2009 All-Gazette Softball Team

2009 ALL-GAZETTE SOFTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM

Hayley Black, East Gaston, Jr., Pitcher -- Worked 66 innings, recording a 1.50 ERA and 6-4 record. Struck out 47 batters in 66 innings and walked only 15. Also picked up one save.

Leah Gibson, South Point, Sr., Shortstop -- Red Raiders' MVP ranked third in the area with .507 batting average. Also led team with 26 stolen bases.

Taylor Hawley, East Gaston, So., Center field -- Batted .309 with six RBIs, helping Warriors to third place in Big South. Earned East Gaston's defensive award.

Taylor Laskey, Cherryville, Fr., Third base -- Led area with a whopping nine home runs and .519 batting average. Also topped area in hits (41) and RBIs (49).

Taylor Long, Cherryville, Sr., Shortstop -- All-conference pick batted .343 with one home run and 23 RBIs, helping Lady Ironmen to SPC title.

Taylor Mahaffey, South Point, So., Pitcher -- Recorded a 1.80 ERA and 12-11 record while striking out 86 batters in 146 innings. Also batted .349.

Kinsey McClure, North Gaston, Jr., First base -- Team co-MVP batted .313 with three home runs, which tied for second in the area. Also drove in 14 runs.

Sidney Mitchell, North Gaston, So., Pitcher -- Team co-MVP finished with a 13-8 record, including a 2.73 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 59 innings of conference play. Also batted .368 with one home run.

Addy Pound, North Lincoln, So., Pitcher -- Team MVP struck out 60 batters in 78 1/3 innings and compiled a 9-6 record with 3.66 ERA. Also batted .321 with 10 RBIs and one home run.

Ashley Rhyne, West Lincoln, Jr., Pitcher -- Ranked second in the area with 211 strikeouts in 143 innings. Three-time all-conference pick finished with a 1.71 ERA and 17-7 record. Also batted .372, helping Rebels become only team to beat Cherryville in regular season.

Emily Self, Cherryville, Sr., Pitcher -- Gazette player of the year dominated in the pitcher's circle, compiling a 23-2 record and 0.42 ERA with 208 strikeouts in 149 innings. Also batted .465 with three home runs and .635 on-base percentage, leading Lady Ironmen to SPC title.

Allie Short, Ashbrook, Sr., Pitcher -- Led the area in innings pitched (164) and strikeouts (214) while recording a 1.89 ERA and 12-13 record. Also batted .389 with one home run and 17 RBIs.

SECOND TEAM

Hayley Beaty, Highland Tech, Sr., Pitcher/shortstop -- Batted .393 with three home runs. Three-time all-conference selection.

Niki Bedenbaugh, Cherryville, So., Center field -- Batted .365 to go with 11 RBIs and scored 28 runs.

Melissa Blanton, North Gaston, Jr., Center field -- North Gaston's "Best Defense" award-winner batted .370 with nine RBIs.

Regina Diaz, North Gaston, Jr., Third base -- North Gaston's "Best Offense" award-winner batted .484 with 12 RBIs.

Whitney Ellis, West Lincoln, Sr., Shortstop -- Ranked second in area with .512 batting average to go with 16 RBIs.

Amanda Farabaugh, North Lincoln, Jr., First base -- Batted .307 with one home run and 15 RBIs. Pitched 71 1/3 innings, recording 37 strikeouts, a 2.94 ERA and 4-5 record with two saves.

Ashley Jones, Bessemer City, Jr., Shortstop -- Three-time all-conference pick batted .392. Named Bessemer City's female athlete of the year.

Taylor Jordan, Hunter Huss, So., Catcher -- Two-time all-conference pick batted .462 with one home run. 

Shanie McConnell, East Gaston, So., Pitcher -- Struck out 78 batters in 91 innings while compiling an 8-6 record with 1.70 ERA.

Jordan McNeely, Cherryville, Sr., Second base -- Batted .357 with 18 RBIs for conference champion.

Chrissy Pickert, South Point, Sr., Second base -- Batted .339 with six RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

Ashley Workman, West Lincoln, Sr., First base -- Batted .400 with two home runs and 21 RBIs, helping Rebels finish second in SPC.

HONORABLE MENTION

Kelsey Alley, East Lincoln

Brooke Baliles, South Point, Jr., C/1B

Jill Baxter, North Lincoln, So., OF

Ariel Bumgardner, Cherryville, Jr., 1B

Jessi Burgess, Gaston Christian, So., 3B

Kelsey Burgess, Gaston Christian, Jr., SS

Monique Byrd, Hunter Huss, Jr., OF

Caitlin Campbell, Gaston Christian, So., P

Macey Eldridge, Ashbrook, Jr., 3B

Taylor Faris, Kings Mountain

Tara Hartley, East Lincoln

Samantha Henderson, Bessemer City, So., CF

Taylor Houser, South Point, So., 1B/CF

Hayley Hoyle, Kings Mountain

Megan Hoyle, Kings Mountain

Brittney Morrow, Lincolnton, Sr., C

Andreya O'Brien, Ashbrook, Jr., C/SS

Stevie Phillips, South Point, Sr., CF/P

Bry'anne Robbins, Highland Tech, Jr., 3B/SS

Sadie Saine, West Lincoln, So., 3B

Taylor Shelton, Lincolnton, Sr., P

Jessica Smith, Forestview, IF

Megan Soots, East Gaston, Jr., C

Breanna Stevens, Bessemer City, P, Fr.

Kaitlyn Thompson, North Lincoln, Jr., SS

Emily Torbert, North Lincoln, Sr., 3B

Katie White, North Gaston, Jr., C

Jordan Wilson, South Point, Fr. RF/C

Morgan Wolf, Lincolnton, Sr., CF

How the team was chosen

The All-Gazette softball team was chosen by members of The Gaston Gazette's sports staff and based on game observation, statistics and nominations by area coaches. Not all schools submitted nominations or stats. The first and second teams consist of 12 players each, regardless of position. Please send comments to sports@gastongazette.com or comment below the story at VarsityNC.com.