By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
MONTGOMERY - Twenty-eight of Hartselle’s 50 wins this season came from the Tigers’ top two starters, Mississippi State signees Chad Girodo and Luke Bole.
The pair were chosen to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2009 Super All-State Team - a group of the top 10 players in Alabama High School Athletic Association and the Alabama Interscholastic Association schools.
Joining Bole and Girodo on the Super All-State Team are Briarwood Christian’s Ben Bracewell, Sylvania’s Jacob Croft, Brantley’s Anthony Gulley, St. Paul's Andrew Miller, Fairhope’s Daryl Norris, Pleasant Grove’s Chazz Otwell, Cleburne County’s C.C. Watson and American Christian’s Dillon Williams.
Bole swept the awards by being named all-state as a designated hitter. He was also the Class 5A hitter of the year and the most valuable player.
Bole hit .412 this season with a state-record 20 homers and 73 RBIs. But he hit full stride in the playoffs with 16 hits, including six homers, in 11 games as Hartselle claimed its seventh state championship. It was the first title for the Tigers since 2000.
Bole led the Tigers in five different offensive categories as Hartselle posted a 50-9 record this year.
He was named the most valuable player of the Class 5A championship series after leading the Tigers past Briarwood Christian in a best-of-three series.
Girodo, who finished second in the pitcher of the year voting to Bracewell, led the state with 17 wins in 18 decisions.
The senior lefthander posted an ERA of just 0.47 after allowing just seven earned runs this season.
His lone loss of the season came against Cullman in the Tigers’ second game of the year.
Girodo went 5-0 in the playoffs, including a win in the second game of the Class 5A state championship series against Briarwood Christian.
Four other local players were also chosen to the ASWA’s all-state baseball team. Falkville second baseman Joseph Lacey was a first-team selection in Class 2A, while teammate Trevor Mayer earned honorable mention honors as a pitcher.
Priceville’s Jeremy Hale and Danville’s Parker Hogan earned honorable mention honors in Class 4A and Class 3A respectively.
Lacey hit .511 for the Blue Devils with a slugging percentage of .717. A steady hitter for Falkville, Lacey was a tough out for opposing pitchers who were unable to strike him out once in 92 at-bats.
Lacey stole 13 bases in 17 attempts and scored 40 runs after reaching base 62 times. He finished with 13 extra base hits, including nine doubles.
Mayer went 6-3 on the mound with a 2.58 ERA. In 10 starts, he had eight complete games with a pair of shutouts.
He finished the year with 76 strikeouts in 65 innings.
Hale drove in 33 RBIs for the Bulldogs after hitting .478 as a senior. He finished with 18 doubles and five homers in his final season at Priceville.
Hale also added 25 stolen bases, most among Class 4A catchers.
Hogan, also a catcher, had 33 hits with 41 RBIs this season for Danville. He hit .375 with seven doubles, two triples and three homers.
The Hawks’ senior had an on-base percentage of .701 in his final season.