Six earn ASWA all-state honors

Hartselle’s Logan Cain and Ryan Joy, two key elements in the Tigers’ state runner-up finish this season, were honored by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as part of the Class 5A all-state team.
The all-state baseball list was released Sunday.
The Hartselle players were joined by head coach William Booth – chosen as the state’s top coach in Class 5A – and first baseman Robby Reece, who finished as an honorable mention choice despite missing much of the regular season.
Booth, who has won seven state championships at Hartselle easily won coach of the year honors over Spanish Fort’s Tommy Walker.
In Class 4A, Priceville’s Dalton Lorance, a senior first baseman, earned honorable mention
Danville second baseman Thomas Russell was an honorable mention pick in Class 3A.
Joy, an honorable mention selection a year ago, was a first-team outfielder this season after hitting .425 with team-highs of 71 hits, 63 runs, 16 doubles and 49 RBIs. He also added 12 home runs for the Tigers, who reached the Class 5A state championship game before losing to Spanish Fort in the best-of-three series.
Cain, a first-year starter who will play football at Troy University this fall, finished with a team-high 15 homers this season.
The Tigers’ starting third baseman hit .343 with 46 RBIs as Hartselle advanced to the state championship for the second straight season.
Reece suffered a separated shoulder in Hartselle’s season-opener and did not return until the Tigers opened area play. But Reece batted .447 with 42 hits – including nine homers – in 94 at-bats.
Russell hit .495 for the Hawks in 105 at-bats to earn all-state honors for the first time. He will be a senior next spring after stealing 21 bases for Danville.
Lorance, a senior, hit .461 for the Bulldogs while driving in 34 runs. He had 16 doubles and five homers along with 16 stolen bases.