GOOD HOPE — Cara Goodwin became Good Hope High’s very first All-American athlete Tuesday after earning one of only 16 spots on the 2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s High School All-American First Team. The Raider phenom made the exclusive list as an at-large pitcher.

“I was ecstatic,” said Goodwin of her reaction to Tuesday’s news. “I thought it was an honor just to be in the running for it. I didn’t think I would get it.”

Good Hope softball coach Wayne Harris said he couldn’t help but let out a celebratory yell when he saw Goodwin’s name among the All-Americans on the NFCA’s website late Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m so excited for her I’m speechless,” he said. “You can’t get any bigger than All-American. You put up those kinds of numbers, and I think that helps.”

The numbers Harris referred to are Goodwin’s school-record 43 wins, 525 strikeouts and 318 2-3 innings pitched in 2012. Those stats, along with four no-hitters, 19 shutouts and a 0.86 ERA, helped her land on the NFCA’s South Region First Team last week, which wasn’t long after she was named the Class 4A Pitcher of the Year and a First Team pitcher by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Goodwin was snubbed by the ASWA when the Super All-State Team was released, but Harris thinks this All-American honor more than makes up for that exclusion.

“You’ve got a different body of voters, and everybody is going to see things differently,” he said. “It was disappointing that she wasn’t recognized, but at the same time, a name and a piece of paper is just a name and a piece of paper. To me, this shows the people not just in the South, but in the nation, recognize her abilities. I’m just glad she got this.”

The Raider softball program has certainly been on the rise in recent years. The Red and White compiled a school-record 43-7-2 showing this past season, storming through the consolation bracket to win the Northwest Regional Tournament before ending the year at the state tournament in Montgomery. Harris believes that kind of showing, coupled with Goodwin’s All-American status, can only help the school going forward.

“Good Hope’s reputation in fastpitch helps solidify our program and hopefully encourages all the kids to work hard and maintain that level of performance,” the coach said. “They can take this and roll it into next year right where we were and hopefully finish a little stronger — springboard to get us to the second day in Montgomery. That should be our new goal.”

With all she accomplishes in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate, Goodwin is undoubtedly the Raiders’ biggest star on a stacked team of top-notch athletes. The UAB commit had no problem admitting she wouldn’t have been chosen as an All-American if not for the players who surround her on the diamond.

“I wouldn’t be here without my team,” Goodwin said. “They get big ups.”

Three senior players recently graduated, but the core of the Good Hope softball team — Goodwin, Kayla Tillman, Alannah Henke and Darcie Wilson, among others — will return next spring. That has Harris licking his chops about the Raiders’ potential for 2013.

“I think that if the team does what they did this year, they can be just as good, and she can be just as good,” he said. “Will she throw 318 innings? I’d love to have two or three other people to share the workload so she can get more rest. A rested pitcher tends to throw even better.

“She’s a workhorse. One of the umpires during the season called her a beast, in a good way. She enjoys pitching and trying to get people out. If she does what she loves to do and enjoys doing it, she can be in the same situation next year.”

As of Tuesday, there were eight pictures displayed on the walls of the school’s gym, commemorating past Good Hope athletes who have earned All-State honors. Although no official announcement has been made, it’s likely Goodwin will eventually be added to that Wall of Fame as the Raiders’ first All-American.

The good-natured teen can’t wait to see it.

“It’ll feel good,” she said. “I’ll be able to look up at it and say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s me.’”

Rob Ketcham can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 257 or at robk@cullmantimes.com.