Peyton Thrash named Autauga County softball player of the year

Peyton Thrash turned a big season at Prattville Christian Academy into the top individual honor in Autauga County softball, earning the county player of the year award on June 4, 2026. The recognition matched a year in which Thrash became one of the county’s most productive hitters and a central piece of PCA’s deepest postseason run.

Thrash led all Autauga County softball players with 55 runs batted in and finished with 21 extra-base hits, a .398 batting average, a .445 on-base percentage, 38 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Those numbers made her more than a power bat. She produced at the plate, moved runners, scored herself and added pressure on the bases, giving PCA production in several phases of the game.

Her award also reflects what PCA accomplished as a program. The Panthers were the only softball team in Autauga County to win an area championship in 2026, taking the Class 4A Area 5 title over Tallassee, BTW Magnet and Catholic. PCA then won regional games over Handley, West Blocton and Oak Grove before falling one win short of the Class 4A State Tournament. Coach Chris Puckett was named Autauga County Softball Coach of the Year in May, underscoring that the Panthers’ rise was built on a full-season standard rather than a single hot streak.

Thrash credited teammates and coaches for the season, and Puckett pointed to work behind the scenes as a major part of PCA’s success. The Panthers played as a group of 18 on the 2025-26 varsity roster, with names including Saniyah Weaver, Kandake Crosby, Caralee Janes and Colbie Martin helping form the depth behind the run. Puckett said the team improved by making adjustments over the season and by handling tough tests, including a demanding tournament in Hoover and the weather disruptions and hot hitting that came with the area race.

The performance also fits a longer arc. As a freshman in 2024, Thrash hit .373 with 38 hits, two home runs and 23 RBIs, and she delivered a two-out, two-RBI single against American Christian Academy that helped send PCA to the state tournament. Now, with her 2027 goal set on a state championship, Thrash is trying to raise the benchmark even higher for younger players at PCA and across Autauga County. She hopes to play softball in college and later enter the healthcare field, carrying that same standard into what comes next.