By Erik Harris
TRUSSVILLE – The Alabama Sport Writers Association has named its All-State Softball Teams, and one Hewitt-Trussville senior found herself on Class 7A’s first team, followed by a pair of teammates on the succeeding rosters.
Following a great campaign playing under first-year head coach Karen Johns, Taylor Beshears landed on the first team as a utility player. The departing senior feels “pretty good” about ending her high school career as an All-State selection.
Junior pitcher Bailey Murphy was voted a second team All-State player, while freshman Tate Moseley made the honorable mention list.
That gives Johns two All-State athletes returning to the field in Year 2 of her run with the Huskies. Her first season ended in Montgomery at the state tournament.
Beshears’ reliability behind the plate and her live offensive game will be missed next spring. After making a career as a leadoff batter, the departing senior said that she found more comfort batting No. 3 in the Hewitt-Trussville lineup this past season.
Murphy was able to construct an All-State season as a transfer athlete from Mortimer Jordan.
“She came in as a junior in high school to a completely different school, and came in strong,” said Beshears. “We let her in as a family and opened up to her, and she opened up to us.”
Only a freshman, Moseley burst on to the high school scene in 2015. Beshears admits to looking up to her much younger teammate, and sees a bright future ahead.
“Tate is very dedicated to what she does,” said Beshears. “She loves what she does and a bunch of people want to be like her. I even look up to Tate, because of the way that she is and the way that she carries herself.”