McNairy Central's Katie Turner is 2018 All-West Tennessee softball player of the year
SELMER — There isn’t much to say when it comes to McNairy Central’s Katie Turner that already hasn’t been said. No other player in the area was as dominant as she was.
Her statistics this season were staggering.
She went 29-8 in the circle with a 0.77 ERA and 428 strikeouts. She also wasn’t too shabby at the plate, either. She hit .404 with 39 RBIs, hitting in the middle of the Lady Bobcats’ lineup.
For her efforts, Turner is the All-West Tennessee softball player of the year.
“It means a lot knowing this is my last year and I could go out with something that’s really rewarding,” Turner said.
Turner and McNairy’s season didn’t end like they hoped, going 0-2 in the Class AA state tournament. However, the early exit doesn’t put a damper on her stellar career.
In her four years with the Lady Bobcats, Turner went 83-37 with 1,206 strikeouts, eight no-hitters and three perfect games.
With those numbers, one thing is certain. Coach Mell Surratt and the McNairy softball program are going to miss her.
“I’ve never had a complete player like Katie Turner,” Surratt said. “That’s just the easiest way to put it. Just complete from on the field and off the field.”
Turner now sets her sights on Lipscomb University. She’ll be thrown right into the fray and will be asked to produce both in the circle and at the plate. With her high school success and a rise ball in the upper-60s, she’s looking to make a difference early.
“I hope to have like an impact on Lipscomb as I did up here,” Turner said. “I hope that I’m able to help their team out as much as I could help this team out."
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MORE: 2018 All-West Tennessee Baseball
First team
Kayla Beaver
South Side, Jr.
Position: Pitcher
Why chosen: Beaver went 14-5 for the Lady Hawks with a 0.75 ERA and 141 strikeouts in arguably one of the toughest districts in the state, 14-AA.
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Jalyn Cherry
Hardin County, Jr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: Cherry helped the Lady Tigers reach the Class AAA state tournament, hitting .460 with 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
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Sophie Dunavant
Jackson Christian, Sr.
Position: Catcher
Why chosen: Dunavant hit .537 with 13 home runs, 35 RBIs, 44 hits and she scored 36 runs. She was also named West Tennessee Miss Softball in Division II.
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Kaci Fuller
Huntingdon, So.
Position: Outfielder
Why chosen: Fuller hit .505 with six home runs, 44 RBIs and scored 37 runs as the Fillies made region semifinals.
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Paige Hampton
Camden, Sr.
Position: Outfielder
Why chosen: Hampton, Camden's leadoff hitter, hit .463 with 56 hits, 18 RBIs and scored 33 runs.
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Kaitlyn Kelley
Lexington, Sr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: In 35 games, Kelley, a Union University signee, hit .465 with nine home runs, 51 RBIs, 13 doubles and 34 runs.
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Caitlin Mitchell
Scotts Hill, Sr.
Position: Utility
Why chosen: Mitchell was a force at the plate and in the circle. She went 23-7 with a 1.91 ERA and hit .433 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs.
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Madison Myers
Crockett County, Sr.
Position: Outfielder
Why chosen: Myers led the Lady Cavaliers with a .606 batting average, had 66 hits and scored 40 runs.
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Kallie Pickens
USJ, Sr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: Pickens, a UT Martin signee, hit .571 with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 56 hits and had 18 doubles for the Lady Bruins.
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Katie Turner
McNairy Central, Sr.
Position: Pitcher
Why chosen: Turner, a Libscomb University signee, went 29-8 with a 0.77 ERA and 428 strikeouts. Turner was named West Tennessee Miss Softball for Class AA.
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Josie Willingham
South Side, Jr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: Willingham, a Tennessee commitment, hit .577 with 31 RBIs, 41 runs scored and stole 38 bases for the Lady Hawks.
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Second team
Pitcher: Hannah Sampson, Camden, Sr.
Pitcher: Lexie Garner, Gibson County, Jr.
Catcher: Maddie Neal, Gibson County, Sr.
Infielder: Megan Hodum, McNairy Central, So.
Infielder: Brylee Williams, Bruceton, So.
Infielder: Melanie Alexander, Scotts Hill, Sr.
Infielder: Macey Neal, Gibson County, So.
Outfielder: Alli Jones, Huntingdon, Jr.
Outfielder: Hannah Bassham, Lexington, Sr.
Outfielder: MacKinley Shelton, South Side, Jr.
Utility: Jenna Arnold, Jackson Christian, Jr.
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Coach of the year
Jason Dennis
Hardin County
Why chosen: Dennis led the Lady Tigers to their first trip to the state tournament in Class AAA, going 22-12-1.