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Cantu, Garza grab 9-3A softball superlatives
BY ANDREW MAY, Staff Writer
A ticker on the Wakeland softball Web site is counting down the days until the state championship tournament. In 2009, that is.
The Lady Wolverines have every reason to be optimistic following their ouster in the regional semifinals last week. All five players that garnered recognition on the 2008 All-District 9-3A team return for at least one more season. All told, only one senior graduates this year, leaving the roster filled with capable, experienced athletes hungry to take the next step.
For both Wakeland and Liberty, which landed three players on the all-district second team, the next step will come with the leap to Class 4A.
When the stakes were highest, she elevated her game to a different level.
“She threw her best stuff late in district and in the playoffs,” said head coach Chris Southard, who won Coach of the Year. “She is very deserving.”
Sophomore Kelci Garza split Offensive Player of the Year with Celina junior Brittanie Knowles. Garza led the Lady Wolverines with 13 runs batted in and was second with a .391 district average. The second baseman tallied nine extra-base hits in 46 plate appearances in 9-3A and logged a slugging percentage of .674.
“Kelci offensively in district was clutch,” Southard said. “She stepped up and had big hits in every big game.”
Freshman third baseman Brooke Cline and junior catcher Jules Graney picked up first-team honors. Cline was tops on the team in district with a .404 average, 21 hits and 15 runs. In the field, she turned in a team-best 27 assists and had 10 putouts.
In addition to calling games down the stretch for Cantu, Graney saved the season for Wakeland in bi-district with a clutch solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Lady Wolverines past Quinlan Ford. In district, she reached safely in 12 of her 38 at-bats and was an RBI machine, plating a runner every third appearance.
Freshman center fielder Jamie Ohm was a second team selection after starting all 14 district games and committing no errors. She also hit for a .313 average with 10 runs and seven RBI.
The Lady Wolverines didn’t just win ball games, they did so with class. Southard said he received emails from opposing coaches after several series lauding the team’s sportsmanship.
“We hold them to a higher standard than victory,” Southard said. “We want to do things the right way. That’s as important as winning.”
Liberty finished the district campaign with just one win and only four for the season, but still managed to secure three spots on the second team. Sophomores Elizabeth Moore and Erin McCleod, and junior Kaelan Warren were each recognized for helping the Lady Redhawks set the foundation for the future.
McCleod led the squad with a .321 average, eight stolen bases and 11 runs. Moore was right behind her teammate with a .317 mark and a team-high 19 hits in 60 plate appearances.
In limited duty on the mound, Warren registered a 3.90 ERA in 23.1 innings of work. She also had a .293 average with 12 hits and four runs batted in.
2008 All-District 9-3A softball
Most Valuable Player - Joey Cronin, Celina
Pitcher of the Year - Alexis Cantu, Wakeland
Catcher of the Year - Jasmine San Miguel, Celina
Defensive Player of the Year - Jordan Strickland, Princeton
Offensive Players of the Year - Brittanie Knowles, Celina; Kelci Garza, Wakeland
Newcomer of the Year - Beth Johnson, Lovejoy
Freshman of the Year - Melissa Schreck, Lovejoy
Utility Player of the Year - Jourdan Esquenazi, Prosper
Coach of the Year - Chris Southard, Wakeland
First team
Brooke Cline, Wakeland
Jules Graney, Wakeland
Britnie Weddle, Princeton
Janine Godwin, Princeton
Kassidy Holmes, Celina
Hannah Myers, Celina
Jordan Stafford, Lovejoy
Cara Brazeal, Lovejoy
Megan Hardy, Prosper
Claire Toney, Prosper
Lissa Pappas, Prosper
Rikki Reedy, Bonham
Jessica Blain, Bonham
Second team
Elizabeth Moore, Liberty
Erin McLeod, Liberty
Kaelan Warren, Liberty
Jaime Ohm, Wakeland
Shelby Ballenger, Princeton
Kylee Hurt, Celina
Shelby Black, Celina
Jessica Green, Lovejoy
Catherine Gilbeau, Lovejoy
Kristen Fox, Bonham
Laura Frye, Prosper
Megan Villa, Prosper
Brooke McKee, Van Alstyne
Kayla Duren, Van Alstyne
Honorable mention
Emily Moore, Prosper
Stephanie Kelley, Lovejoy
Kelsey Johnson, Lovejoy
Rebecca Bratcher, Lovejoy
Shannon Solomon, Lovejoy
Chelsea Vereen, Lovejoy
Lauren Guest, Celina
Melinda Mason, Bonham
Ashley Verner, Bonham
Ashley Sanders, Bonham
Lauren Estep, Van Alstyne
Chandler Henson, Van Alstyne
Bailey Offill, Van Alstyne
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