The 2025 All-Messenger Softball Team, proudly presented by Piggy Wiggly, boasts a number of top athletes from the area, including several that competed in the State Softball Tournament. 

The Zion Chapel Lady Rebels took home the first State Championship in school history and are represented by five athletes on the All-Messenger team, including a number of the postseason award recipients. For the second year in a row, Ethan Deal is the All-Messenger Coach of the Year. 

Deal led his Lady Rebels to the school’s first State Softball Championship, which was also the school’s first state championship of any kind. Senior Riley Bannin is also The Messenger’s Pitcher of the Year. Bannin had a stellar senior season but she saved her best for last, winning the State Tournament Most Valuable Player after striking out 26 batters and holding a 1.591 ERA with a 3-0 record during the tournament. For the season, Bannin held a 2.093 ERA with a 1.061 WHIP and an area-leading 119 strikeouts in a staggering 130 and 2/3 innings pitched. 

Her teammates pitcher Sydney Boothe, infielder Shea Wambles and outfielders Kaylee Hodge and Emily Rhodes also earned spots on the All-Messenger. Boothe was The Messenger’s Pitcher of the Year in 2024 and once again put together a stellar campaign, striking out 101 batters, while holding a 2.520 ERA and a 1.130 WHIP in 100 innings in the circle. Wambles is quite possibly the top infielder in the area, earning a .933 fielding percentage with 87 putouts, four assists and three double plays. She committed just five errors in 96 total chances, tops among non-catchers in the area. She also held a .400 batting average with nine doubles, four triples, one home run, 16 RBIs, 22 runs and seven stolen bases. 

Rhodes earned a .337 batting average with 13 stolen bases, one double, 12 RBIs and 23 runs. In the outfield, she held a .931 fielding percentage with 25 putouts, two assists and a double play. Hodge held a .343 batting average with four doubles, three triples, 16 RBIs and 24 runs. In the outfield, she boasted a .979 fielding percentage with 46 putouts, two assists and two double plays. 

The Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots not only captured the first Area Championship since the move to the Alabama High School Athletic Association, the Lady Patriots also made a deep run in the State Tournament this season. Highlighting the Lady Pats on the All-Messenger team is The Messenger’s Player of the Year Alissa Barron. Barron was a two-way star for Pike as a senior. 

Barron earned a .275 batting average with a .328 on-base percentage, seven doubles, two triples, a home run, 21 RBIs, 25 runs and seven stolen bases. She also pitched 120 and 1/3 innings and fanned 60 batters, while holding a 3.50 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. She also earned a .933 fielding percentage at third base. 

Joining Barron from Pike Lib on the All-Messenger Team is infielder Camryn Brown and catcher Sarah Strickland. Brown was one of the top power hitters in the area, blasting an area-leading six home runs, while holding a .310 batting average with three triples, 17 stolen bases, 23 RBIs and 38 runs. She also held a .947 fielding percentage at second base. Strickland held a .339 batting average with eight doubles, three triples, a homer, nine stolen bases, 26 RBIs and 26 runs. 

Representing Ariton on the All-Messenger is outfielder Nya Allen and utility players Lizzy Faircloth and Beth Dixon. Allen earned a .337 batting average with a .508 on-base percentage, four doubles, one triple, 12 stolen bases, 21 RBIs and 49 runs. Both Dixon and Faircloth were two-way stars for Ariton in 2025. 

Dixon held a .464 batting average with a .539 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, one homer, 13 stolen bases, 31 RBIs and an area-best 66 runs. She also pitched 122 and 1/3 innings with a 5.22 ERA and 99 strikeouts. Faircloth earned a .350 batting average with 15 doubles, three homers, an area-leading 63 RBIs and 38 runs.

Representing Pike County this season is utility Leah Dixon and infielders Hailey Griffin and Abigail Griffin. Dixon earned a .389 batting average with eight doubles, four RBIs, 17 runs and 17 stolen bases along with boasting a .945 fielding percentage with 48 putouts, four assists and one double play. 

Abigail Griffin earned a .471 batting average with a .532 on-base percentage, three doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs and 17 runs. She also earned 54 putouts, three assists and one double play on defense. Hailey Griffin held a .333 batting average with four doubles, one triple, three homers, 13 RBIs, 23 runs and 13 stolen bases. She also earned 37 putouts, five assists and one double play on defense. 

Outfielder Jada Jones and utility Janazia Cantlow represent Charles Henderson on the All-Messenger Team. Jones earned a .417 batting average with 38 runs, 21 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, eight doubles, four triples and one home run. Jones struck out just twice in 96 at-bats this season. She also held a .914 fielding percentage with 28 putouts, four assists and one double play.

Cantlow led the area with a .482 batting average along with a .526 on-base percentage, 30 runs, one homer, three triples, three doubles, and 23 RBIs. She also held an .896 fielding percentage with 31 putouts, 38 assists and one double play. 

All-Messenger Softball
P: Riley Bannin, Zion Chapel
P: Sydney Boothe, Zion Chapel
IF: Shea Wambles, Zion Chapel
IF: Camryn Brown, Pike Lib
IF: Hailey Griffin, Pike County
IF: Abigail Griffin, Pike County
C: Sarah Strickland, Pike Lib
OF: Kaylee Hodge, Zion Chapel
OF: Emily Rhodes, Zion Chapel
OF: Nya Allen, Ariton
OF: Jada Jones, Charles Henderson
UTL: Lizzy Fairthcloth, Ariton
UTL: Beth Dixon, Ariton
UTL: Alissa Barron, Pike Lib
UTL: Leah Dixon, Pike County
UTL: Janazia Cantlow, Charles Henderson 

Player of the Year: Alissa Barron, Pike Lib 

Pitcher of the Year: Riley Bannin, Zion Chapel 

Coach of the Year: Ethan Deal, Zion Chapel