Allie Pardue
Zack Colburn
The East Wilkes and Starmount softball programs continue to earn rewards for the successful 2022 season.
Seven players from the Yadkin / Elkin region have been nominated for the North Carolina Softball Coach Association Jeonju Team, officially announced last Friday.
The seven all-state selections in the region are the most due to nine picks in 2015 (the most regions in the season since 2005 were 11 players in 2014). did).
The Starmount Program and the East Wilkes Program, which reached the fourth round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A Playoffs, had four and three players nominated for the team, respectively.
The two teams also shared the regular season championship at the Northwest 1A Conference.
According to the NCSCA website, high school coaches who are members of the NCSCA membership will nominate and vote for players from both state and district teams.
Shortly after winning the District 7 Coplayer of the Year and Pitcher of the Year respectively, East Wilkes’ Jayden Hutchison and Starmount’s Summer Fontana were one of the few players to be selected for the 1A Jeonju team.
Macy Bell and Abbey Hatley of East Wilkes have joined the duo of the Jeonju team along with Starmount Morgan Lawson, Alipardu and Rayken Mattis.
Bell (Ferrum College), Fontana (Coker University) and Lawson (Guilford College) are all graduates who have signed to play at college level, and Pardue is also a graduate. Hatchson and Hatley will be Lady Cardinals’ Emerging Juniors, and Mathis will be Lady Rams’ Emerging Seniors.
Fontana was certainly shining in the pitching circle, helping Mrs. Rams win the tournament championship for the first time in 12 years.
Informally, she allowed 36 earned runs in 23 games (stats for two games were not available) and defeated 211 batters. In these 23 games, she achieved an earned run average of 1.73.
Lawson, who was the third baseman of Lady Rams for most of the season, hit the team’s best .442 with 23 RBIs. Of her 34 hits, almost half (9 doubles, 4 triples, home runs) made long hits.
Starmount softball head coach Sarah Balls took it for granted that Fontana, Mathis, Pardu and Lawson would be elected to the Jeonju team.
This was Lady Rams’ first all-state selection since 2018.
“When I say I’m proud of Summer, Laken, Ali and Morgan for being selected for the 1A Jeonju Softball Team, I’ll talk to the coaching staff and the whole team. These girls are in high school. He has shown incredible leadership, grit and patience in the times, “says Balls. “They set an example and have made a real difference in this area. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this season.”
Starmount lead-off batter and center fielder Pardu hit .358 with 28 hits, including seven doubles.
As a team shortstop, Mathis hit .439 with two home runs and 16 RBIs. She also had 11 doubles.
“As a coach, I’m even more proud of the people they are outside of softball,” Balls said. “They are positive and Christianly influenced. I have seen them grow very mentally and athletic over the years. The impact on Starmount Softball is. It ’s really special. ”
East Wilkes head softball coach Derrick Hill has repeated similar feelings towards Hatley Bell and Hutchison, the latter two of which are currently in two state-wide selections.
Hill felt that “all three were fully invested in our program.”
As a catcher for the Lady Cardinals, Northwest 1A Conference Player of the Year Hutchison hit .541 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. Second grade added 11 doubles and drew 19 walks.
“Jayden had a monster season and was a big reason for its success,” Hill said. “She did an amazing job behind the plate and led our team with virtually all offensive stats (and was one of the top in North Carolina). If she gets better, I hate having to face her for another two years. “
Bell, who was the second baseman of East Wilkes, struck. 406 with a pair of home runs and 39 RBIs. Hatley, the team shortstop, hit .386.
As a table setter for East Wilkes, the second grader recorded 43 runs and stole 17 bases while drawing 12 walks.
“Macy did what she expected from the captain. It was an almost perfect defense and was second only to Jayden in almost all offensive stats,” Hill said. “Macy
Basically 3 walk-off hits. She also won a huge home run in a playoff game with Elkin in a scoreless game to break the ice for us-she will be greatly missed.
“Abby was the table setter for our attack and was a horror when she got on base,” Hill added. “She scored about 20% of her total score this season. I think this is amazing statistics.”
In addition to the whole state, Bell also received one of only four scholarships that NCSCA gives each season to players in the states that will play at college.
North Stokes and South Stokes, members of the Northwest 1A Conference, each had one option named all-state. Senior Brittany Mabe was selected as the Lady Viking and Junior Madison Wilson was named after Lady Saurus.
West Wilkes, a member of the Fellow Foothills 2A Conference, had four all-state selections. Second grade Lily Profit and freshman Madison Fletcher were selected, and senior Presley Dancy and Casey Replet were also selected.
Jeonju Softball Performers in the previous Yadkin / Elkin region since 2005
2021: Macy Bell, East Wilkes; Jayden Hatchson, East Wilkes (1A); Salem Finney, Four Bush (2A).
2019: Lauren Lakes, East Wilkes (1A); Salem Finney, Forbush; Macey Rycroft, Forbush; Kaley Williams, Forbush (2A).
2018: Lauren Lakes, East Wilkes; Emma Green, Starmount; Kayla Vanhoy, Starmount; Kennedy Grace White, Starmount (1A); Caiti Williams, Forbush; Caiti Mickles, Forbush (2A).
2017: Lauren Lakes, East Wilkes; Vailwood, Elkin (1A); Caiti Mickles, Forbush, Kayleigh Williams, Forbush; Allison Mitchell, Forbush (2A)
2016: Lauren Lakes, East Wilkes; Olivia Bullard, East Wilkes (1A); Allison Mitchell, Forbush; Taylor Uten, Forbush; Sydney Miller, Forbush; Loganwood, Forbush (2A).
2015: Brandy Park, East Wilkes; Olivia Bullard, East Wilkes; Kaitlin Macemore, East Wilkes; Killstan Beaver, Elkin; Vailwood, Elkin (1A); Sydney Miller, Forbush; Loganwood, Forbush; Taylor Wooten , Four Bush; Allison Mitchell, Four Bush (2A).
2014: Ashley Wagoner, East Wilkes; Kennedy Lester, East Wilkes; Brandy Park, East Wilks; Caitlin Macemore, East Wilkes; Olivia Bullard, East Wilkes; Adrian Paldu, East Wilkes; Killstan Beaver, Elkin; Cayley Shoemaker, Elkin (1A); Taylor Uten, Forbush; Sydney Miller, Forbush; Loganwood, Forbush (2A).
2013: Kennedy Lester, East Wilkes; Brandy Park, East Wilkes; Ashley Wagoner, East Wilkes (1A).
2012: Kennedy Lester, East Wilkes; Peyton Lions, East Wilkes (1A); Courtney Growth, Starmount; Rachel Wagoner, Starmount; Amber Smith, Starmount (2A).
2011: Ashlee Handy, Starmount; Jessica White, Starmount (2A).
2010: Cali Baity, Forbush; Ciera Cockerham, Forbush; Leslie Long, Forbush; Chelsea Burner, Starmount; Courtney Growth, Starmount; Jessica White, Starmount; Josie Matthews, Starmount (2A).
2009: Jessica Dzeskewicz, Forbush; Taylor Smith, Forbush; Ciera Cockerham, Forbush; Jessica Hinkle, Forbush (2A).
2008: Brita Stanley, Forbush; Lyndsey Hutchens, Forbush; Lauren Harris, Forbush; Jana Matthews, Starmount (2A).
2007: Caroline Wood, Forbush; Lauren Harris, Forbush; Lyndsey Hutchens, Forbush; Jana Matthews, Starmount (2A).
2006: Lauren Harris, Forbush; Dena Eldridge (Honorable Mention), Starmount (2A).
2005: Amber Shore, Star Mount; Yancey Moose (Honorable Mention), Star Mount (1A)
