Four Hawks earn West Division honors from USA South
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Four Huntingdon softball players were recognized with the release of the USA South All-Conference awards on Thursday.
Junior Alyssa Singleterry was named first-team West Division at shortstop and juniors Rayne Ellis (outfield) and McKenzie Ridgway (third base) and sophomore Madison Hunt (pitcher) were named second-team West Division. Freshman Claire Tomberlin was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.
Singleterry leads Huntingdon this season with a .431 batting average, a .504 on-base percentage, 50 hits, 31 runs, 21 RBIs, three triples, 18 walks and is tied for the team lead with 16 stolen bases.
Her 50 hits rank second in Division III and first among USA South teams eligible for All-Conference honors. Among USA South teams not reclassifying from Division II, she is fourth in batting average, sixth in runs, tied for third in triples and tied for sixth in stolen bases.
Ellis is Huntingdon's second leading hitter with a .339 batting average, 40 hits and 24 runs. She is tied for the team lead, and sixth in the conference, with 16 stolen bases and also has 11 RBIs.
Ridgway has a .308 batting average, is third on the team with 28 hits, second on the team with 17 RBIs and five doubles and also has 13 runs. In 91 at-bats this season, she has struck out just four times.
Hunt leads the Hawks' pitchers with a 10-4 record, a 2.42 ERA, seven complete games and four shutouts in 89 2/3 innings. She is second on the team with 45 strikeouts and has walked 17 and allowed 95 hits. Among non-reclassifying teams, she is tied for fourth in the USA South for wins and tied for the conference lead in shutouts.
Huntingdon will open play in the USA South Tournament at Piedmont in a best-of-three series. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. (Central). If a third game is needed, it will be played on Saturday. Saturday's time has not been determined.
The winner advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament in LaGrange, Ga., on Apr. 13-15.
Maryville third baseman Morgan Brewer was named USA South Player of the Year and Piedmont junior Melissa Eckman was named Pitcher of the Year. Maryville second baseman Taylor Campbell was named Rookie of the Year and Maryville's Katlyn Smith was named Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Salem's Scott Long was named Coach of the Year.
The complete All-Conference awards are listed below.
USA South All-Conference Softball Awards
Player of the Year: Morgan Brewer, Maryville
Pitcher of the Year: Melissa Eckman, Piedmont
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Campbell, Maryville
Rookie Pitcher of the Year: Katlyn Smith, Maryville
Coach of the Year: Scott Long, Salem
First Team All-Conference
1B - Hannah Hoban, Piedmont
2B - Taylor Campbell, Maryville
3B - Morgan Brewer, Maryville
SS - Jennifer Vitarelli, Salem
C - Shannon Schmitt, Covenant
DP - Jessica Bagwell, Piedmont
Util - Miranda Barker, Salem
OF - Ashton Hayden, Maryville
OF - Mariann Kennison, Piedmont
OF - Erica Occena, Meredith
P - Melissa Eckman, Piedmont
P - Katlyn Smith, Maryville
First-Team West Division
1B - Hannah Hoban, Piedmont
2B - Taylor Campbell, Maryville
3B - Morgan Brewer, Maryville
SS - Alyssa Singleterry, Huntingdon
C - Shannon Schmitt, Covenant
DP - Jessica Bagwell, Piedmont
Util - Emily Barrs, LaGrange
OF - Ashton Hayden, Maryville
OF - Mariann Kennison, Piedmont
OF - Essence Strambler, Maryville
P - Melissa Eckman, Piedmont
P - Katlyn Smith, Maryville
Second-Team West Division
1B - Taylor Tallant, LaGrange
2B - Allyson Gentry, Piedmont
3B - McKenzie Ridgway, Huntingdon
SS - Jada Allmon, Covenant
C - Cecilia Siegel, Agnes Scott
DP - Sarah Gordon, Maryville
Util - Tiara White, Agnes Scott
OF - McKenzie Brunel, LaGrange
OF - Rayne Ellis, Huntingdon
OF - Christina White, Maryville
P - Nicole Blackburn, Maryville
P - Madison Hunt, Huntingdon
First-Team East Division
1B - Julia Allsbrook, Meredith
2B - Cheyenne Strickland, Ferrum
3B - Amanda Dacunto, Salem
SS - Jennifer Vitarelli, Salem
C - Rachel Peel, Meredith
DP - Alexa Nemeth, William Peace
Util - Miranda Barker, Salem
OF - Kaitlyn Checkan, N.C. Wesleyan
OF - Searria Fisher, Methodist
OF - Erica Occena, Meredith
P - Miranda Barker, Salem
P - Beth Braswell, N.C. Wesleyan
Second-Team East Division
1B - Cassie Collins, Greensboro
2B - Ashley Carbajal, Averett
3B - Brittany Bucklin, Meredith
SS - Kelsey Mabe, Meredith
C - Tori Scott, Ferrum
DP - Andrea Grant, Averett
Util - Kristina Mojica, William Peace
OF - Maria Annunziata, Meredith
OF - Sarah Watson, Meredith
OF - Jasmine Worthy, Greensboro
P - Taylor Jackson, Meredith
P - Courtney Rudd, Ferrum
All-Sportsmanship
Kayla Quesenberry, Agnes Scott
Amanda Wright, Averett
Abby Nash, Berea
Ricki Kuhn, Brevard
Hannah Talley, Covenant
Haley Blaisure, Ferrum
Kelsey Emrich, Greensboro
Claire Tomberlin, Huntingdon
Emily Cauldwell, LaGrange
Kate Dickinson, Mary Baldwin
Taylor Campbell, Maryville
Brittany Bucklin, Meredith
Savannah Dunn, Methodist
Ashlyn Gosnell, N.C. Wesleyan
Bailey Sherrill, Pfeiffer
Haley McCurry, Piedmont
Brittany Morton, Salem
Savanna Boyette, Wesleyan
Amanda Ludlum, William Peace