By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE — It’s sometimes hard to remember that Sara Phillips is just a sophomore. The Hewitt-Trussville pitcher is The Tribune’s softball player of the year after having an incredible season in the circle and at the plate.
As a pitcher, Phillips was 18-1 on the season with an incredible 0.47 ERA, throwing 120 1/3 innings with 200 strikeouts.
She threw five no-hitters over the course of the season and a pair of perfect games, allowing only eight earned runs over the course of the season. Phillips allowed 42 hits and 13 runs all year.
At the plate, she batted .337 with a .437 on-base percentage, knocking nine home runs and 38 RBI and helped lead Hewitt-Trussville to the finals of the AHSAA Class 7A state softball championship, where the Huskies were runners-up to Thompson.
Phillips struck a walk-off single to beat 7A tournament favorite Fairhope 5-3 in the second round, swinging on a 2-0 pitch and dropping the ball into a gap between the shortstop and center fielder. Phillips struck out eight in that game in 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on a rare home run.
Also nominated from The Tribune’s coverage area: Zoie Galloway (Leeds); Makalyn Kyser (Springville); Hollie Graham (Moody); Kenleigh Cahalan (Hewitt-Trussville); Emma Machen (Leeds); Jenna Paxton (Shades Valley); Faith Myers (Moody); Bella Bullington (Springville).