Commercial Appeal all-metro softball team 2018

By John Varlas
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Tipton-Rosemark's Rachel Whitley is The Commercial Appeal Sports Awards softball player of the year.

Softball player of the year

Rachel Whitley

Tipton-Rosemark, Sr.

Position: Utility

Why chosen: The winner for the second straight year, Whitley led the Rebels to a runner-up spot in the Division II-A state tournament. She batted .422 with five homers and 42 RBIs while compiling an 11-4 record with a 1.45 ERA as TRA finished 27-11.

First team

Shelby Clifton

Tipton-Rosemark, Sr.

Position: Catcher

Why chosen: Clifton's walk-off homer in the 10th gave the Rebels a key playoff victory on the road to the state tournament. She finished the season with three homers, 21 RBIs and a .467 average.

Maddie Brower

Lewisburg, So.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: Brower led the Patriots in homers (five) and RBIs (40) while batting .427 for a team that spent much of the year ranked first in The Commercial Appeal's Elite Eight.

Madison Haley

Lewisburg, Sr.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: A fine contact hitter, Haley posted a .468 average for a Lewisburg team that finished with a 26-4-1 record. She also had a .510 on-base percentage and stole 15 bases in 16 attempts. She was a nominee for the Commercial Appeal's Softball Player of the Year.

Maria Maxwell

Collierville, Sr.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: Maxwell batted .542 with four homers and 30 RBIs while recording a .930 fielding percentage at second base as the Dragons advanced to the Class AAA sectionals.

Mattie Meine

DeSoto Central, Sr.

Position: Infielder

Why chosen: Meine provided plenty of clutch hitting on a Jaguars team that finished 22-6-1 and won the MHSAA 6A state title. She batted .453 with five homers and 21 RBIs. She also made only one error all season. She was a nominee for Commercial Appeal Softball Player of the Year.

Saige Koczka

Southaven, Jr.

Position: Outfielder

Why chosen: Koczka batted .507 with two homers, 24 RBIs and an .808 slugging percentage. She batted .600 with runners in scoring position, struck out once all year and threw out five baserunners. She was a nominee for Commercial Appeal Softball Player of the Year.

Samantha Ruff

Lake Cormorant, Sr.

Position: Outfielder

Why chosen: Ruff led the area with eight homers while driving in 24 runs and batting .412 for the Gators. She had a .500 on-base percentage and an .867 slugging percentage.

E.C. Taylor

St. Benedict, Jr.

Position: Outfielder

Why chosen: Taylor, a Florida commitment, led the Eagles to their 23rd consecutive Division II-AA state tournament. She posted a .610 batting average while stealing 14 bases.

Sterling James

DeSoto Central, Jr.

Position: Pitcher

Why chosen: A second-team all-state selection by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, James compiled a 7-3 record for the Class 6A state champs. She posted an 0.95 ERA and struck out 54 in 37 innings. She was a nominee for Commercial Appeal Softball Player of the Year.

Charli Rice

Tipton-Rosemark, Fr.

Position: Pitcher

Why chosen: Rice pitched the Rebels to a runner-up spot in Division II-A, compiling a 13-4 record with a 1.32 ERA and 129 strikeouts with just 29 walks in 111 innings.

Second team

Catcher: Makayla Pugh, Munford, Jr.

Infield: Haylee Alberson, DeSoto Central, Fr.

Infield: Alyssa Branyan, Hernando, Sr.

Infield: Kendall Graham, Arlington, Jr.

Infield: Taylor Smrt, Collierville, Fr.

Outfield: Caroline Casey, Hernando, Sr.

Outfield: Ta'Mya Johnson, Brighton, Sr.

Outfield: Oakley Laughter, Lewisburg, Jr.

Utility: Kayla Parker, Houston, Sr.

Pitcher: Leah Beasley, Covington, So.

Pitcher: Colleen Blaszkowski, Collierville, Jr.

Selections were made based on individual and team performances during the season and input from area coaches and officials.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.