‘Elite Athlete’: Spain Park’s Flannery Earns OTM Softball Player of the Year Again

1 year ago 31

By Rubin E. Grant

Allyson Ritenour just finished her first season as Spain Park’s head softball coach, but her relationship with Jaguars’ star shortstop Katie Flannery goes back longer than that.

“I’ve known her since the sixth grade when she was at Berry Middle School,” said Ritenour, who teaches math at Berry and was the school’s head coach before taking over at Spain Park. “She transferred to Hewitt-Trussville for a year and then came back. We have always had a positive relationship.

“I could talk about her all day. It was cool watching her get better each year and become an elite athlete.”

Elite is an apt description of Flannery. In her senior year this spring, she hit .481 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 28 runs batted in, 53 runs scored and nine stolen bases while leading Spain Park to a 33-15 record and a Class 7A regional appearance.

Over-the-Mountain softball coaches voted her as the 2023 OTM Player of the Year, the second consecutive season she has received the honor.

“She had a great senior year,” Ritenour said. “Her performance on the field was awesome and she was such a great leader. She was always helping her teammates get better.”

Flannery was surprised to receive the player of the year honor again.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get it again because I got it last year,” Flannery said. “I’m thankful to see all the hard work I put in throughout the season paid off.

“As a team, we didn’t finish as well as I would have liked, but personally I think I played well and had fun, and I tried to be the best teammate I could.”

Flannery recently was named to the Premier Girls Fastpitch 2023 All-American Team. She is headed to the University of Oregon to play in college.

“I’ve always wanted to play at a Power 5 conference school, and when I went out to visit Oregon, I loved the campus and the coaches,” she said.

Meet the Team

Flannery heads the 2023 All-OTM Softball Team. She was one of the four Spain Park players voted to the squad, joining third baseman Charlee Bennett (.918 fielding percentage), catcher Maggie Daniel (.444 BA, 10 HR, 14 doubles, 39 RBI), and pitcher Ella Reed (20-9 record, 1.78 ERA, 225 strikeouts).

Hoover had five players selected: first baseman Emily Sims (.985 fielding percentage), second baseman Carolyne Hecklinski (.471 BA), shortstop Bella Foran (.458 BA, 6 HR), outfielder Hannah Christian (.488 BA, 14 doubles) and pitcher Kaitlyn Raines (15-3 record, 2.21 ERA, 123 strikeouts).

Vestavia Hills had four players chosen: first baseman Miah Simmons (.350 BA, 8 HR, 51 RBI), outfielder Ella Gallaspy (.356 BA), designated hitter Kayla Franklin (.409 BA, 9 HR) and pitcher Tait Davidson (22-7 record, 1.50 ERA, 254 strikeouts).

Oak Mountain landed three players on the team: catcher Anna DuBose (.309 BA), third baseman Alea Rye (.303 BA, 25 RBI) and outfielder Emma Hawkins (.434 BA, 10 stolen bases).

Mountain Brook had two representatives: outfielder Claire Robinett (.397 BA, 22 RBI) and pitcher Ellie Pitts (10-3 record, 1.79 ERA, 124 strikeouts).

Rounding out the team are outfielders Mallory Ogle (.553 BA, 31 RBI) from John Carroll Catholic and Madison Letson (.421 BA) from Homewood.

Coach of the Year

Vestavia Hills’ John Simmons was voted the 2023 OTM Coach of the Year after guiding the Rebels to a 42-9-1 record.

“I am honored to be recognized,” Simmons said. “We had some good success. The girls played well and provided some good leadership.

“It was my second year. I’ve really enjoyed Vestavia. We have some great players and I’m just putting things in front of them to be successful. I couldn’t do anything without them.”

Read Entire Article