HENDERSON’S ELLIS 17-4A’s TOP PITCHER | Henderson, Kilgore players honored on softball all-district team
Henderson’s Chloe Ellis was named pitcher of the year in District 17-4A’s All-District Softball Team, released in recent days.
The Lady Lions went 23-11 on the season and finished with an 8-2 district record, second place, and then knocked off Jacksonville in the first round of the UIL Class 4A playoffs before running into a very tough Liberty team in round two. Liberty would go on to win the 4A state championship, beating Canton in the finals and finish with a 40-2 record.
Seven Lady Lions were named first-team all-district: Jacie Boothe, Kaitlynn Brooks, Jayda Brown, Anna Cheek, Addy Davis, Kristina Jackson and McKenna Moon.
Brinklee Bowman was named second-team all-district, and Colbie Roundtree, Addy Standley, and Taniya Vanzandt were all named as honorable mention selections.
Several Lady Lions were named to the academic all-district team: Boothe, Davis, Jackson, Brenli Padgett, Brylie Rawlinson, Standley, and Vanzandt.
Kilgore didn’t make the playoffs this season, and didn’t have any first-team all-district selections. But Thaiona Moore, Eva Ray, Molly Quine and Jae’la Williams were all named second-team all-district, and Addison Murphy and Maddie Tucker were named as honorable mention all-district selections.
KHS also had several named academic all-district: Moore, Addison Pierson, Addison Polk, Aniyah Polk, Quine, Ray, Karsyn Stover, and Williams.
In other superlatives in the district, Gilmer’s Alexis Kemp, a junior, was named the overall most valuable player – the Lady Buckeyes won the district championship. Gilmer’s Jayna Rucker was the offensive most valuable player and Carthage’s Mya Nelson, just a freshman, was named defensive most valuable player. Gilmer’s Kennedy Jordan was named catcher of the year; Jaleah Williams, also of Carthage, was named newcomer of the year; and the Gilmer coaching staff won for best coaching job.
All-district teams are voted on, and chosen, by the coaches in each district.