After the COVID-19 pandemic ended softball and all spring sports in March 2020, last year’s full season ending in championships was well received.

The 2022 season begins on Thursday with familiar teams set to battle for titles and plenty of coaching changes.

Below are some of the main storylines for the 2022 softball season.

Returning Champions

Hewitt-Trussville won their second consecutive title, although the previous win was in 2019 as there were no 2020 championships, while no other team repeated their 2019 championship.

Here are last year’s champions:

Class 7A-Hewitt-Trussville; Class 6A-nut green; Class 5A-Satsuma; Class 4A-North Jackson; Class 3A-Plainview; Class 2A-Orange Beach; Class 1A-Brantley; AISA-Bessemer Academy, South Academy, Abbeville Christian.

Teams to watch

It’s pretty much the same cast as usual with the best teams in each class.

Class 7A: Auburn, Bob Jones, Central-Phenix City, Fairhope, Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover, Spain Park, Sparkman, Thompson, Vestavia Hills

Class 6A: Athens, Buckhorn, Hartselle, Hazel Green, Helena, Mortimer Jordan, Saraland, Spanish Fort, Springville

Class 5A: Alexandria, Ardmore, East Limestone, Elmore County, Hayden, Satsuma, Tallassee

Class 4A: American Christian, Brooks, Curry, Etowah, North Jackson, Northside, Rogers

Class 3A: Beulah, Danville, Flomaton, County Lauderdale, Opp, Plainview, Prattville Christian

Class 2A: GW Long, Hatton, Ider, Leroy, Mars Hill Bible, Lamar County, Pisgah, Sand Rock, Spring Garden, Sumiton Christian

Class 1A: Appalachia, Athens Bible, Brantley, Holy Ghost, Pleasant Home, Skyline, South Lamar, Woodland

AISA: Autauga Academy, Clarke Prep, Edgewood, Glenwood, Macon East, Southern Academy

No team this season

UMS-Wright will not field a team as there were not enough players to fill the roster.

New coaches

Coaching changes are inevitable, but this season seemed to bring more than usual. Here are some of the new coaches this season:

Alabama Christian-Lauren Veach; Arabic – Jared Moore; Ardmore – Jacob Sparkman; Boaz-David Stanford; Brewer – Braeden Netherton; Center-Florence – Carmen Whitfield; Chelsea-Sara Gallman; Lemongrass – Kaitlyn Wood; Danville- Christy Ferguson; Eufaule – Allison Warrick; Falkville- Mallory Jones; Fayetteville – Chris Sherbert; Florence-Elizabeth Fuller; Gardendale – Kyndall White; Glencoe-Drew Hall; Glenwood-Josh McConnell; Hartselle – Christopher Reeves; Hayden-Laura Jill Dowd; Homewood – Arica Moss; Madison County – Aaron James; Prattville-Brian Pittman; Station Smiths-Michael King; Sparkman- Lindsay Vanover; Springville- John Taruc; Theodore – Lacey Bosarge; Wicksburg – Josh Cox.

Players to watch

This is certainly not a complete list, but below you will find some of the best players in each class per team.

CLASS 7A

Baker: Emily Mizelle

Bob JonesEmma Rolfe

Centre-Phoenix City: Kristen White

Fairhope: Alea Johnson, Ryley Harrison

Hewitt-Trussville: Kenleigh Cahalan, Hannah Dorsett, Riley Tyree

Vacuum Cleaner: Bella Foran, Campbell Hecklinski

Mary MontgomeryJayden Sawyer

Spain Park Ella Reed, Katie Flannery

Theodore: Jayden Sawyer

Thompson: Eleanor DeBlock, Ella Pate, Chalea Clemmons

Sparkman: Cassie Reasner

Vestavia Hills: Miah Simmons

CLASS 6A

Athens: Emily Simon, Morgan Stiles

Baldwin County: Madilyn Byrd

Buckhorn Alyssa Hastings

Chilton County: Marlie Giles

Chelsea: Kathryn Bryars, Olivia Trout

Gulf Coast: Kailin Parker

Hartselle: Larissa Preuitt, Karsi Lentz, Blayne Godfrey

Green hazelnut: Caroline Cartron

HelenaCam Bailey

Saraland: Bre Hughes, Gracie Dees

Satsuma: Madison Sawyer

Strong Spanish: Haley Hart

CLASS 5A

Alexandria: Rylee Gattis, Chloe Gattis

Ardmore: Ella Singletary, Bo Riley

John CarrollMacey Ogle

Tallassee: Chloe Baynes

Hayden: Becca Benton

CLASS 4A

Brooks: Ellie Partrick

Cleburne County: Jayci Boozer

Curry: Linley Tubbs, Alayna Key, Kylee Trotter

Madison Academy: Mack Meadows

Plainview: Tessa Word

Rogers: Hannah Price

North Side: Kinley Pate, Becca Leigh Chadwick

CLASS 3A

Flomaton: Jalia Lassiter

CLASS 2A

Orange Beach: Ava Hodo, Teagan Revette, Daigle Wilson

Pisgah: Molly Heard, Lila Kate Wheeler

Leroy: Marisa West

Southern Lamar: Maddie Thompson

Spring Garden: Neely Welsh, Kayley Kirk, Spring Garden

CLASS 1A

Athens Bible: Cana Vining

Brantley: Kayden Dunn, Kaylee Navarre, Shanta Barginere, Campbell Hawthorne

Skyline: Olivia Treece

Ragland: Sammie-Day Jones, Addie Campbell