Eight local players honored for their outstanding performances
By SHANNON J. ALLEN The Reporter
Eight players from The Reporter’s coverage area earned recognition on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s All-State Baseball Team for the 2024 season. The ASWA released the team last weekend.
In Class 5A, three local stars made the first team — junior pitcher Tyler Pierce of Boaz, senior infielder Carson Gillilan of Sardis and senior utility player Blaze Gerhart of Sardis.
The Lions put four players on the All-State squad, as senior pitcher Conner Lowery made the second team and senior outfielder Landon Carroll was selected honorable mention.
Pierce finished with a 7-2 record and 0.92 earned-run average for the Pirates. In 60 2/3 innings, he allowed 26 hits, eight earned runs and 21 walks while striking out 101. He threw two shutouts and one perfect game.
Opposing batters hit only .125 against Pierce.
The Sardis foursome paced their team to a fourth straight 5A, Area 13 championship and a second consecutive appearance in the Elite Eight, where the Lions lost to eventual state champion Alexandria.
Gerhart, who pitched and played third base, batted .385 with 42 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs, 33 runs and 24 RBIs.
On the mound, Gerhart finished with a 2.10 ERA and racked up 64 strikeouts.
A first baseman, Gillilan collected 44 hits, 32 RBIs, 29 runs and five homers. He closed with a .440 batting average.
Lowery was unbeaten on the mound, posting a perfect 8-0 record. In 55 innings, he gave up 20 earned runs and 17 walks. He fanned 62 batters and finished with a 2.58 ERA.
Carroll racked up 38 hits, 31 runs and 26 RBIs. He batted .362.
In Class 2A, Fyffe landed two players on the All-State squad.
Blake Dobbins, a junior, was selected to the first team as a utility player. Aubrey Baker, a sophomore, made the second team as an infielder.
The performances of Dobbins and Baker led the Red Devils to the second round of the state playoffs.
Also in Class 2A, senior Jace Golden of West End received honorable mention as a designated hitter.
Golden closed the season with 25 hits, 23 RBIs, 17 runs and a .431 batting average.
ASWA award winners
The ASWA also announced Mr. Baseball and Miss Softball, along with the Super All-State Teams for 2024.
Miss Softball
Vic Moten, Daphne
Mr. Baseball
Braden Booth, Bob Jones
Super All-State
(top 10 players regardless of classification)
Softball
Vic Moten, Daphne
Sara Phillips, Hewitt-Trussville
Morgan Stiles, Athens
Ava Hodo, Orange Beach
Missy Odom, Jasper
Reese Cauley, Opp
Mya Holt, Wetumpka
Braya Hodges, Houston Academy
Natalie Cole, Wicksburg
Ally Supan, Cen-tral-Phenix City
Baseball
Braden Booth, Bob Jones
Jackson Henderson, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Jackson Sanders, Valley
Zack Johnson, Bob Jones
JoJo Williamson, Hartselle
Christian Chatterton, Brooks
Andrew Allen, Alexandria
Miles Edwards, Lauderdale County
John Stowers, St. Paul’s
Landon Shumate, Sumiton Christian
Sumiton Christian’s Yancey Young won the annual Jimmy Smothers Courage Award.
The Smothers Award is named for the late Jimmy Smothers, a longtime sports editor of the Gadsden Times, and goes to a high school athlete who overcame adversity and starred in their sport.
