By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

Shelby County had another banner year in baseball, and it was rewarded when the All-State baseball teams were announced on Saturday, June 10.

Thompson and Vincent were the top programs in the area as both reached at least the state semifinals, and that was reflected in the All-State selections.

The Warriors received four spots on the All-State teams, and Thompson pitcher Landon Alton was named the 7A Pitcher of the Year, while Yellow Jackets had four players selected to the list.

Spain Park received three selections, Briarwood Christian had two, and Oak Mountain, Helena, Shelby County and Montevallo each had one player named.

Alton set the Thompson school record for wins with nine and was named the 2023 Shelby County Player of the Year, and the senior starter added to his accolades with the 7A Pitcher of the Year award and a First Team All-7A selection.

Alton was also third in the county in strikeouts with 76, and he only allowed 14 runs despite pitching in the second-most innings in the county with 72.

Joining him from the Warriors are junior Peryn Bland as a First Team utility player, senior Tucker Arrington as a Second Team designated hitter, senior pitcher Zach Wyatt received an Honorable Mention and junior Drake McBride joined Wyatt on the Honorable Mentions list as a utility selection.

Vincent placed three players from its state runner-up squad on the First Team All-2A: sophomore pitcher Aiden Poe, who led the county in wins, strikeouts and ERA, senior infielder Easton Fields, who led the county in home runs and RBIs, and senior outfielder Zac Carlisle, who led the county in stolen bases. Camden Cobb was also named an Honorable Mention designated hitter for his junior year average of .384 and going 26 for 27 on stolen base attempts.

Spain Park’s Cole Edwards was named a First Team All-7A infielder for his Shelby County Hitter of the Year performance in his senior season, finishing in the top six in the county in every major hitting category. Pitcher CJ Gross, who went 10-1 with at 1.68 ERA, and outfielder and team leader in batting average Matthew Widra joined Edwards on the First Team as juniors.

Briarwood Christian had junior Jake Souders selected to the First Team All-6A and senior Brady Waugh on the Second Team, both as designated hitters. Souders and Waugh were second and third in the county in batting average, with a .437 clip for Souders and Waugh just behind him at .423.

Oak Mountain’s Matthew Heiberger was named to the Second Team All-7A as a utility player after his stellar senior season, posting a 1.63 ERA on the mound and a .347 average at the plate.

Helena pitcher Colton Willmon was listed as an Honorable Mention on the All-6A selections thanks to a 1.94 ERA and 54 strikeouts.

Shelby County’s standout senior Noah Reed landed on the Second Team All-5A for his great season in the outfield and team leading .337 batting average.

Kemp Swords represented Montevallo as an Honorable Mention infielder for the All-4A team after hitting for a .403 average in just his sophomore year for the Bulldogs.