Accolades continue to roll in for area's top softball players

High school softball season has been in the books for a while now. Area fields are quiet after a few months with the sound of aluminum bats and gloves popping.

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But the postseason accolades are still rolling in, and Columbia County is well represented.

The Columbia County News-Times will unveil its All-County Softball team Wednesday.

This will have to serve as a teaser until then. But it's safe to say one of the names below is our Columbia County Player of the Year.

All-State teams were announced Friday, as well as representatives for the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star squads.

Greenbrier, which won its 13th consecutive region title and reached the Class AAAAA state finals, had three players named first team All-State.

Juniors Kaila Hunt and Ashlyn Masters, who make up the Wolfpack's middle infield, were first-team selections. Sophomore outfielder Liz Kelligan also was named to the Class AAAAA first team. Greenbrier pitcher Katie Tracy and center fielder Jasmine Butler were named to the second team.

Butler, the Wolfpack's lone senior, was invited to play for the South team in the GACA All-Star game, which is open only to seniors.

Evans, which won the Region 3-AAAA title and reached the Class AAAA state finals, had two selections.

Junior Jenny Shepherd, who pitched and played third base, was named the Class AAAA Player of the Year. Her friend and teammate, Laura Brown, who also pitches and plays third, was named to the second team.

Brown also was named an All-Star on the GACA South squad.

Harlem senior Alana Dyson was a All-State selection on the first team and also will represent the Bulldogs on the All-Star South squad.

So which of the names mentioned is our County Player of the Year?

Hunt batted .500 and drove in 29 runs during the Wolfpack's first season in Class AAAAA. She also saved more than one run with her arm at shortstop. Masters batted .422 and hit 9 home runs with a .588 on-base percentage. If there was an award for Best Duo, the Wolfpack's pair would be tough to beat.

Shepherd battled back from an arm injury early in the year to earn Player of the Year honors for Class AAAA. She batted .563 and set the state record for RBI in a season with 61, and she tied the state's home run record with 16. On the mound, she finished 10-4 with a 0.87 ERA and 181 strikeouts.

Brown finished with a 0.88 ERA and tossed seven no-hitters and nine shutouts. An All-Region selection the past two years, she batted .336 with 17 RBI.

Harlem's Dyson was probably one of the fastest players in the county. The slap hitter needed only to get the ball in fair territory to have a shot at a base hit.

She batted .505 with a .573 on-base percentage. She also stole 31 bases.

Picking one from this group wasn't easy. There are arguments to be made beyond the numbers.

Filling out the All-County squads also was tough. Check back Wednesday and see if we got it right.