SB: White leads All-District 16-3A softball squad
scoring 30 runs. She was named Tri-Outstanding Defensive Player in
District 16-3A. (Photo by John Krueger)
Led by the defensive play by senior third baseman Tori Jo White, the Carthage Lady Bulldogs placed seven players on the All-District 16-3A team that was selected by the league's coaches recently.
District champion Henderson and runner-up Spring Hill each had eight players selected, including three superlative honors from each school. They each also had two honorable mention selections.
White earned Tri-Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year in the league for the Lady Dawgs, as she joined Henderson junior Tessa Thomas and Spring Hill senior Avery Curtis for the honor. CHS had three first-team honorees, three on the second team and four honorable mention players.
Gilmer had one superlative and six total all-district honors, to go along with four honorable mentions. Pittsburgh had four players named to the first and second teams, with three honorable mention players, while Gladewater had two first-teamers and two on the second team and four players receiving honorable mention.
White finished the 2011 season with a .393 batting average (fourth on the team), with 33 hits (second), 30 runs (first) and 19 runs batted in (second). She was the only players to connect with double-digit doubles on the year with 11, while picking up one home run.
White only struck out four times all year, while drawing nine walks. She also pitched 11 innings and had a 0.00 ERA and a 1-1 record and eight strikeouts and a 1-1 record in two appearances.
Henderson sophomore Tiarra Davis was the unanimous District 16-3A Most Valuable Player, while Spring Hill senior Shannon Sanders was the unanimous choice for Outstanding Offensive Player by the coaches. Spring Hill freshman Hailie Gilbert was chosen as the Pitcher of the Year, Gilmer's Morgan Catron was named the Newcomer of the Yearand the Henderson coaching staff was also honored.
Three Carthage players were selected to the first team, led by senior pitcher Jessica Pride. Pride pitched a team-high 72 innings, earning a 4.28 ERA, with 33 strikeouts and only 11 walks. She started 12 games and posted a record of 7-5 as she helped the Lady Dogs to a 14-11 overall mark.
Senior second baseman Chelsea Tilbury was a first-team infielder as she finished with the second-highest batting average on the Carthage squad with a .444. Tilbury had the most plate appearances for the Lady Dawgs with 99, recording a team-high 40 hits, with a second-best 28 runs scored. She posted nine doubles (second), a home run and a triple during the season.
Carthage senior centerfielder Kendall Hightower was another first-team recipient as she earned the honor by hitting .413 for the year, which was third on the squad. Hightower scored eight runs on 19 hits, scoring eight runs and driving in 11 more. She also ripped three doubles, drew five walks as she earned a slugging percentage of .478 and an on-base percentage of .491.
CHS freshman catcher Morgan Wedgeworth was a second-team performer. She captured the award despite playing in just seven games.
Freshman Brooklyn Peace was honored as a second-team player, hitting .329, with 82 at-bats, 20 runs scored on only 27 hits, with 18 RBIs, four doubles and a triple. She had an on-base percentage of .382 and an slugging percentage of .402.
Left fielder Payton Peace was a second-team outfielder, with a .333 average at the dish, scoring 23 runs on just 29 hits, including six runs batted in. She had a .370 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage.
Four Carthage players earned honorable mention. Sophomore right fielder Katelyn Pope, shortstop Sarah Clakley, junior Sheila Williams and junior first baseman Meagan Davis were all recognized for their play this season.
This story will appear in the Panola Watchman.
ALL-DISTRICT 16-3A SOFTBALL
SUPERLATIVES
Most Valuable Player
Tiarra Davis* (So.) - Henderson
Outstanding Offensive Player
Shannon Sanders (Sr.) - Spring Hill
Tri-Outstanding Defensive Players
Tessa Thomas (Jr.) - Henderson
Avery Curtis (Sr.) - Spring Hill
Tori Jo White (Sr.) - Carthage
Pitcher of the Year
Hailie Gilbert (Fr.) - Spring Hill
Newcomer of the Year
Morgan Catron (Fr.) - Gilmer
Coaching Staff of the Year
Henderson
FIRST-TEAM SELECTIONS
Pitcher
Jessica Pride (Sr.) - Carthage
Catchers
Lizzie Autrey (Sr.) - Spring Hill
Capria Howell (Sr.) - Pittsburgh
Infielders
Katelyn Corckett* (Fr.) - Gilmer
Alison Waggoner* (Jr.) - Henderson
Charnequa Frazier* (Sr.) - Pittsburgh
Ashlyn White (So.) - Spring Hill
Chelsea Tilbury (Sr.) - Carthage
Natalie McQuiston (So.) - Henderson
Katie Stephens (So.) - Gladewater
Outfielders
Nataria Wilson* (Jr.) - Pittsburgh
Courtney Scott* (Jr.) - Spring Hill
Kendall Hightower* (Sr.) - Carthage
Taylor White (Fr.) - Henderson
Designated Player
Shaylee Fennell (Fr.) - Gilmer
Utility Player
Shelby Sorrells (Sr.) - Gladewater
SECOND-TEAM SELECTIONS
Pitcher
Makayla Sikes* (Fr.) - Gilmer
Catcher
Morgan Wedgeworth* (Fr.) - Carthage
Infielders
Rachel Hitt (So.) - Gladewater
Karley Free (Fr.) - Henderson
Erica Stuart (Sr.) - Henderson
Danasia Watson (Fr.) - Pittsburgh
Kealey Womack (Sr.) - Spring Hill
Brooklyn Peace (Fr.) - Carthage
Chelsea Miears (So.) - Gilmer
Outfielders
Brooklyn Davis (Fr.) - Gladewater
Laura Bernaldez (Sr.) - Spring Hill
Payton Peace (Sr.) - Carthage
Chelsea Alexander (So.) - Gilmer
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Jenna Toon (Jr.) - Henderson
Jennifer Armstrong (So.) - Henderson
Katie Johnston (Sr.) - Gilmer
Bree Rawls (Fr.) - Gilmer
Sassy Meadows (Fr.) - Gilmer
Katelyn Sikes (Jr.) - Gilmer
D'asa McDonald (Jr.) - Gladewater
Morgan Bradford (So.) - Gladewater
Sarah Hunger (So.) - Gladewater
Katy Hickey (So.) - Gladewater
Allix Smith (Jr.) - Pittsburgh
Paige Sawyer (Sr.) - Pittsburgh
Cheyenne McElhaney (Sr.) - Pittsburgh
Madison Martin (Fr.) - Spring Hill
Shelby Duran (Jr.) - Spring Hill
Courtney Tisdale (Sr.) - Spring Hill
Katelyn Pope (So.) - Carthage
Sarah Clakley (Jr.) - Carthage
Sheila Williams (Jr.) - Carthage
Meagan Davis (Jr.) - Carthage
* - Denotes Unanimous Choice