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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Chilton County was well represented on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2024 All-State Softball and Baseball Teams as seven baseball and softball players from the county and surrounding areas were named to the teams.

The softball all-state teams had four Chilton County area players make an appearance on their respective teams, starting with Thorsby High School’s Makinley Turner on the Class 2A All-State First Team as a pitcher. Turner’s stellar senior season closed out a fantastic career at Thorsby, and her all-state selection this year made it three consecutive years making the Class 2A First Team as a pitcher. Turner was the only player, baseball or softball, from the Chilton County area playing above Class 1A to make an all-state team this season.

On the Class 1A All-State Softball Team, Maplesville High School’s Jaden McGee made the first-team for the second-straight season. This season she was named as a utility player after taking one of the designated hitter spots last season. McGee was very versatile in the field for the Red Devils, and her .560 batting average, seven home runs and 28 stolen bases boosted her numbers at the plate. Billingsley High School’s Sadie Primm, winner of the softball Class 1A Hitter of the Year award, was also on the Class 1A All-State First Team joining McGee.

Mollie Kayte Smith of Maplesville rounded out the four softball players on the all-state teams claiming a pitcher spot on the Class 1A All-State Second Team. The freshman stormed onto the scene this season and gave the Red Devils a major boost in the circle having another reliable arm to throw.

On the baseball teams, three players from the area made appearances on the Class 1A team. First, Billingsley’s Landon Jones took one of the catcher spots on the Class 1A All-State Second Team for the second consecutive year. The junior commanded the Bears’ pitching staff this season very well, and showed power at the plate again. After an upstart freshman season, Maplesville’s Braden Atcheson and Bradlee Padgett claimed an honorable mention spots on the Class 1A All-State Team. Atcheson batted nearly .400 at .with a .393 batting average, and he knocked 24 hits during the season to claim a designated hitter spot on the team. Padgett earned his honorable mention spot as an infielder batting .446 with 24 base hits and 18 runs driven in.