Meet Rutherford County area's top softball players

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
Oakland junior Alexys Haskins

Youth is a word that can best describe Rutherford County area softball in 2017. 

While there were plenty of talented upperclassmen, The Daily News Journal's All-Area Softball Team is loaded with youth.

None of the three finalists for Player of the Year – Oakland's Alexys Haskins, Stewarts Creek's Loryn Sherwood and Siegel's Caitlyn McCrary – were seniors.

Haskins, a junior, took home the Player of the Year award after batting .383 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 30 runs scored and eight stolen bases. She was also one of the best defensive players in the area at second base.

Sherwood, a junior first baseman, batted .444 with 12 home runs and 25 RBIs. She did not strike out during the season.

McCrary, a sophomore third baseman, was one of the best defenders in the area while batting .439 with five home runs, 30 RBIs and 29 runs scored.

Of the first- and second-team all-area players, seven were freshmen and eight were sophomores.

The DNJ's All-Area Softball Team includes:

FIRST TEAM

Alexys Haskins

  • Oakland, junior
  • Position: Infielder
  • Why chosen: The All-Area Player of the Year and 7-AAA MVP hit .383 with 12 doubles, eight homers, 30 runs scored and eight stolen bases in nine attempts. Was one of the top defensive players at second base.

Caitlyn McCrary

  • Siegel, sophomore
  • Position: Infielder
  • Why chosen: The Tennessee commitment and all-area Player of the Year finalist batted .439 with five home runs, 30 RBIs and 29 runs scored and was voted 7-AAA Best Defensive Player.

Kalei Harding

  • Blackman, freshman
  • Position: Infielder
  • Why chosen: The 7-AAA Rookie of the Year hit .419 with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and 22 runs.

Katie Killen

  • Smyrna, junior
  • Position: Infielder
  • Why chosen: Batted .563 with an area-best 50 runs scored and 40 stolen bases while belting nine doubles, three triples and two homers.

Brooke McClure

  • Riverdale, senior
  • Position: Catcher
  • Why chosen: Batted .398 with four homers and 25 RBIs to help the Lady Warriors win the 7-AAA regular-season title.

Lexie Harper

  • Smyrna, senior
  • Position: Outfielder
  • Why chosen: Batted .496 with seven doubles, two triples, a homer and 35 stolen bases.

Kendall Andrews

  • Blackman, sophomore
  • Position: Outfielder
  • Why chosen: Hit .507 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers, 23 RBIs and 25 runs.

Sydney Williams

  • Riverdale, freshman
  • Position: Outfielder
  • Why chosen: Led Riverdale with a .440 average while belting two homers and driving home 25 runs for the regular-season 7-AAA champs.

Loryn Sherwood

  • Stewarts Creek, junior
  • Position: Designated hitter
  • Why chosen: The all-area Player of the Year finalist and 7-AAA Best Offensive Player batted .444 with 12 homers, 24 runs and 25 RBIs. She did not strike out the entire season.

Brianna Brady

  • Stewarts Creek, senior
  • Position: Utility
  • Why chosen: Batted .436 with seven doubles, a triple, three homers, 30 runs and 33 RBIs.

Gracie Kirby

  • Oakland, junior
  • Position: Utility
  • Why chosen: Batted .367 with 14 doubles, four homers, 20 runs and 27 RBIs.

Caitlyn Manus

  • Blackman, sophomore
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Why chosen: Went 10-6 with a 3.05 ERA, striking out 94 on the season.

Sophie Golliver

  • Oakland, freshman
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Why chosen: Named 7-AAA Best Pitcher after going 11-5 with 3.01 ERA and 134 strikeouts. Also batted .347.

Kendall Mills

  • Stewarts Creek, junior
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Why chosen: Finished 9-5 with a 3.05 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 114.2 innings.

Kali Penny

  • Central Magnet, freshman
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Why chosen: The Lady Tigers ace finished the season with a 2.69 ERA and 100 strikeouts.

Maddie Cochran

  • Riverdale, senior
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Why chosen: The Lady Warriors ace had a 3.19 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 177.1 innings while also batting .373 with four homers and 28 RBIs.

SECOND TEAM

Infielder: Hannah Ward, Smyrna, junior

Infielder: Maleia Gray, Oakland, senior

Infielder: Ashley Dyer, Central Magnet, junior

Infielder: Vanessa Westfall, Siegel, sophomore

Catcher: Rachel Tarpley, Blackman, sophomore

Outfielder: Shelby Sargent, Oakland, freshman

Outfielder: Presley Leebrick, Siegel, sophomore

Outfielder: Ariel McAtee, Stewarts Creek, senior

Designated hitter: Maddie Moeller, Riverdale, senior

Utility: Kendall Forsythe, Riverdale, freshman

Utility: Makenzie Keatts, Stewarts Creek, freshman

Utility: Abby Frazier, Central Magnet, sophomore

Pitcher: Lily Soverns, Smyrna, junior

Pitcher: Kaitlin Higgins, Smyrna, freshman

Pitcher: Bailey Alexander, Eagleville, senior

Pitcher: Kristin Lee, Siegel, junior