2009 All-Area Softball team

Coach of the year

Tim Fenn

SCHOOL: Altavista

YEAR: Second

RECORD: 19-4

ALL-STAR STUFF: Fenn was a master motivator in practice and from the third-base coach’s box during games, keeping the Colonels fully focused on their objectives every step of the way to their first Group A state softball championship. “It was great because we set a goal back in October, a very high goal, but the thing is these girls worked hard,” Fenn said. “Every single day, they worked hard to get better.” He valued each player on the team and even managed to get everyone into the championship game victory over Glenvar, a three-time state runner-up to a Dogwood District team at Radford University. “What was really neat was we were able to finish the game with all six of our seniors on the field to end the season,” Fenn said. “We owed that to them because they gave so much to us.”

First team

Amber Marstin

SCHOOL: William Campbell

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Pitcher

ALL-STAR STUFF: Marstin, The News & Advance all-area player of the year as a sophomore in 2007, when she led the Generals to the Group A state title, was just as impressive this season. She finished 15-4 and boasted a 1.06 ERA, becoming William Campbell’s career strikeout leader with 658 in four seasons, including 185 as a senior. The honorable mention all-Region B selection also became the Generals’ career wins leader with 59.

Sammie Bogolin

SCHOOL: Rustburg

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Catcher

ALL-STAR STUFF: Bogolin batted .482 this season with 12 extra-base hits, including five home runs and two triples. “She caught every game for us and called every pitch,” Rustburg coach Michele Riddle said. “She plays volleyball and basketball, too, but softball’s probably her best sport.” Bogolin, who transferred in from Ohio two years ago, will attend Virginia Tech.

Sarah Truxell

SCHOOL: Brookville

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Infield

ALL-STAR STUFF: Truxell, who started the season on a tear, leading the area with a .529 average, cooled off to .481 by the end of the season and finished with more than 20 runs and 20 RBIs to ignite the Bees’ attack. Also an excellent shortstop, she helped boost Brookville to the Region III championship game and a Group AA state tournament appearance before losing to eventual state runner-up Tunstall.

Taylor Thomas

SCHOOL: Holy Cross

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Infield

ALL-STAR STUFF: Thomas is talking about walking on at Virginia next year. She certainly has the numbers to back up the talk, hitting at a better than .500 clip for the year and striking out just twice in more than 80 at-bats. “She’s real balanced offensively and defensively,” first-year coach Darrell Sandifer said of his second baseman. “She has good leadership skills and is solid all around.” She ended the season on an offensive tear, propelling the Gaels to the state tournament with eight hits in 11 at-bats in the Blue Ridge Conference regular-season finale and tournament, delivering an RBI double in a 3-2 championship game win over LCA.

Lauren Marstin

SCHOOL: William Campbell

YEAR: Sophomore

POSITION: Infield

ALL-STAR STUFF: Marstin is much more versatile than her older sister Amber, with the ability to play second base, outfield or pitcher, though not quite as well in the latter. She led the Generals in hits this season with 32 in 64 at-bats for an even .500 average and stolen bases with 26, including five in one game in the Dogwood District tournament as the team’s leadoff hitter. She scored 29 runs and drove in 10 while committing just one error in the field. “She was really the catalyst for the offense,” coach Chris Smith said. “She could hit, slap or lay down a bunt.”

Samantha Thacker

SCHOOL: Holy Cross

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Infield

ALL-STAR STUFF: Batting second in Holy Cross’s lineup, Thacker hit better than .400 for the season and also fielded the hot corner as coolly as anyone in town. She will be joining twin sister Amanda, the Gaels’ starting catcher, at Sweet Briar College, with both players planning to continue their softball careers in their home town of Amherst. 

Renesha Chiles

SCHOOL: Amherst

YEAR: Junior

POSITION: Outfield

ALL-STAR STUFF: Chiles was among the area’s leading hitters with a .493 average with 36 hits, 25 runs scored and 25 RBIs. She also was an exceptional center fielder, showcasing tremendous range and a reliable glove. She received first-team all-Seminole and first-team all-Region III honors for her performance this spring and will be one of the area’s top returning players next year.

Amanda Sandridge

SCHOOL: Altavista

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Outfield

ALL-STAR STUFF: An outstanding center fielder for the Group A state champion Colonels, Sandridge earned first-team all-Dogwood District and first-team all-Region B status. In 81 at-bats out of the leadoff spot, she delivered 38 hits for a .469 batting average with 24 runs scored and 16 steals. She made just two errors on numerous chances and demonstrated a strong arm on throws to the plate.

Carrie Dudley

SCHOOL: Gretna

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Outfield

ALL-STAR STUFF: Like Sandridge, Dudley is another excellent fielder and leadoff hitter who received all-Region B first-team honors. She racked up 28 hits and 25 runs for the Hawks, hitting for a .438 average, replacing Ceseley Haynes in the role of center fielder and spark plug.

Nichole Mills

SCHOOL: Gretna

YEAR: Sophomore

POSITION: Utility

ALL-STAR STUFF: Stepping onto the rubber to replace The News & Advance’s 2008 all-area player of the year Teresa Daulton, Mills did an admirable job after shining at shortstop as a freshman. She went 13-7 with 117 strikeouts and a 1.56 ERA in 127 innings pitched and was equally valuable with her bat, hitting at a sensational .559 clip with a .629 on-base percentage and .932 slugging percentage. She delivered 18 RBIs and scored 19 runs, collecting 33 hits, including seven doubles and seven triples.

Shauna Douglas

SCHOOL: Amherst

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Designated hitter

ALL-STAR STUFF: Douglas matched Chiles’ team high with 25 RBIs and team low with only five strikeouts. She also scored 18 times and batted .385 out of the clean-up spot. Also a strong fielding third baseman, she was a steady four-year starter for the Lancers.

Second team

P Nicole Defilippo, Brookville Sr. — Tendonitis affected her in the postseason, but she battled through it and saved one of her best pitching performances for last at Tunstall in the Group AA quarterfinals. She had well over 100 strikeouts in about 100 innings pitched and an ERA that hovered around 1.00, also batting .450 through 40 at-bats.

P Killian Harrison, Liberty Christian Academy So. — The first-team all-Virginia Independent Schools Division I pitcher had a 1.86 ERA with 115 strikeouts and only 50 hits allowed in 78 2/3 innings pitched. Offensively, she batted .404 with 23 hits.

C April Pugh, Amherst Sr. — Second-team all-Region III selection behind plate batted .365 with 27 hits, 20 runs, 13 RBIs at plate. She was a first-team all-Region catcher last year.

IF Megan Yeaples, Brookville Jr. — Hitting at a .440 clip through 50 at-bats with 16 runs and 14 RBIs, Yeaples handled the hot corner well and earned first-team all-district and second-team all-Region III kudos.

IF Paige Hammock, Jefferson Forest Jr. — The first-team all-Seminole District second baseman was the heart of the Cavaliers’ infield and lineup this season, batting .319 with several steals and their only home run.

IF Mallory Greene, Altavista Jr. — Batting third behind Short, Greene kept teams from pitching around her more than they already did by wielding a potent bat of her own. Also fielded first exceptionally well.

IF Kelly Jackson, Staunton River Sr. — The Amherst transfer starred in basketball and softball for the Golden Eagles, earning first-team all-Seminole accolades at shortstop.

OF Tabatha Maddox, Brookville Sr. — Maddox earned first-team all-Seminole District and second-team all-Region III status in the field for the Bees, batting right at .400 through 50 at-bats with 21 runs scored.

OF Tori Irvin, Amherst Sr. — First-team all-Seminole District pick batted .440 with 13 runs and 10 RBI out of the leadoff spot.

OF Layney Sandifer, Holy Cross Jr. — A solid fielder, Sandifer also ranked third on the Gaels in hitting, boasting a .413 average with 16 RBIs.

UTIL Brittany Lawhorn, William Campbell So. — Batted .359 with 20 RBIs and was even more valuable behind the plate, where she threw out the tail end of at least three double steals at second base. “Most people didn’t run on her,” Smith said.

DH Jessica Reamy, William Campbell Sr. — After playing everything from catcher to outfield, Reamy settled in at the plate as a DH, batting .406 (26 for 64) with 21 RBIs.