Ayden-Grifton’s Kim Gurkins, left, and Taylor Bowen took top honors in the first All-Neuse News softball team. Bowen was named ‘Player of the Year’ and Gurkins took ‘Pitcher of the Year’ honors. Photos by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

Now, the high school sports season is over.

The third and final “inaugural” Neuse News list is out and this one is for softball. As usual, none of these decisions were easy and hopefully it comes out looking alright when it’s read.

This time around, there is one Player of the Year, along with a Pitcher of the Year and Coach of the Year. Each team has four infielders, three outfielders, a catcher and two pitchers. Let’s get started.

 

Player of the Year: Taylor Bowen, Ayden-Grifton

Stats: .609 average, 13 doubles, 26 RBIs

If Bowen was at the plate, more than likely she was getting on base. The junior was absolutely spectacular, leading the team in on-base percentage (.671) and slugging (.797) and striking out just four times all season. Bowen was also a great behind the plate, forming a reliable battery with Kim Gurkins as the Chargers finished with its best record in school history.

Finalists for the award include Jones Senior’s Timberly Baugus, Greene Central’s Daly Keel and South Lenoir’s Allie Parker, who all posted incredible numbers which will be on display later in this list.

Pitcher of the Year: Kim Gurkins, Ayden-Grifton

Stats: 142 innings pitched, 14-7, 2.91 ERA, 102 Ks

The other half of the Chargers’ battery deserves love for an amazing season in her own right. Gurkins allowed three runs or fewer nine times with four shutouts, and also deserves respect for throwing three extra-inning games, including 13 in an 8-7 win over South Lenoir March 15. The sophomore was no slouch at the plate either with a team-leading 28 RBIs, batting .400 with 13 extra-base hits.

Finalists for this award include Jones Senior’s Baugus, along with South Lenoir’s Rebekah Howard and Logan Lucas, who all deserve love for their efforts this season.

Coach of the Year: Casey Matthis, Ayden-Grifton

The Chargers take the sweep of the inaugural individual awards and Matthis has done a tremendous job with a very young roster. Most of the Ayden-Grifton core will be back next year, and in a tough Eastern Carolina Conference, the team continued to stand out. The Chargers’ were in every game this season and their worst loss was 9-3 to Greenville Conley on April 4, the No. 8 team in the state according to Maxpreps. This was a phenomenal season and Matthis deserves credit for helping the team grow.

Finalists for the award include South Lenoir’s Lisa Smith, who led another strong Blue Devils campaign and Greene Central’s Kim Jones, as the Rams were the lone team in the area to win a playoff game.

FIRST TEAM

INFIELDERS

Abby Burress, Greene Central

The sophomore may not have drawn a walk this season, but it didn’t stop her from batting an impressive .471 and only striking out four times. Burress was third on the team in runs (20) and RBIs (13), also hitting four doubles and two triples.

Mikayla Olejar, Ayden-Grifton

The junior was another consistent bat for the Chargers this season, batting .385 with 17 RBIs and 11 extra-base hits, including eight doubles. Olejar just missed being the fourth Charger with an OPS above 1, clocking in at .987.

Sara Beth Stroud, South Lenoir

Last season the junior was primarily in the outfield, but delivered well as a shortstop for the Blue Devils throughout. Offensively, Stroud led the team in runs (22) and finished second in stolen bases (13) with a .308 batting average and 10 RBIs.

Katelin Uzzell, Greene Central

The senior was an absolute blur on the basepaths, using her speed to steal a team-high 16 bases with eight doubles and a triple. Uzzell was primarily a leadoff hitter, batting .470 with a .519 on-base percentage and 11 RBIs, and leading the team in runs with 27.

OUTFIELDERS

Kristen Hardee, Ayden-Grifton

Hardee was one of the most dangerous hitters in the ECC, leading the Chargers in extra-base hits with 19, including 14 doubles. The junior led the team in stolen bases (11), and was second in batting average (.440) and on-base percentage (.466.)

Daly Keel, Greene Central

The junior played out of her mind this season, leading the Rams in batting average (.475), RBIs (26) and triples (four), and adding 18 runs. Defensively, Keel didn’t commit one error and made some great catches in the outfield.

Amber Speight, Greene Central

Speight’s freshman campaign wasn’t bad at all, as she led the team in on-base percentage at .521, second in runs (26) and stolen bases (12), and fourth in batting average (.460). Batting second, Speight had 13 RBIs and six doubles, helping provide trouble for opponents in the top of the order with Uzzell.

CATCHER

Allie Parker, South Lenoir

Parker set the tone at the leadoff spot for the Blue Devils this season, leading the team in batting average (.433) and stolen bases (19) while also finishing second in runs with 21. The senior also guided two pitchers on the mound and kept the South Lenoir machinery running.

PITCHERS

Timberly Baugus, Jones Senior

The senior struck out 148 batters this season compared to 44 walks, allowing a .245 batting average. On the other side of the plate, Baugus led the team in batting average (.571), runs (22), doubles (nine), RBIs (17) and stolen bases (23).

Rebekah Howard, South Lenoir

The freshman had one of the stingiest ERAs in the Eastern Carolina Conference at 2.42 in 43.1 innings pitched with 34 strikeouts and 13 walks. At the plate, Howard was solid with a .300 batting average and eight RBIs.

SECOND TEAM

INFIELDERS

Isabel Faulkner, Arendell Parrott

The Patriots had a very young team, but the eighth-grader played beyond her years. Faulkner was a member of the NCISAA All-State team and batted .456 while leading the team in on-base percentage (.577.)

Mallory Dawson, South Lenoir

Dawson gave the Blue Devils great versatility offensively, as the junior finished third on the team in runs (17), RBIs (11) and stolen bases (eight) while also batting .365.

Aubrie Jones, Ayden-Grifton

The freshman came out on a tear, batting .361 and adding eight doubles. Jones also knocked in 17 RBIs for the Chargers and finished third on the team with 25 runs.

Madison Holloman, Greene Central

The senior batted .361 and was second on the team in extra base hits with six doubles, a triple and a home run. Holloman was also second in assists with 26 and had just two errors this season.

OUTFIELDERS

Megan Aldridge, South Lenoir

The sophomore didn’t commit a single error in the outfield, the lone Blue Devils starter to hold the distinction this year. Aldridge was also third with a .392 batting average, adding 10 RBIs.

Heather Morris, Jones Senior

The sophomore had a strong bat all year, finishing second on the team in batting average at .419 and adding 17 RBIs with four doubles.

Anna Scott Radford, Arendell Parrott

The sophomore found a way to get on base, finishing second on the Patriots in on-base percentage (.545) and batting average (.476).

CATCHER

Katelyn Corbett, Arendell Parrott

Corbett made the NCISAA 3A All-State team and for good reason, batting .488. The eighth-grader also allowed just two passed balls on the season.

PITCHERS

Logan Lucas, South Lenoir

The junior allowed just 14 walks in 53.2 innings pitched, and did even more damage at the plate. Lucas batted .404 while leading the Blue Devils in RBIs with 22.

Laura Wade, Greene Central

The sophomore picked up 10 wins on the mound with a 3.91 ERA, 83 strikeouts and a perfect game on March 15 against Kinston. At the plate, Wade went .375 with seven RBIs.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Zykia Andrews, Kinston

The junior batted .263 for the Vikings and took two pitches for the team this season.

Brianna Brooks, Kinston

The senior finished third on the team in steals with six.

Morgan Caruso, Jones Senior

The sophomore batted .325 with a .481 OBP, adding six stolen bases.

Lark Collins, North Lenoir

The junior threw two shutouts this year and batted .510 this year for the Hawks.

Katelynn Daughtey, North Lenoir

The junior was second on the team in batting with a .364 average.

Shelby Dilda, Bethel Christian

The senior led the team in batting average (.367) and RBIs (20) this season.

Mary Pat Ferebee, Arendell Parrott

The eighth-grader batted .398 and had a .513 on-base percentage this season.

Kelsi Gibson, Jones Senior

The senior batted .319 for the Trojans, finishing third on the team in RBIs with 14.

Meredith Greer, Bethel Christian

The junior batted .313 and nine RBIs, finishing second on the team in walks with 10.

Kiley Guthrie, Ayden-Grifton

The sophomore batted .360 with seven doubles and 13 RBIs, striking out just twice on the year.

Kenly Hardison, South Lenoir

The senior’s defense was strong this season, racking up six assists in centerfield.

Victoria Harrell, Bethel Christian

The junior batted .305 with 8 RBIs, leading the Trojans in walks with 14.

Sheriece Jones, Kinston

The junior was the Vikings’ primary pitcher and also had eight stolen bases.

Emily Oliver, North Lenoir

The sophomore batted .333 and had versatility for the team, playing both catcher and shortstop.

Catherine Palmer, North Lenoir

The junior also switched it up some in the field, playing centerfield and first base while also batting .300.

Alena Rivers, Kinston

The junior batted .267 and added five steals for the Vikings this season.

Macy Sanderson, South Lenoir

The freshman batted .302 for the Blue Devils with 14 runs and seven RBIs this season.

Elexie Sutton, Greene Central

The senior hit .341 with six RBIs, along with seven stolen bases and 10 runs.

Gabby Sutton, Bethel Christian

The sophomore was second on the team in batting average (.319) and RBIs (15).

Samantha Sutton, South Lenoir

The senior was second on the team in RBIs with 13 and fourth in stolen bases with six.

Allison Wade, Greene Central

The senior batted .352 with 13 RBIs and six doubles, also finishing third on the team with eight stolen bases.

Nikylah Williams, Kinston

The junior was the Vikings’ biggest threat on the basepaths with 12 stolen bases while also drawing seven walks.

Let the debates begin.