By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

Shelby County continues to have four teams that look to be legitimate contenders for a state championship this season and all four were ranked in the latest ASWA softball poll with three of the four being top-five teams.

All three of the county’s Class 7A teams were found in the standings, as Spain Park highlighted the group at No. 2, followed by Thompson at No. 3 and Oak Mountain at No. 8.

The Jags and Warriors have split two games this season, while Spain Park has also split two one-run games with Oak Mountain to show the closeness of each team’s talent.

Spain Park, now 29-5 this season, has now won four games in a row by a combined 52-2. The Jaguars are also a perfect 5-0 in area play with one area game against Oak Mountain separating them from a regular-season area championship that would allow them to host the area tournament.

The best record in the county goes to the Thompson Warriors, who have now won 13 games in a row to improve to 33-5 this season. Sitting at 3-1 in area play, Thompson has area games against Hoover and Tuscaloosa County remaining.

Oak Mountain has lost two consecutive games by one run after falling to Spain Park 3-2 and Chelsea 2-1 since the last rankings were released. With games against Huffman and Spain Park still left, the Eagles still have a shot at the regular season area championship.

The Helena Huskies might be the best team in Class 6A this season and currently sit at No. 5 in the rankings. Sitting at 21-5, the Huskies have won nine games in a row and finished area play a perfect 4-0 against Chelsea and Pelham.

Calera, Chelsea and Shelby County were three local teams that received votes for a spot in the standings, but just missed out. The Eagles are 14-8 this season, while the Hornets are 10-13 overall and the Wildcats are 12-3.

CLASS 7A
1. Sparkman (25-3)
2. Spain Park (28-5)
3. Thompson (33-5)
4. Baker (32-6)
5. Fairhope (26-4)
6. Hewitt-Trussville (28-5)
7. Bob Jones (23-8)
8. Oak Mountain (16-10)
9. Buckhorn (15-11-1)
10. James Clemens (17-8)
Others nominated: Auburn (22-8), Central-Phenix City (23-14), Enterprise (22-12), Huntsville (18-8), Theodore (17-12-1), Smiths Station (19-12), Tuscaloosa County (15-12).

CLASS 6A
1. Gardendale (31-1)
2. Hazel Green (26-3)
3. Saraland (27-2)
4. Daphne (29-9)
5. Helena (21-5)
6. Brookwood (19-11)
7. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (18-5)
8. Northview (22-7)
9. Austin (11-9)
10. Hartselle (19-8)
Others nominated: Benjamin Russell (21-9), Chelsea (10-13), Gulf Shores (22-16), Decatur (11-8-2), Pell City (21-7), Pinson Valley (12-14)

CLASS 5A
1. Alexandria (25-3)
2. Springville (30-5)
3. Hayden (26-6)
4. Rehobeth (24-6)
5. Scottsboro (19-8)
6. Mortimer Jordan (19-13)
7. Faith Academy (22-7)
8. Eufaula (26-7)
9. Corner (20-12)
10. Ardmore (21-6)
Others nominated: Calera (14-8), Demopolis (19-10), East Limestone (15-13), Etowah (15-10), Jemison (19-6), Lincoln (22-14), Moody (20-14), Russellville (15-9-1), Shelby County (12-3).

CLASS 4A
1. Alabama Christian (27-5)
2. Wilson (30-3)
3. Holtville (24-6)
4. Hale County (23-7)
5. Bibb County (15-5)
6. Cherokee County (20-5)
7. North Jackson (20-6)
8. Northside (22-14)
9. Tallassee (18-6)
10. Madison Academy (18-4)
Others nominated: Central-Florence (13-8), Danville (11-7-3), DAR (11-10), Haleyville (9-8), Westminster Christian (12-10), Winfield (15-7).

CLASS 3A
1. Pisgah (18-4)
2. Plainview (20-6)
3. American Christian (22-6)
4. Locust Fork (19-4)
5. Prattville Christian (22-8)
6. Excel (23-6)
7. Providence Christian (21-10)
8. Wicksburg (23-5)
9. Pleasant Valley (23-10)
10. Lauderdale County (17-7-1)
Others nominated: Beulah (7-3), Carbon Hill (18-12), Colbert Heights (21-7), East Lawrence (11-8-1), Elkmont (21-6-1), Geneva (20-11), Slocomb (19-15).

CLASS 2A
1. Hatton (27-7)
2. Mars Hill Bible (25-9)
3. Lamar County (18-9)
4. Reeltown (18-8-1)
5. Leroy (20-5-1)
6. G.W. Long (15-12)
7. Collinsville (18-12)
8. Ider (17-10-1)
9. Sand Rock (12-8)
10. Falkville (15-12)
Others nominated: Ariton (16-12), Fayetteville (10-9), J.U. Blacksher (8-7-1).

CLASS 1A
1. Brantley (28-3)
2. South Lamar (20-4)
3. Appalachian (16-7)
4. Sumiton Christian (13-14)
5. Spring Garden (18-9)
6. Pleasant Home (10-3)
7. Skyline (7-10)
8. Sweet Water (14-13)
9. Ragland (10-12)
10. Berry (14-9-1)
Others nominated: Cedar Bluff (9-9), Kinston (9-8), Waterloo (9-14).

AISA
1. Macon-East (42-7)
2. Pickens Academy (19-2)
3. Glenwood (36-10)
4. Autauga Academy (32-8)
5. Edgewood (28-13)
6. Clarke Prep (33-5)
7. Marengo Academy (20-13)
8. Pike Liberal Arts (16-14)
9. Abbeville Christian (17-11)
10. Crenshaw Christian (31-8)
Others nominated: Bessemer Academy (13-13), Tuscaloosa Academy (5-7).