AISA SOFTBALL: Hooper Academy reaches Class A finals needing one more win for title

Hooper’s Jenna Conway is called out at first base on throw to Crenshaw Christian’s Cheyenne Owens in the AISA tournament on Friday. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

Earlier in the season, Hooper Academy didn’t look a lot like a championship caliber softball team, but the Colts are swinging the bat a lot better in the postseason.

“If you looked at our record, you’d probably say no,” said Hooper senior Henlee Garvin. “We’ve had ups and downs this whole season, but I would say yes. I would say we’ve surprised a lot of people, but we deserve to be here.”

The Colts (17-13) punched their ticket to the Alabama Independent School Association Class A finals with a 4-2 win over Crenshaw Christian on Friday at Lagoon Park. Hooper will play Crenshaw for the Class A state championship on Saturday at 11 a.m. A second game, if Crenshaw wins, will immediately follow.

In Class AA, Bessemer Academy and Clarke Prep School will play at 2 p.m. A second game, if Clarke Prepo wins, will immediately follow.

“It is an absolute wonderful opportunity for us to do what we’re supposed to do, play the game like we’re supposed to play it,” Hooper coach Elyse Grier said. “It’s a great feeling. The girls are excited, they feel good. When they feel good, they play good.

“The way they work, I believe they’ve earned the right to be here. They’ve won the right games at the right times. I’ve got two eighth graders starting in the infield (second baseman Kaydence Kelley and third baseman Mallory Sexton), a few seniors and everything in between.”

Garvin is the only senior starter who was on the 2023 and 2024 state championship teams that stumbled with a two-and-out performance in 2025 before returning to the title game in 2026.

“Going back to my ninth grade year we were in it twice, but last year it kind of hurt because we had all the same girls, it carried over,” Garvin said. “But this year, it’s my last year. We all want to end it on a bang. I think all that from last year just carried over to this year. It’s powering our energy and confidence.

“This year, I’d like to give kudos all the younger girls, like Mallory at third base and second baseman Kady Kelley. We’re younger this year and I like how everyone is stepping up and doing their part.” 

In Hooper’s 18 state tournament appearances, only four teams have reached the finals. Garvin has been on three of them. 

“Recently, all of our bats have been alive and our pitcher, Peyton (Middleton), has done really well for us,” Garvin said. “We’re making sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and just figuring it all out.”

As one of the state’s top AISA volleyball players, Garvin helped the Colts reach the semifinals of the state tournament before losing to eventual champion Southern. She’d like to finish the journey on Saturday by winning her third softball state championship ring in four years.  

“It would feel great,” she said. “This year, as a senior, we went to the final four for both volleyball and basketball and I want to come out with a win. To have three softball rings, that’s something not a lot of people can do and say that they’ve done before.” 

ALABAMA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Lagoon Park Softball Complex

CLASS AA

Chambers Academy 12, Southern Academy 4

Bessemer Academy 11, Fort Dale Academy 1

Clarke Prep School 15, Springwood School 0

Lowndes Academy 9, Monroe Academy 1

Southern Academy 7, Fort Dale Academy 6

Monroe Academy 14, Springwood School 4

Bessemer Academy 6, Chambers Academy 2

Clarke Prep School 12, Lowndes Academy 4

Lowndes Academy 5, Southern Academy 4

Chambers Academy 9, Monroe Academy 8

Bessemer Academy 6, Clarke Prep School 0

Chambers Academy 5, Lowndes Academy 4

Clarke Prep School 9, Chambers Academy 7

Class AA finals, Bessemer Academy vs. Clarke Prep School, 2 p.m. (A second game, if necessary, will follow)

CLASS A
Crenshaw Christian 9, Heritage Christian 0

South Choctaw Academy 5, Abbeville Christian 3

Patrician Academy 12, Edgewood Academy 7

Hooper Academy 11, Coosa Valley Academy 0

Abbeville Christian 12, Heritage Christian 1

Edgewood Academy 13, Coosa Valley Academy 7

Crenshaw Christian 13, South Choctaw 5

Hooper Acadeny 8, Patrician Academy 3

Abbeville Christian 12, Patrician Academy 10

Edgewood Academy 14, South Choctaw Academy 5

Hooper Academy 4, Crenshaw Christian 2

Abbeville Christian 4, Edgewood Academy 2

Crenshaw Christian 11, Abbeville Christian 1

Class A finals, Hooper Academy vs. Crenshaw Christian, 11 a.m. (A second game, if necessary, will follow)