By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
Thirty-six players from Greater Hickory area teams – 11 of them from the Western Foothills 3A and five from West Lincoln – have been selected all-state in softball.
The North Carolina Softball Coaches Association (NCSCA) made the picks from among nominees whose head coaches are members of the organization.
There are three area picks on the 1A team, 12 on the 2A team, 14 on the 3A team and seven on the 4A team.
West Lincoln led the area with five 2A selections – junior pitcher Harlie Burton, junior designated player Gracie Elmore, senior outfielder Farrah Richardson, junior outfielder Chloe Norman and junior catcher Bailey Huss.
The Rebels went 19-7 overall, tying Bandys (each 13-1) for a Catawba Valley 2A Athletic regular-season title.
Bandys (23-5) had three all-state picks in 2A.
North Lincoln (19-9) had four 3A all-state picks while Western Foothills 3A regular-season and league tournament champion East Lincoln (24-1) gained three.
Hibriten (17-10) — the top 3A finisher (third) in the Northwestern 3A-4A — has three selections on the 3A team.
Alexander Central (25-3), which shared a Northwestern 3A-4A regular-season title with South Caldwell, has four picks and the Spartans (15-4) gained three.
AREA PLAYERS SELECTED ALL-STATE
(Stats, if available, from team pages at MaxPreps.com)
1A
Katelyn Cozart, OF, Jr., Draughn
Maddie Crouch, SS, Soph., Draughn
Reagan Winkler, C, Sr., Draughn
2A
Annie Andrews, OF, Sr., Bandys: .355 average, four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 14 RBIs.
Bailey McClellan, C-3B, Sr., Bandys: .400 average, 12 RBIs.
Bandys senior catcher-second baseman Caroline McIntosh hit .473 with 11 doubles and drove in 24 runs this season, earning all-state 2A honors./FACEBOOK PHOTO
Caroline McIntosh, C-2B, Sr., Bandys: .473 average, 11 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 24 RBIs.
Macy Michael, SS, Soph., Maiden: .469 average, three doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 24 RBIs.
Averie Waddell, C, Soph., Maiden: .486 average, three home runs, 11 doubles.
Harlie Burton, P, Jr., W. Lincoln: 13 wins, one no-hitter, hit .273.
Gracie Elmore, DP, Jr., W. Lincoln: .381 average, two home runs, 19 RBIs.
Farrah Richardson, OF, Sr., W. Lincoln: Seven doubles.
Chloe Norman, OF, Jr., W. Lincoln: .390 average, five doubles.
Bailey Huss, C, Jr., W. Lincoln: .400 average.
Cierra Lail, OF, Sr., Patton: .368 average, four home runs, nine stolen bases, 21 RBIs.
Bridget Patrick, P-1B, Sr., Patton: .392 average, nine doubles, six RBIs; 2-1 record.
3A
Riley Vogel, a sophomore at Fred T. Foard, was one of 11 players from the Western Foothills 3A named all-state for 2022. She hit .738 and drove in 43 runs this season./FACEBOOK PHOTO
Leah Crowell, P, Jr., E. Lincoln: 23-0 record, 0.57 ERA, 15 shutouts, 10 complete games, 213 strikeouts, 48 walks.
Betsy Eatman, C, Jr., E. Lincoln: .625 average, 11 home runs, 45 RBIs.
Taliyah Thomas, OF, Sr., E. Lincoln: .500 average, 13 home runs, eight doubles, 14 stolen bases, 42 RBIs.
Kaitlyn Leonhardt, SS, Sr., Fred T. Foard: .429 average, 10 doubles, three home runs, 13 RBIs.
Riley Vogel, C, Soph., Fred T. Foard: .738 average, 14 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 20 stolen bases, 43 RBIs.
Parker Boggs, 3B., Fr., Hibriten: .384 average, 28 RBIs.
Cady Ferguson, OF, Jr., Hibriten: .419 average, 10 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 16 stolen bases, 26 RBIs.
Anna Reeves, P, Sr., Hibriten: 10-5 record, 2.55 ERA, 123 strikeouts, 56 walks.
Abby Puett, SS, Soph., Hickory: .405 average, five triples, 21 stolen bases, five RBIs.
Aubrie Cada, OF, Jr., N. Lincoln: .358 average, six RBIs.
Tessa Hunt, P, Sr., N. Lincoln: 19-9 record, 2.56 ERA, 12 complete games, 137 strikeouts, 21 walks, 11 doubles six home runs, 24 RBIs.
Lilly Strump, SS, Sr., N. Lincoln: 12 doubles, six home runs, 16 stolen bases, 40 RBIs.
Clara Grace Dellinger OF, Soph., N. Lincoln: .467 average, 15 doublesa, three home runs, 19 RBIs.
Mayson Lail, P, Sr., St. Stephens: 0.95 ERA.
4A
Kaylee Anderson, C-OF, Jr., S. Caldwell: .431 average, five doubles, seven home runs, 26 RBIs.
Kadie Becker, P, Jr., S. Caldwell: 15-4 record, 1.22 ERA, 158 strikeouts, 24 walks.
Kennedy Crouch, 1B, Soph., S. Caldwell: 439 average, 15 RBIs.
Faith Carrigan, P, Sr., Alexander Central
Kenzie Church, SS, Soph., Alexander Central
Kirsty Herman, C, Soph., Alexander Central
Peyton Price, 2B, Sr., Alexander Central
ALL-STATE: https://www.ncfastpitch.org/wp-content/uploads/post_season_awards/2022-all-state-players-rev3.pdf
ALL-REGION: https://www.ncfastpitch.org/wp-content/uploads/post_season_awards/2022-all-district-players-rev9.pdf
