All-Gazette softball teams

June 11, 2010 11:34 PM

From staff reports

FIRST TEAM

Ariel Bumgardner
Cherryville, Sr.
First base
Belmont Abbey signee batted .452 with one home run and 30 RBIs. Committed only one error, finishing with .994 fielding percentage. All-state selection.

Kelsey Burgess
Gaston Christian, Sr.
Shortstop
North Greenville signee batted .411 with 16 RBIs, helping Eagles win the NCISAA 2A state championship. Two-year all-state player and two-year captain. Filled in one game for injured pitcher.

Caitlin Campbell
Gaston Christian, Jr.
Pitcher
Pitched every game in state tournament as Eagles won the NCISAA 2A state championship. Finished with 16-5 record, 1.33 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 126 innings. Led the area with .606 batting average to go with four home runs.

Hayley Hoyle
Kings Mountain, Sr.
Catcher
Team leader in batting average (.444), home runs (three), RBIs (22) and on-base percentage (.583). Struck out only three times and had a fielding percentage of .886, helping Mountaineers take second in Big South Conference.

Ashley Jones
Bessemer City, Sr.
Shortstop
Team MVP and school female athlete of the year batted team-best .333. Three-year all-conference selection.

Taylor Jordan
Hunter Huss, Jr.
Catcher
Smacked an area-best seven home runs on her way to a .480 batting average. Finished with a .940 slugging percentage.

Taylor Laskey
Cherryville, So.
Catcher
Led the area in RBIs (39) and hits (46) and ranked second with six home runs. Batted .568 with .731 on-base percentage and struck out only twice. Helped Lady Ironmen win Southern Piedmont Conference tournament title and win two playoff games.

Shanie McConnell
East Gaston, Jr.
Pitcher/first base
MEGA 7 Conference player of the year ranked third in the area with 13 pitching wins, helping Warriors win league title. Struck out 91 batters in 83 innings and finished with 1.26 ERA. Batted .356 with two home runs.

Sidney Mitchell
North Gaston, Jr.
Pitcher
Pitched 81 innings, striking out 71 batters and finishing with a 12-5 record and 1.64 ERA. Three-year all-conference selection also batted .325, helping Wildcats to third-place finish in Big South Conference.

Ashley Rhyne
West Lincoln, Sr.
Pitcher
Gazette and Southern Piedmont Conference player of the year led the area in pitching wins (17), ERA (0.98), innings pitched (192 1/3) and strikeouts (249). Tossed 11 shutouts in 24 games. Batted .493 with two home runs. Signed with Walters State.

Sadie Saine
West Lincoln, Jr.
Shortstop
Ranked second in the area with .573 batting average. Also hit two home runs and drove in 24 runs, helping Rebels win Southern Piedmont Conference title.

Jordan Wilson
South Point, So.
Shortstop
Led team in batting average (.558), RBIs (33), home runs (two), doubles (16), triples (five) and slugging percentage (.941). Tallied a hit in 20 of 22 games, with multiple hits in 15 of them.

SECOND TEAM
Shelbie Hall
Gaston Christian, So.
First base
All-state pick batted .500 with one home run and played five positions for state champion.

Taylor Hawley
East Gaston, Jr.
Center field
Batted .474 with one home run and 16 RBIs for conference champion.

Sarah Kenley
Lincoln Charter, Fr.
Catcher
Led team in batting average (.550) and helped team notch school’s first playoff win.

Taylor Mahaffey
South Point, Jr.
Pitcher
Tossed a no-hitter, three shutouts and a first-round playoff one-hitter. Third in area with 110 strikeouts. Second on team with .391 batting average.

Kinsey McClure
North Gaston, Sr.
First base
Belmont Abbey recruit and three-time all-conference pick batted .353.

Brittany Miller
East Lincoln, So.
Pitcher
Led team in batting average (.443) and RBIs (20) and tied for team lead in home runs (one).

Andreya O’Brien
Ashbrook, Sr.
Center field
Batted .367 with five doubles and one home run.

Addy Pound
North Lincoln, Jr.
Pitcher
Team MVP struck out 81 batters in 112 2/3 innings and batted .416.

Bry’anne Robbins
Highland Tech, Sr.
Third base
Belted five home runs, batted .569 (third in the area) and stole 33 bases.

Jessica Smith
Forestview, Sr.
Shortstop
Team MVP batted .365 with four triples and stole eight bases.

Megan Soots
East Gaston, Sr.
Catcher
Four-year starter batted .407 with team-high three home runs.

Sarah Teague
Cherryville, Sr.
Designated player
Batted .430 with 34 RBIs. Played with nerve damage in shoulder, limiting her to only hitting.

HOW THE TEAM WAS CHOSEN
The All-Gazette team was selected by members of The Gaston Gazette’s sports staff and based on game observation, statistics and nominations by area coaches. The team is judged solely on the best 12 players in the area, regardless of position. Feel free to share your thoughts on the team by e-mailing pgardner@gastongazette.com or by commenting on the stories and player capsules at www.varsitync.com or www.gastongazette.com.