walker. “We have a young team, but I have confidence that our girls will bring the energy and grit to the field and overall do their best. Plus, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to coach these girls at Madison Academy.”