ALBANY HERALD ALL-AREA SOFTBALL TEAM: Albany Herald’s 2014 All-Area Softball Team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Ashley Nichols, Lee County, Sr., CF/3B

WHY SHE’S HERE: The Lady Trojans’ best offensive player, batted .415 but was .483 with runners in scoring position. She led the team in hits (39), doubles (13), runs scored (36), homers (5) and slugging percentage (.755).

PLAYER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP

• Baylee Everson, Southwest Georgia, Jr., SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: A talented lead-off hitter, Everson batted .552 with 27 RBIs and scored 33 runs. Everson also had 24 stolen bases.

ALL-AREA TEAM

• Brooke Bates, Bainbridge, Sr., P

WHY SHE’S HERE: Bates was dominant on the mound going 14-5 with 183 strikeouts in 131 innings pitched. She had an ERA of 1.6 and walked only 15 batters.

• Caroline Newton, Worth County, Fr., 3B/P

WHY SHE’S HERE: Newton had a solid season on the mound, going 9-2. She also produced at the plate, batting .480 with eight homers and 39 RBIs.

• Olivia Rogers, Terrell Academy, Sr., 2B

WHY SHE’S HERE: Rogers batted .418 with a homer, three triples and seven doubles to lead the Lady Eagles.

• Ella Hawkins, Southland Academy, Sr., CF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Hawkins batted .506 with 40 hits, a school record. She knocked in 20 RBIs and scored 42 runs. Hawkins had five doubles, five triples and a homer.

• Adriana Durden, Tift County, Jr., P

WHY SHE’S HERE: A strikeout machine, Durden struck out 246 batters in 177.1 innings pitched. She had an ERA of 0.91.

• Ashley Morris, Lee County, Sr., SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: Before an arm injury sidelined her, Morris batted .423 with a total of 30 hits. She had 25 singles, four doubles, a homer and 13 RBIs.

• Megan Burke, Southland Academy, Jr., P

WHY SHE’S HERE: Burke had a tremendous season on the hill for Southland. She was undefeated with an 11-0 record with 63 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings pitched. She had an ERA of 1.98 and walked only nine batters.

• Brooke Hornsby, Southwest Georgia, Jr., C

WHY SHE’S HERE: Hornsby batted .470 for the Lady Warriors, knocking in 24 RBIs. She also added 10 doubles, two triples and a homer.

• Ally Clegg, Lee County, So, 2B/SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: Clegg batted .373 with seven homers and knocked in 23 RBIs. In 83 at-bats, she had 31 hits, scored 23 runs and walked 14 times.

• Megan Harrison, Bainbridge, Sr., SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: Harrison batted .389 with 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases.

• Lindsey Toneygay, Worth County, Jr., Catcher

WHY SHE’S HERE: Toneygay batted .449 with three homers and 27 RBIs.

• Madison McPherson, Southland Academy, So., OF/P

WHY SHE’S HERE: McPherson batted .500 with 11 doubles, seven triples, two homers and 39 RBIs (a school record). As a pitcher, she was dominant on the mound, going 9-2 and striking out 51 batters in 55 innings pitched. She finished with an ERA of 1.53.

• Kelsey King, Deerfield-Windsor, Sr., OF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Batted .438 for the Knights with 21 total hits and 17 RBIs.

• Shymeshia Hopkins, Seminole County, Sr., 1B

WHY SHE’S HERE: Hopkins batted .487 with 29 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

• Erin Dow, Seminole County, So., CF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Batted .439 with 22 RBIs and 28 runs scored. Dow also was 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts.

• Hannah McCain, Southland Academy, Sr. SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: McCain batted .514 with 27 RBIs and was 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts.

• Christina Davis, Southland Academy, Jr., 3B

WHY SHE’S HERE: Davis batted .484 with 10 doubles, five homers (three in postseason) and 27 RBIs.

• Kendall Crew, Southland Academy, Sr., OF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Batted .487 with 23 RBIs and scored 29 runs.

• Katie Carver, Southwest Georgia, Jr., OF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Carver hit .447, knocking in 11 RBIs and scoring 18 runs. More importantly, she had 16 stolen bases.

• Carlee Burke, Seminole County, So., INF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Had a .489 batting average with 11 doubles, three triples, a homer and 18 RBIs.

• Gracie Crawford, Baconton Charter, Jr., P

WHY SHE’S HERE: A solid batting average of .440, was named Region 1-A Player Of the Year.

• Connor Weaver, Early County, Sr., SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: Weaver batted .485. She leaves Early County with a career batting average of .612.

• Danielle Davis, Lee County, Jr., RF/DH/P

WHY SHE’S HERE: On the mound, she went 9-5 for the Lady Trojans, striking out 47 batters in 71.2 innings pitched and had an ERA of 2.44.

• Sydney McLain, Lee County, So., 1B

WHY SHE’S HERE: McLain batted .395 with six homers and led the team in RBIs with 35.

• Takiya Davis, Dougherty, Sr., SS

WHY SHE’S HERE: Batted .587 for the Lady Trojans with 32 hits, including seven doubles, five triples, three inside-the-park home runs and 39 RBIs.

• Evan Hall, Seminole County, Jr., P

WHY SHE’S HERE: Posted a record of 14-7 with 121 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings pitched. Posted an ERA of 3.24.

• Madison Watson, Baconton Charter, Fr., OF

WHY SHE’S HERE: Batted .425 to help lead Baconton Charter to their first region championship in school history.

• Carrie Nobles, Pelham, Sr.

WHY SHE’S HERE: Nobles batted .474 with two doubles and had a slugging percentage of .579.

• Laura Watts, Pelham, Jr.

WHY SHE’S HERE: Batted .414 with 12 hits and a slugging percentage of .414.