Potter, Lemons earn All-State honors

The Vestavia Hills baseball program had a resurgent year under first-year head coach Jamie Harris, as the Rebels achieved the No. 1 ranking in the state and finished the season 29-6 overall.

The top Rebel hurlers, Sonny Potter and Caden Lemons, carried the team much of the way, and were honored by the Alabama Sports Writers Association by being named to the All-State team.

Potter, a left-handed senior on his way to play at the University of Alabama, garnered first-team honors, posting an 8-2 record with an outstanding 0.89 ERA in 63 innings of work. He walked just 15 batters and punched out 91. 

He was no slouch at the plate, either, and bolstered the middle of the lineup as well. He hit for a .295 average and a .443 on-base percentage while racking up 26 hits and 23 RBIs.

"Sonny has had a high school career that most kids only dream about having. He has been a leader for us at the plate and on the mound for the last three years. We will certainly miss his competitive spirit and bulldog attitude on the field." Harris said.

While Potter's pitching numbers were great, Lemons' may have been slightly better. In eight starts, he went 6-0, and allowed just two earned runs in 48.1 innings for a microscopic 0.29 ERA. He earned second-team honors.

Harris said, "Caden was simply dominant this year. Until his last two starts he was averaging nearly two strikeouts an inning. He had a 0.29 ERA and was a part of two no hitters. He has a chance to be even more dominant this year than he was last year if he works like he knows he should."