MONTGOMERY — Daphne High School’s Lady Trojans head softball coach L.T. Yelding has been named to coach the South All-Star team this July in Huntsville.

Local players on the South squad include DHS pitcher Sarah Sigrest and Gulf Shores Haley Hopkins along with two Baker High infielders who will help lead the’ South team roster.

Yelding, who was also named Baldwin County softball coach of the year, said he was honored and flattered to be named to lead the South team along with Maplesville’s Ashlie Harrison and Elba’s Susan Barnes who was named as the administrative coach.

“It really is an honor,” Yelding said. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers, but it’s something I really wasn’t expecting. I believe you just do the best you can. I guess you never know who might be paying attention.

“But nothing really gets done by one person. There are so many people who help me like coach (Jim) Hinton and a lot of parents and, of course my wife Pamela, most importantly. She’s the one who has to put up with all the long hours.

“It’s really about who you are surrounded with and I’ve been really lucky to have coach Hinton with me and we’ve been blessed to have players like Sarah who contribute to this program on and off the field. You can’t do it by your self, so I really want Jim and everyone to share in this with me.”

Hopkins, ended her junior year with an impressive 4-0 state-tournament record and was named the 5A Most Valuable Player leading her teammates and head coach Karen Collins to the state championship title.

“What can you say about Haley?,” Collins said. “She’s such a hard worker. She plays through injury. She wasn’t completely healed at state, but she knew we needed her. There’s so much — I just can’t say what all she means to this team. She has great mental toughness as well and we’re really proud of her”.

Hopkins went all 28 innings at Lagoon Park for the Lady Dolphins collecting 36 strikeouts and scattering 18 hits. For the year, she posted a 1.08 earned run average pitching 208 innings.

Missing more than 20 games due to injury, Hopkins still managed a 30-5 overall record and compiled seven no-hitters,16 shutouts and two perfect games. She also led with the bat hitting .273 at state and .415 for the season with five home runs, 37 runs batted in and 49 hits in 118 plate appearances.

Although eventual 6A state champ Baker ended the Lady Trojans’ chance of a sixth-straight Elite Eight appearance under Yelding and Hinton, Sigrest had an all-state, all-star season, pitching four perfect games, five no hitters, more than 20 shutouts. She ended the year with a 0.51 ERA and 502 strikeouts, 247.67 innings pitched, faced 874 batters, 30-9-1. She has 1194 career strikeouts.

“Sarah is a great player to coach,” Yelding added. “She’s a leader, she’s a competitor. She’s gives it all she has on every play. I don’t know much about the other players, but I know with Sarah and Haley pitching we’ll be OK.”

The all upcoming senior all-stars will play a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 11, at the Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex at 6 p.m.

The event is part of the 11th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week which runs July 9-13.

Other members of the South team include:

Infielders: Samantha Shelley and Jenny Laird of Baker, Lexie Phillips of Ariton, Hagen Vickers of Horseshoe Bend, Anna Henderson of Andalusia, Frankie Mello of Oak Mountain, Haley Munroe of Wetumpka and Donica Knight of Trinity.

Outfielders: Alison of Padgett of Dadeville, Grace Boutwell of Alabama Christian and Brooke Taylor of Prattville.

Pitchers: Robyn Harmon of St. James, Jordan McAllister of Dothan, Trish Zettler of Pelham, Catchers: Sara Hilton of Enterprise and Sara Allen of LAMP.

Coaches for the NORTH team are Brad Myrick of Gardendale and Doyle Hensley of Speake. Kent Chambers of Bob Jones is administrative coach.

Coaches for the NORTH team are Brad Myrick of Gardendale and Doyle Hensley of Speake. Kent Chambers of Bob Jones is administrative coach.

North team members are:

Infielders: Shea Driggers of Leeds, Lindsey Hawkins of Decatur, Hayden Gann of Hoover and Maegan Hornsby of Hoover.

Outfielders: Kristy Pevahouse of Hartselle, Kim Bryant of Grissom, Brittney Lantrip of Vestavia Hills and Samantha Johnson of Florence.

Pitchers: Jessica Graver of J.B. Pennington, Casey Jean Steadman of Ardmore, Elizabeth Allred of Corner, Michelle Cheatwood of Mortimer Jordan and Amber Torres of Sparkman.

Catcher: Kathryn Young of Central-Florence, Brittany Richardson of Muscle Shoals, LaRae Womack of Etowah, Allison Suoboda of Clay-Chalkville and Jaime Voelkel of Bob Jones.