4B Sunday, June 17, 2012 Denton Record-Chronicle

Denton Record-ChronicleAll-Area Softball Team 2012

Skylar CaglePilot Point, P/SS, Junior

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

NNoottaabbllee:: In what was the best sea-son Pilot Point has had since 2005,Cagle was undoubtedly the key com-ponent to the Lady Cats’ success.The Northwestern State commit con-tinued from her successful sopho-more campaign with another stellarseason. She led the Lady Cats at theplate with a .455 batting averageand a .549 on-base percentage. Shescored 24 runs, drove in 25 runsand drew 20 walks while also pick-ing up four triples and stealing ninebases. As great as she was at theplate, her biggest contribution camein the pitching circle where she dom-inated the competition. Cagle fin-ished the season with a 1.88 ERAand a 19-12 record with 209 strike-outs and just 27 walks. She helpedlead the Lady Cats to a Class 3ARegion II semifinal appearancebefore eventually losing to ParisNorth Lamar in two games. Caglewas also named an all-state selec-tion and was honored with MVPrecognition in District 9-3A.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARKat Specht

Denton, C, SeniorNNoottaabbllee:: The Lady Broncos’ catcher was one of few bright spots for Denton this past season. A sen-ior leader who toiled through a rough patch of years during her career, Specht led the Lady Broncoswith a .460 batting average, a home run and 16 RBIs to earn Co-Offensive Player of the Year honorson the 4-4A all-district team. But she was also a standout defensive player as Denton’s backstop.The catcher compiled a fielding percentage of .956 to finish her high school career.

CO-NEWCOMEROF THE YEAR

Preslee Gallaway �Pilot Point, SS/P, Freshman

NNoottaabbllee:: Continuing a line of Pilot Pointfreshmen who have been key contributors atthe varsity level, like Skylar Cagle and AllisonStrittmatter before her, Gallaway played wellbeyond her years for the Lady Cats in 2012.The hard-hitting freshman led the team with27 RBIs while hitting .412 and scoring 22runs. She had two triples and hit two homeruns, only striking out eight times in theclean-up spot. She was also a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen-base attempts. While field-ing well at shortstop, Gallaway was also aneffective pitcher as the team’s No. 2 arm.Gallaway finished the year with a 5-1 recordand a 1.05 ERA with 72 strikeouts whileearning her share of district victories.

PPiittcchheerr:: SSuuzzeettttee PPaallmmeerr,, GGuuyyeerr,, JJrr..For the second straight season, Palmer wasarguably the most important player on the Guyerteam. Palmer got nearly all the time in the circle,compiling a 16-11 record with a 2.70 ERA andwas also the team’s leading hitter. She hit .476on the season with a team-high 34 RBIs withtwo home runs and 14 doubles while sporting a.667 slugging percentage and scoring 20 runs.

PPiittcchheerr:: CCaarrooll RRaaaabbee,, RRyyaann,, SSoopphh..A first-team District 4-4A selection, Raabepicked up where she left off last season as afreshman and improved on it. The Lady Raiders’main pitcher compiled a 21-11 record with a2.40 ERA with 170 strikeouts. She was also theLady Raiders’ top hitter as she finished the sea-son with a .400 average to go with five homeruns and 32 RBIs.

CCaattcchheerr:: KKeellssiiee FFiinncchh,, LLiibbeerrttyy CChhrriissttiiaann,, SSrr..Finch turned in yet another spectacular offensiveyear for the Lady Warriors. The senior catcher ledthe team in most offensive categories, includingher .552 batting average. She also had threehome runs and drove in a team-high 30 runswhile scoring 29 times. She also made the mostof her at-bats, racking up a lofty slugging per-centage of .880 to post a 1.49 OPS.

CCaattcchheerr:: KKeellsseeyy TTuucckk,, LLaakkee DDaallllaass,, SSoopphh..With freshman Chrisa Head making a splash thisyear in the circle, the Lady Falcons seem poisedto be solid in their battery for a while with Tuckbehind the plate. The sophomore was the team’sleading hitter, sporting a .452 batting averageand was second on the team with 23 RBIs. Shealso scored 28 runs and had four triples, whichhelped her rack up a 1.16 OPS.

IInnffiieellddeerr:: EErriiccaa BBjjoorrnnddaall,, SSaannggeerr,, JJrr..The second baseman is one of several keypieces of the Sanger softball team that has theLady Indians poised for a huge season next yearwith a loaded incoming senior class. Bjorndal hit.414 for the Lady Indians and was second onthe team in home runs with two, as well as RBIswith 36. She was also a key part of the Sangerrunning game, swiping eight bases.

IInnffiieellddeerr:: LLooggaann EEvveenn,, AAuubbrreeyy,, JJrr..Even was one of the area’s top hitters this pastseason, racking up a .529 batting average with14 doubles. She also was the Lady Chaparrals’leading run producer, driving in a team-high 32runs. She was also a big part of Aubrey’sdefense playing at shortstop, which is describedby many as the anchor of a defense along withcatcher. She had a .960 fielding percentage.

IInnffiieellddeerr:: MMaaddiissoonn MMccEEllrrooyy,, PPoonnddeerr,, SSrr..As a key senior, McElroy was a big reason whythe Lady Lions advanced to the area round ofthe Class 2A playoffs after finishing second inDistrict 9-2A. The third baseman was a first-team all-district selection after leading Ponder inhitting with a .478 average. She hit one homerun and also had a team-high 22 RBIs whilescoring 17 runs.

IInnffiieellddeerr:: AAnnnnaa PPaayynnee,, LLiibbeerrttyy CChhrriissttiiaann,, JJrr..One of a trio of Lady Warriors who hit better than.500 on the season, Payne was a key member ofthe Liberty Christian team. The shortstop was notonly a key member of the team defensively, butshe also hit .507 with a .791 slugging percent-age. She had a team-high four triples to go witha home run and 21 RBIs while pacing the LadyWarriors with 32 runs.

IInnffiieellddeerr:: AAlliicciiaa WWeebbeerr,, GGuuyyeerr,, SSrr..In her second season as a full-time starter, thesenior third baseman had a breakout year forthe Lady Wildcats. Weber hit .462 with 23 runsand was second on the team with 33 RBIsdespite often hitting in the leadoff spot or theNo. 2 hole. In District 7-5A play, Weber steppedher game up to another level, hitting .500 in dis-trict play with 16 of her 23 runs.

IInnffiieellddeerr:: BBllaaiirr OO’’BBrriieenn,, AArrggyyllee,, JJrr..More known for her skills on the volleyball court,O’Brien was also the best player for the LadyEagles on the diamond. A shortstop, O’Brien wasnamed the District 9-3A Defensive Player of theYear with a .944 fielding percentage. She alsowas the team’s best hitter with a .446 battingaverage to go with a home run and 16 RBIswhile also stealing seven bases.

OOuuttffiieellddeerr:: KKeennnneeddyy BBeeeenn,, GGuuyyeerr,, JJrr..Been re-defined her game in 2012, becomingone of the area’s most feared hitters. OnceDistrict 7-5A play rolled around, she helped leadGuyer to a third-place finish in the top-heavydistrict. Been hit .439 on the season but uppedher game in district play, hitting .519 with anastronomical .923 slugging percentage. She fin-ished with four homers, six triples and 32 RBIs.

OOuuttffiieellddeerr:: MMoorrggaann TTuurrkkoollyy,, SSaannggeerr,, FFrr..A key member of a youthful Sanger team, Turkolyburst on to the scene in 2012 while helping leadthe Lady Indians to the Class 3A regional quar-terfinals. The left fielder showed plenty of rangeon defense while hitting in the No. 2 spot inSanger’s order and racking up a .500 average tolead the team. She also caused headaches foropponents on the bases, stealing eight bags.

PPiittcchheerr:: EErriinn HHaaggeerr,, LLaakkee DDaallllaass,, SSrr..A senior leader on a relatively young, upstartsquad, Hager was the main threat for the LadyFalcons in the circle, compiling an 11-2 recordwith a 1.43 ERA to go with 127 strikeouts. Butshe also did her fair share of damage at theplate with a .354 batting average. She drove in19 runs and scored 10 while racking up eightdoubles on the season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARNicole Nordie

Sanger, P/IF, Junior

NNoottaabbllee:: Nordie did a little bit of everything for the youthfulLady Indians, helping Sanger to a second-place finish in acompetitive District 9-3A and a run to the Class 3A Region IIquarterfinals where it lost to defending state champion Celina.Nordie led the Lady Indians in just about every offensive cate-gory while earning Offensive Player of the Year honors in 9-3A.She hit .462 with four home runs and an area-leading 42 RBIsand stole 12 bases. In the circle, Nordie was equally good,compiling a 12-3 record with a 1.82 ERA and 123 strikeouts.

FIRST TEAM

CO-NEWCOMEROF THE YEAR

Amadi Taylor

Lake Dallas, SS, Freshman

NNoottaabbllee:: Taylor was a welcomed addition toan upstart Lake Dallas team that qualifiedfor the playoffs in 2012. Taylor earnedNewcomer of the Year honors in District 4-4Aafter a season that saw her hit .448 with twohome runs, six triples and 32 RBIs, scoring36 runs to lead the Lady Falcons in all butone of those offensive categories. The fresh-man shortstop was also huge defensively inone of the more important positions on thediamond. Taylor committed just six errors onthe season and compiled a .900 fieldingpercentage.

PITCHER OF THE YEARKaley RedingAubrey, P, Junior

NNoottaabbllee:: Aubrey was one of three good teams jumbledat the top of the District 9-3A standings throughout theyear — a district eventually won by Pilot Point. But theLady Chaparrals’ success could be chalked up to theplay of Reding in the pitching circle. The junior hurlerfinished the season with a 19-8 record and was amajor pest to opposing lineups. Reding posted an ERAof 1.53 and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 6-to-1 with 217 strikeouts and only 37 walks.

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COACHOF THE YEAR

James Ramsey

Pilot Point

NNoottaabbllee:: In his sixth seasonat the helm in Pilot Point,Ramsey had his best seasonwith the Lady Cats and tookhis team further in the play-offs than any other areateam. The Lady Cats, who willmove down to Class 2A nextseason, went out with a bangin Class 3A, earning aDistrict 9-3A championshipbefore going on to sweepPrinceton in the area roundof the playoffs and topple thestate’s No. 1-ranked team,Lovejoy, thanks to a 4-1 vic-tory in a one-game playoff inthe Class 3A Region II quar-terfinals. In all, the Lady Catslost just one district game enroute to their district crownand finished the season with24 wins before eventuallybeing swept by Paris NorthLamar in the Class 3A RegionII semifinal.

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SECOND TEAMAndie Beer, Ponder, Soph.Kayla Cunningham, Ryan, Jr.Victoria Eakman, Sanger, Soph.Meghan Eilers, Sanger, Sr.Ciera Frith, Ryan, Sr.Melanie Funk, Aubrey, Jr.Nicole Kornet, Liberty Christian, Sr.Kimber Kuhn, Pilot Point, Sr.Jessica Orozco, Ponder, Soph.Rachel Rainwater, Liberty Christian, Jr.Chrystal Reese, Pilot Point, Sr.Mikayla Stogsdill, Sanger, Soph.Kaitlyn Thomas, Guyer, Jr.

Team selected by Denton Record-Chroniclestaff in consultation with area coaches.

Photos are by Denton Record-Chronicle photographerDavid Minton, along with DRC file photos and courtesyphotos.