By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

Less than a month ago, Sand Rock senior Katelyn St.Clair was struggling to make one of the toughest decisions of her life.

After earning offers in volleyball, basketball and softball, she ultimately chose to play basketball with Berry College in Rome, Ga.

It was a decision St.Clair didn’t make lightly. She took her time with it, mainly because she found it so hard to let softball and volleyball go.

When you’re a generational talent like St.Clair, one can understand why that decision was so strenuous.

St.Clair finished her Sand Rock career with numbers and records not seen since Taylor Burt back in the early 2000s – and then some.

Back in the fall, she led Sand Rock to its first Class 2A state runner-up in volleyball. In basketball, she became the first female finalist in school history for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 2A Player of the Year.

And now, St.Clair can say she’s earned another extraordinary accomplishment. She’s been selected by the ASWA as a first-team all-state selection in her third sport in a year.

St.Clair, who played at shortstop and in the outfield, leads 12 area softball selections. The ASWA announced its 2024 all-state softball teams early Thursday morning.

St.Clair led Sand Rock (18-25) to a late-season surge, including an area softball championship against favored Fyffe. The Lady Wildcats also reached the second day of the East Softball Regional in Albertville before bowing out to second-ranked West End of Walnut Grove.

For the season, St.Clair batted .513 with seven home runs, 19 doubles, nine triples, 12 walks, 42 runs and 47 RBIs.

Joining St.Clair from Sand Rock on the Class 2A First Team is freshman pitcher/first baseman Emma Sipsy. Sipsy, who earned one of two first-team utility spots, batted .364 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, three triples, 10 walks, 33 runs and 45 RBIs.

In Class 1A, Spring Garden and Gaylesville had a first-team selection apiece in junior pitcher Avery Steward and senior catcher Emma Givens respectively.

Steward went 15-4 with 129 strikeouts and a 2.49 ERA in 160 innings for the Lady Panthers last season. Givens garnered a .548 batting average with 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 36 runs and 31 RBIs.

Spring Garden also had two second-team selections in junior infielder Helena Ingram and junior catcher Maggie Jarrett. Jarrett earned her all-state spot as a designated hitter. Eighth grader Addie Word earned an honorable mention in the outfield.

Ingram batted .458 with 14 doubles, five triples, 17 walks, 43 runs and 32 RBIs. Jarrett collected a .372 batting average with seven home runs, 11 doubles, four triples, 11 walks, 22 runs and 42 RBIs. Word batted .361 with seven doubles, a triple, 10 walks, 22 runs and 22 RBIs.

The Cherokee County Lady Warriors had a pair of second-team selections in Class 4A in sophomore pitcher Emma Hill and senior outfielder Abby Lea.

Hill had a 22-4 record with four saves, including a pair of no-hitters. She struck out 266 batters and had a 1.23 ERA in 160 innings. Lea batted .434 with 16 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 17 walks, 34 runs and 47 RBIs.

Class 3A Piedmont earned three second-team selections in senior pitcher Savannah Smith, junior catcher Cacey Brothers and junior utility player Cayla Brothers.

Smith went 17-8 with a save in the circle. She struck out 160 batters and had a 2.16 ERA in 142 1/3 innings. Cacey Brothers batted .406 with six home runs, four doubles, 26 runs and 33 RBIs. Cayla Brothers batted .384 with seven home runs, nine doubles, four triples, 23 walks, 41 runs and 25 RBIs.

You can see the complete ASWA All-State Softball Teams on weisradio.com.