East Central Alabama was well represented in the 2012 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State baseball team.

Seven players from the area earned All-State honors, with three of them earning first team honors,

Pell City’s Cole Billingsley was rewarded for a great season, earning first team honors in Class 6A as a utility player. Billingsley played a huge role in the Panthers setting a school record with 29 wins. Pell City head coach Andrew Tarver was elated when he found out that Billingsley made the first team.

“He worked really hard to be that type of player that he needed to be,” Tarver said. “He is a great kid. If you had to build a team around someone, that is who you would want to build around. He works so hard in the cages, on his mechanics and everything he has to do baseball wise to be that type of guy.”

Billingsley had a great season off the mound for the Panthers. The lefty went 6-1 and recorded two saves in 79.2 innings of action. In his last career start on the mound, Billingsley pitched a gem. He dominated for nine innings against the eventually Class 6A champions, the Oxford Yellow Jackets.

“It is pretty exciting,” Billingsley said. “I have always wanted to do this since I have been in high school. I am pretty excited that I finally got a chance to make it. I’ve worked hard for it and I have to give my teammates all the thanks because without them I wouldn’t have been able to make it. They give me great surroundings and a great baseball atmosphere.”

The University of South Alabama commitment also got it done at the plate. The senior recorded 63 hits, which included 14 doubles, two triples and a homer. He scored 37 runs, drove in 18 RBI’s and also walked 18 times. The gold medal winner said earning first team All-State caps off the great career he had as a Panthers.

“It puts a cherry on the top,” Billingsley said. “I’ve had a great four years at Pell City. Hearing my name being on first team All-State, that is really awesome.”

The Fayetteville Wolves had two players to earn All-State spots. Zach McGrady earned first team honors, while Justin Ricks earned a spot on the honorable mention team.

Fayetteville head coach Morris Phillips believes both players were worthy of the accolades they received.

“I am very blessed to have those two guys make the team,” Phillips said. “ I am very fortunate that we had them. I am real excited for them. I am real proud of Ricks and McGrady for making it. They had a really good year for us and I am very proud of them.”

This is McGrady’s first time making the All-State team. He said receiving this honor was unexpected.

“It is a great honor,” McGrady said. “I really didn’t think I would get it. I had a good year this year, but I figured there were more deserving people out there. I am glad they felt I was good enough to get it and I thank them for that.”

McGrady was dominant off the mound for the Wolves. The junior recorded a 9-3 record in 72 innings of action. He had 89 strikeouts; he only allowed 14 runs and only eight earned runs. He also had astounding ERA of 0.85.

“I had a good defense behind me and that helped a lot,” McGrady said. I had good coaching; it wasn’t just me at all. Then, I had runs support from the offense.”

Josh Quinn earned All-State honors for Winterboro. The Bulldogs head coach Brandon Brown believes Quinn may be the first player in school history to earn All-State honors.

Quinn recorded a 4-3 record. He had an ERA of 1.69 and opposing batters only had a .160 batting average against him. The senior only allowed 16 runs and only 10 of them were earned.

“He is the best player that I have ever had the privilege of coaching,” Brown said. “I am really proud of what he was able to accomplish over the course of his career. This is something he has earned and I am really proud of him.

The Coosa Valley Academy Rebels had two players to earn AISA All-State honors.

Ragland’s Scottie Smith earned honorable mention honors in Class 1A as a pitcher.

Seniors Hunter Winslett and Allen Logan played a huge role in the Rebels of Coosa Valley Academy’s success this season. CVA won 30 games and earned a trip to the AISA semifinals. Winslett earned first team honors as a second baseman and Allen Logan earned honorable mention honors.

Winslett recorded 32 runs and drove in 22 runs while recording a batting average of .311.

“Those were two of our contributors,” CVA former head coach Bobby Hughes said. “They did a lot for our team. Hunter was a gritty ball player. He played for me for three years. He was one of our leaders. He was a good ball player and I enjoyed coaching him the three year I coached him.”

Logan led the Rebels in hitting, with a batting average of .437. He had 38 hits and 30 RBI’s on the season.

“Allen did a great job on the mound and he also played third,” Hughes said. “I think he led our team in hitting. He will be a big contributor to the team next year.”

Ragland’s Scottie Smith earned honorable mention honors in Class 1A as a pitcher.