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BOONE
GREENSBORO – Three Lenoir-Rhyne University softball players have been named all-state by the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA).
Selected for the group’s All-State College Division are first-teamers Emily Kenley (pitcher) and Erin Boone (outfielder) and second-team pick Talon LaClair (third base), the Bears announced via a press release. Boone is a repeat pick from 2017.
Nominees were submitted by North Carolina sports information professionals and selected by the NCCSIA members, and six of the 12-player first-team selections played high school softball in the Greater Hickory area.
KENLEY
Kenley, a junior from Charlotte, was 24-5 went last season with an ERA of 1.81, six shutouts and 125 strikeouts. She was named the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Pitcher of the Year.
Boone, a junior from Creedmoor, led LRU in batting average (.395), runs (53), hits (66), doubles (15), total bases (109) and on-base percentage (.510) in 2018. Boone also hit eight home runs and drove in 37 runs.
LaClair, a freshman from Statesville, hit .323 in 55 games played and scored 34 runs. She managed 14 doubles, two triples and three home runs and had a .958 fielding average.
The Bears were 45-10 last season, going 17-1 in the SAC, and they won the league regular season title and played host to a regional round in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Area has 4 selected for team
The first-team selections also included four players with Greater Hickory area ties – junior infielder Vada Blue Sherrill of Pfeiffer, junior outfielder Makayla Carver of Guilford, sophomore infielder Makenzie Pennell of Pfeiffer and pitcher Kiana Millsaps of Pfeiffer.
Carver played high school softball at South Caldwell while Sherrill, Pennell and Millsaps played prep softball at Alexander Central.
N.C. COLLEGIATE SPORTS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION (NCCSIA) ALL-STATE
FIRST TEAM
DP—Jordan Adcox, Fr., UNC Pembroke
INF—Jamie Johnson, Sr., UNC Pembroke
INF—Vada Blue Sherrill, Jr., Pfeiffer
INF—Makenzie Pennell, Soph., Pfeiffer
INF—Jennifer Vitarelli, Sr., Salem College
OF—Makayla Carver, Jr., Guilford
OF—Erin Boone, Jr., LRU
OF—Kris Neal, Sr., Chowamn
P—Emily Kenley, Jr., LRU
P—Kiana Millsaps, Jr., Pfeiffer
UTL—Marley Parker, Sr., St. Augustine’s
C—Makayla Crawford, Jr., Guilford
SECOND TEAM
DP—Samantha Gibbs, Sr., Winston-Salem State
INF—Anna Wolfe, Jr., Guilford
INF—Taylor Martin, Soph., Barton
INF—Alex Watkins, Soph., UNC Pembroke
INF—Talon LaClair, Fr., LRU
OF—Erice Occena Sr., Meredith
OF—Tamiera Sanchez, Soph., St. Augustine’s
OF—Kayla Allen, Sr., Mount Olive
P—Miranda Baker, Fr., Salem College
P—Makayla August, Soph., St. Augustine’s
UTL—Aubrey Reep, Soph., Wingate
C—Lindsey Stigler, Soph., Chowan