Alabama softball is full of stars. There's pitcher and social media star Montana Fouts. There are hitters including Ashley Prange and Ally Shipman. And after an offseason in which numerous players transferred out of Alabama, the Crimson Tide reloaded ahead of the 2023 season.
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True freshman Kenleigh Cahalan is the best example of that. Cahalan made quite the first impression during the Tide's opening weekend, showing off her hitting prowess and her wheels.
The wheels!🏎️ Kenleigh with an inside-the-park HR!@CahalanKenleigh
📺SECN+ | https://t.co/LioF2IcPaZ#Team27 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/uHgelQh9yN
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) February 11, 2023
Alabama was already up 10-1 against Georgia Southern in Tuscaloosa. Cahalan was simply adding to that lead when she ripped a pitch past the right fielder and motored around the bases for an inside-the-park homer.
How's that for a first home run? Cahalan finished the weekend 3-for-8 with three RBIs, which is a great early sign for an Alabama offense that fell flat in the disappointing season-opening loss to Lehigh (hey, you can't win them all).
Alabama fans have reason to be excited over the newbie. She was ranked the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class by Perfect Game Softball and was the 2022 Alabama Miss Softball. In her junior season at Hewitt-Trussville High School, she hit .529 with 13 home runs.
Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy gushed over her when she was cleared to join the Tide earlier this year. She isn't even 18 yet, and she's already making waves in college softball.
"We are so excited to add Kenleigh to our roster this spring," Murphy said. "She had a great high school and summer ball career culminating in a PGF national championship last summer. She can play anywhere on the field and has a strong lefty bat. She will make us better immediately."
The Crimson Tide should have no problem scoring runs as long as Cahalan is hitting atop the order.
