Alea Johnson, a member of Fairhope High School’s Class of 2022 and a two-time Class 7A pitcher of the year, announced her transfer from LSU to the University of Alabama.

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to play for Alabama with this talented team,” Johnson said in the announcement. “I can't wait to grow on and off the field with such an amazing program. I am so excited to start my journey with the Crimson Tide!"

As a freshman with the Tigers, Johnson collected a 7-1 record in 12 appearances with a 1.41 ERA where she struck out 31 of the 186 batters she faced over 41.2 innings pitched. One of her relief outings included a string of six retired batters in a row against the national champion Oklahoma Sooners.

Johnson is set to reunite with three teammates she won the 2022 Premier Girls Fastpitch 18U Championship as members of the Birmingham Thunderbolts on the summer club circuit. Kenleigh Cahalan from Hewitt-Trussville, Marlie Giles from Chilton County and Larissa Preuitt from Hartselle were all freshmen on the 2023 Crimson Tide roster.

"We are very excited to welcome Alea to our Alabama softball family,” said Alabama head softball coach Patrick Murphy. “Our visit with her and her parents was terrific. With three senior pitchers this upcoming season, we really needed a sophomore in the circle as well. I believe she has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the many dominant pitchers in our program's history."

In her days as a Fairhope Pirate, Johnson was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s first-team all-state four times where she was the 7A pitcher of the year her final two years of high school. She was also a member of the state championship team in 2018 as an eighth grader.

When she graduated high school, Extra Innings Softball had ranked Johnson as the seventh overall prospect in the country.

The Crimson Tide had picked up five newcomers for the 2024 roster with Johnson. Kayla Beaver will join as a fifth-year transfer, Kendal Clark will come in as a junior college graduate and Jocelyn Briski and Lauren Johnson signed National Letters of Intent before graduating high school this spring.