Under-The-Radar Alabama 2029s Poised To Break Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>January was the final month for Alabama sans high school softball. With our calendars now set to February, the countdown to the first pitch of the 2026 season is in its final days.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the conclusion of last season, Kinston, Zion Chapel, Wicksburg, Orange Beach, Moody, Helena, Thompson, Abbeville Christian Academy and Clarke Prep were among the teams that finished their 2025 campaigns as state champions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many of those teams achieved statewide glory last season because of names that spent years establishing state—and even nationwide—profiles. The Yellowhammer State also has a large number of young players who are on upward trajectories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five freshmen to keep on your radar this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cree Bandy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"24","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Corner","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Alabama Sparks Elite 2011","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698121615712f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Yellow Jackets of 5A Corner are set to begin their season on the 24^th&nbsp;against 6A Hueytown. Cree Bandy is a multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball and volleyball in addition to her softball achievements. She has also competed in track and field events throughout her career. She can thrive as a utility player or at third base. Bandy put together a solid career at the middle school level with Corner MS and is ready to bring more of the same to the high school ranks. What makes Bandy a tough out is her ability to hit either for contact or for power. Two years ago, she was one of three from Alabama Sparks Elite 2011 to participate with Region 4 Stripes and Stars at the USA Softball All-American Games in Oklahoma City.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Emma Franklin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"West End","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"SoCal Athletics 2029 National James/Nixon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69812161571d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Emma Franklin is another young prospect who has had the opportunity to sport a uniform with “USA” on it. She put together an impressive performance at the National Selection Event in Oklahoma City. Franklin had a batting average of .500 in addition to an on-base percentage of .600 with four runs driven in. From the circle, Franklin tossed 7.2 innings and only allowed one walk while striking out six batters. Franklin also had another impressive outing as a pitcher at Scenic City in November. She pitched 9.1 innings while striking out 10 hitters. The Patriots of 2A West End were tough to beat last season, as evidenced by their 26-14 record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"LC Raley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"28","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hartselle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Impact Caymol Premier National 2028/2029 Wall","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698121615725f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 2025 season for Hartselle included a 22-14-1 record and one of the berths into the 6A state tournament. LC Raley is coming off a fall travel season with Impact Caymol National Premier 2028/2029 during which she posted a .459 batting average in addition to an on-base percentage of .608. Included in that was what she got accomplished in Chattanooga at the Eastern Elite event. Raley batted .625 during that event in Tennessee. Even though she throws with her right hand, she steps to the plate from the left side. Raley previously wore the Southern Force National uniform for her club ball schedule. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lily Helms","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"24","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Auburn","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Beehive Varsity Premier 14U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69812161572dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The last three seasons have seen 7A Auburn put together 20-win seasons, including in 2025 when the Tigers were victorious on 29 occasions. Defensively, one can typically notice Lily Helms at third base, though she also spends a bit of time at first. A highlight of her summer travel ball schedule with Beehive Premier 14U occurred in late July against Midwest Inferno 15U. Hitting eighth in her team's batting order, she scored three runs and plated two more in a 15-10 victory. Among those hits was a second-inning double. Helms also contributed a pair of hits, two runs, and an RBI in a 14-1, three-inning rout of Remix Softball 14U in late June. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sophie Arant","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Wetumpka","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Birmingham Thunderbolts Whitaker 2029/2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698121615735a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Feb. 19 is the big day for Sophie Arant and her 6A Wetumpka assembling, as her team is set to commence its 2026 campaign at a tournament in Prattville. Wetumpka has been one of the winningest programs in Alabama as of late, and that theme continued with its robust 43-7 record in 2025. During the fall club season, Arant was part of a Birmingham Thunderbolts Whitaker 2029/2030 team that went 18-4. She delivered four doubles in November at PGF's Show Me The Money event in Marietta. Her travel softball career has also included a stint with the Lady Dukes. Arant first played at the varsity level as a seventh grader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->