SB: 6 area athletes named TSWA All-State softball
was one of six area players to be named to the 2011 Texas Sports
Writers Association All-State teams. (Photo by John Krueger)
Six area softball players received more postseason honors recently when two Carthage athletes and four from Beckville earned all-state honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA).
Carthage third baseman Tori Jo White and second baseman Chelsea Tilbury both earned TSWA Honorable Mention All-State in their respective positions after leading the Lady Bulldogs to the playoffs in 2011.
For Beckville, pitcher Kari Courtney and shortstop Erica Graham were named to the TSWA Second-Team All-State squads, while second baseman Taylor Lindsey was a third-team member and third baseman Shelbi Jo Dodson earned honorable mention all-state in 2011.
Carthage's White finished her senior season with a .393 batting average, while scoring 30 runs and driving in 19 more. She had an on-base percentage of .447 and a slugging percentage of .560.
White had 94 plate appearances this past season, scoring three runs twice and tallying three hits on two occasions, while recording at least two hits in 12 different games in 2011. She also tagged 11 doubles and connected with a home run against Gilmer as she helped the Lady Dawgs to a season mark of 14-13.
Tilbury was also a senior in 2011 and finished the year with a .444 batting average, with a .495 on-base percentage and an impressive .600 slugging percentile. She scored 28 runs on the season, driving in seven runs, while connecting with nine doubles, a triple and a home run.
She had two hits 15 times on the season, while recording at least three hits on six occasions and slammed four hits each against Redwater and Gilmer.
Courtney was only a junior this past season as she helped the Ladycats advance within one win of a trip to the Class 1A state tournament bid.
She hit .316 on the year, with nine doubles, 21 runs batted in and eight stolen bases. She dominated as a pitcher, with a record of 26-5, fanning 113 batters and earning an ERA of 1.42.
Courtney was a First-Team All-District 21-1A pitcher the past two seasons and a first-team all-district utility player in 2009.
Graham was a leader on the Beckville squad in every meaning of the word. As a senior, she was unanimous District 21-1A Offensive Player of the Year and was also named the MVP of the team. She was named the Longview News-Journal Player of the Week, was honored by being placed on the Waskom All-Tournament team and was on the District 21-1A All-Academic team.
On the field Graham hit .550 on the season with 16 doubles, seven triples and a team-high 10 home runs. She drove in 56 runs while stealing 30 bases. She also had a fielding percentage of .984.
Graham will be playing college softball at Northeast Texas Community College next season after signing with the school this past spring.
Lindsey was a unanimous First-Team All-District 21-1A player this past season at second base with an impressive fielding percentage of .982. The freshman also showed her speed on the basepaths by successfully stealing 49-out-of-50 (98%).
She hit .515, with 22 doubles, six triples and a pair of home runs. She also drove in 16 runs and was named to the all-tournament team at Waskom.
Dodson is another up-and-coming player on the Beckville squad. As a sophomore she hit .381, with 13 doubles, three triples and three home runs. She also stole 21 bases and drove in 27 runs.
She had a fielding percentage of .970, which enabled her to receive the unanimous choice as District 21-1A Defensive Player of the Year.
This story will appear in the Panola Watchman.
TEXAS SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION
ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAMS
CLASS 3A
COACH OF THE YEAR - Billy Coleman, Celina
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Shelby Carter, Celina
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher
Skylar Cagle, Pilot Point; Katelyn Drummond, Celina; Tiarra Davis, Henderson
Catcher
Hannah Limmer, Lubbock Cooper
First base
Kelsie Batten, Huntington
Second base
Taylor Norris, Celina
Third base
Brooke Morrison, West
Shortstop
Shelby Carter, Celina
Utility
Shelby Miller, Sweeny
Outfield
Olivia Braddock, Celina; Amber Gray, Bellville; Jessica Marshburn, Van
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher
Kelsee Selman, Hudson; Erica Wright, Huntington; Lauren Dannelley, Sweeny
Catcher
Channing Nobles, Yoakum
First base
Kendall Williams, Hamshire Fannett
Second base
Taylor Sullins, West
Third base
Natalie McQuiston, Henderson
Shortstop
Taylor Schoblocher, Forney
Utility
Megan Allred, West
Outfield
Avery Curtis, Spring Hill; Jordan Horn, West; Lindsie Knowles, Celina
THIRD TEAM
Pitcher
Lauren Ainsley, LaVernia; Ashley Mills, Groesbeck; Erin Knox, West
Catcher
Ashlyn Monroe, Coldspring Oakhurst
First base
Sydney Betke, Robinson
Second base
Karley Free, Henderson
Third base
Nathlie Delatorre, Brownwood
Shortstop
Cassidy Ivy, Huntington
Utility
Chelsea Claypool, Ingleside
Outfield
Dara Hendon, Van; Mackenzie Wernet, West; Heather Hollingsworth, Huntington
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitcher
Ryan Hagan, Yoakum; Shelby Hedrick, North Forney; Morgan Van Meter, Robinson; Lauren Heinrich, Lubbock Cooper; Shannon Sain, Hamshire Fannett; Ali Hargis, North Lamar; Brittany Lewis, Lucas Lovejoy
Catcher
Sydnie Darden, Brownwood; Laura Benavidez, Robstown; Hallie Monkres, West; Faith Ellison, Hudson; Lizzie Autrey, Spring Hill
First base
Lexi Callan, Canton; Katie Day, Mexia; Taylor Kelm; Sarah Gipson, Grand Saline; Brooke Puckett, Lucas Lovejoy
Second base
Kylie Adams, Ingleside; Chelsea Tilbury, Carthage; Cobi Barker, North Lamar; Jenni Bowden, Huntington
Third base
Tori Jo White, Carthage; Jessica Smith, Lorena
Shortstop
Shannon Sanders, Spring Hill; Jamie Madison, Groesbeck; Kalyn Schroeder, Sealey; Tricia Hock, Sweeny
Utility
Nicole Gandy, Van; Kayla Garcia, Navasota; Ashley Bowman, Lorena; Charnequa Frazier, Pittsburg
Outfield
Callie Gerdes, Giddings; Allyson Blakeney, Yoakum; Chancy Williams, North Lamar; Jessica Stehle, Devine; Kayl Winkfield, Giddings; Kelsey Kirkland, Huntington; Claudia Cantu, Celina; Melissa Schreck, Lucas Lovejo
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CLASS 1A
COACH OF THE YEAR - Brandon Siegel, Shiner
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Ashley Shimek, Shiner
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher
Ashley Shimek, Shiner; Summer Groholski, Grapeland; Taylor Atkins, Lindsay
Catcher
Alyx Ethington, Lindsay
First base
Halley Miller, Detroit
Second base
Kelli Schkade, Albany
Third base
Maddie Dow, Ivanhoe Rayburn
Shortstop
Kristin Schacherl, Shiner
Utility
Katelyn Niemeyer, Yorktown
Outfield
Taylor Eddins, Detroit; Hailey Owen, Albany; Amber Ramirez, Shiner
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher
Malori Moss, Chico; Kari Courtney, Beckville; Jamie Fuentes, Albany
Catcher
Tamlyn Keller, Albany
First base
Shelby Bruner, Grapeland
Second base
Megan Caillier, Lindsay
Third base
Kathryn Hamilton, Albany
Shortstop
Erica Graham, Beckville
Utility
Kirsten McLane, Saltillo
Outfield
Blanca Samarripas, Ralls; Caitlyn Blakey, Burton; Alexia Collins, Martins Mill
THIRD TEAM
Pitcher
Codi Foster, Haskell; Jessica Miller, Detroit; Mackenzie Barefoot, DeLeon
Catcher
Holly Haas, Shiner
First base
Mellie Perkins, Albany
Second base
Taylor Lindsay, Beckville
Third base
Taylor Williams, Flatonia
Shortstop
Lacy Butler, Johnson City
Utility
Kassie Harris, McLeod
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitcher
Molly Hilton, Martins Mill; Alex Houston, Johnson City; Erin Diserens, North Zulch; Lexxi Davenport, Mart
Catcher
Ashley Walters, Pilot Point; Samantha Niemeyer, Yorktown; Reghan Thomas, Honey Grove; Molly Mackey, Overton
First base
Avery Cranford, Ivanhoe Rayburn
Second base
Brittanee Williams, Mart
Third base
Brianna Williams, Detroit; Alyssa Reyes, Ganado; jalla Johnson, Grapeland; Shelbi Jo Dodson, Beckville
Shortstop
Jami Schkade, Albany; Bethani Eberhart, Lindsay; Jayde Westbrook, Grapeland
Utility
Sunny Williams, Lockney; Megan Rollins, Burton; Sydney Davis, Ivanhoe Rayburn
Outfield
Jamie Wilson, Woodsboro
(Note: Not enough players were nominated for the outfield position to select three teams in Class A