On Saturday, the Alabama Sports Writers Association announced its 2025 All-State softball team selections and two local student-athletes were among those recognized.
Belgreen High School sophomore Jemma Moore, tapped for the Class 2A First Team, and Russellville High School sophomore Ticelee Gholston, named a Class 5A Honorable Mention, were both honored by the association. It was each player’s first All-State nod.
Moore, a Franklin Free Press All-Franklin County First Team player, held down third base and also pitched for the Lady Bulldogs this past season. She ended her 2025 campaign with a .428 batting average and a .509 on-base percentage, tallied 49 RBIs, scored 41 runs, and hit four home runs. In the field, Moore recorded a .932 fielding percentage.
Moore’s contributions greatly aided the No. 7-ranked Lady Bulldogs as they captured a fifth consecutive Franklin County Tournament title and made a long postseason run to the Class 2A playoff semifinals.
“I’m super excited for her,” Belgreen head coach Sander Tverberg said. “She came in and helped us out a lot—played well, hit the ball well, played good defense at third.
“I think she helped us and we helped her. I think it was a mutual thing and she thrived with us,” Tverberg added. “We worked well together, the girls all got along, and she was a leader for us this season. I’m super excited for her and for the recognition it brings her and the team.”
Moore is the ninth player in Belgreen program history to earn ASWA All-State honors and the first since Lily Blackburn was named to the First Team in 2023.
The Belgreen head coach said he hopes Moore’s accolade will help brandish the program as well as motivate and encourage her and her returning teammates in the future.
“Each player sees what it takes to make that All-State team—having a high batting average and making key plays in the field,” he said.
“Next year I think we’ve got a few other players that can get there and (earn All-State). It’s just a matter of working to do it,” Tverberg added.
Russellville’s Gholston, another FFP All-Franklin County First Team player, continues a trend of four-straight All-State selections for the program. Gholston was tabbed as a Class 5A Honorable Mention after a season that saw her bat .399 in the leadoff spot. A speedy, contact hitter, Gholston notched 49 singles, six doubles, and three triples; she came around to score 39 runs; and, a menace on the base paths, she stole 30 bases in 32 attempts.
Though RHS struggled to find wins for much of the campaign, the Lady Golden Tigers earned their victories when they needed them most; Gholston played a key role in that, ultimately helping the team secure a berth in the AHSAA North Regional tournament.
Russellville head coach Rick Lawson said he saw the rising junior continually mature and improve during her sophomore season.
“I am extremely proud of Ticelee. The amount of growth she had this past season was a testament to her dedication and determination,” Lawson said. “She’s one of those players that coaches love in that she asks questions on how she can improve; coming to the facility to get in extra (batting practice) while nobody is around.
“At the plate, she became a triple threat: you had to guard the bunt, slap, and power hitting. Then when she got on base, she had the potential to turn a single into a double with her speed,” he added.
“As her coach, the thing that I’m looking forward to most is seeing how much she grows in the next two years. As great a season as she had, I think there is still more in the tank!”
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