The Selma Times-Journal

Back surgery that cut short the season of Meadowview Christian second baseman Carol Ann McIntyre took more out of her than she had hoped.

After rehab, softball camp and a strong season to finish her high school career, McIntyre has been recognized as one of the top AISA players in the state.

“I kind of made it a point this summer to get better and to improve on my weaknesses, which at that point with my body being so weak was pretty much everything,” McIntyre said. “This year I really trained hard on what I wanted to be in college, which was a second baseman. But I also I knew I needed to step it up as the leader, being the pitcher this year for Meadowview.”

An honorable mention selection for this year’s Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state team, McIntyre was chosen to play in the AISA’s all-star softball game June 9 in Montgomery.

Four more local players were selected for the baseball all-star game June 10 – Meadowview’s J.R. Lowe, also an all-state honorable mention, and Thomas Austin, Brad Averitt and Clint Maroney from Morgan Academy.

Maroney, who recently committed to Huntingdon, is the only repeat selection in the bunch.

“It’s definitely going to be different because you have the best of every team out there playing with each other,” Maroney said. “It’s hard to get used to it in one day, but it’s not too bad. It’s a lot of fun.”

For Austin, the fun part was playing well enough to make his team successful this year and putting himself in a position for this honor. He and Maroney were the 1-2 pitching tandem the Senators leaned on for big wins.

“Clint and I kind of worked together winning area games and got us to the playoffs again,” Austin said. “It’s was kind of like a tag team.”

Lowe, arguably the quietest of the group, let his play do the talking for him this past season and emerged as the Trojans’ best all-around player.

“I had some big wins that we needed,” Lowe said. “In must-win games, I won them pitching. I have to say I feel more comfortable at the plate because I’ve had some big hits, and I’m a pretty decent hitter.”