Hillsborough all-county softball

By Times staff writers
Published June 11, 2005

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JoJo Medina, Chamberlain first baseman. The numbers say it all: .673 on-base percentage, .534 season batting average, 31 RBIs, 28 runs scored, 29 walks and 15 extra-base hits, including 5 home runs. At first base, she made only two errors on the season.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Steve Gonzalez, Cambridge. First-year coach took the reins after several top players graduated from the 2004 team that finished as state runnersup. With nearly half this year's starters in grades seven through 10, he helped the Lancers keep a positive attitude after some early rough games against schools from larger classifications. He also kept his ace pitcher, Samantha Becker, fresh by starting her in fewer than 10 games during the regular season. All his strategies paid off as Cambridge won the Class A state title, beating Bonifay Bethlehem 12-2 in the final.

FIRST TEAM

PITCHERS

Ashley Urbanik, East Bay Sr. - 210 strikeouts, 0.97 ERA, record 14-5, .406 batting average.

Samantha Becker, Cambridge Sr. - Pitched the winning Class A state championship game. 0.89 ERA with 72 strikeouts. Hit .619 with 45 RBIs and 4 home runs

Nicole Anderson, Bloomingdale Sr. - 17-4, 0.54 ERA, 270 strikeouts

Heather Vanlandingham, Chamberlain Jr. - 11-2, 0.53 ERA, 87 strikeouts

CATCHER

Valerie Kessel, Cambridge Jr. - of 51 attempted steals she threw out 48, .630 batting average, 20 RBIs, 1 home run.

INFIELDERS

Ashley Arcuri, Chamberlain Sr. - .402 BA, 12 RBIs, 24 runs scored

Brittany Williams, Cambridge Jr. - .488 BA, 14 RBIs, 1 HR.

Jennifer Wiggins, Tampa Bay Tech Sr. - .500 BA, 9 RBIs

Brittany Villa, Academy of the Holy Names Jr. - .450 BA, 20 RBIs

Amanda Patrick, Chamberlain Soph. - .410 BA, 12 RBIs, 24 runs scored

OUTFIELDERS

Liberty Herrero, Freedom Jr. - .492 BA, 15 RBIs, 22 runs scored, .571 on-base percentage

Albanie Gant, East Bay Soph. - .383 BA, 19 RBIs, 6 doubles

Courtney Lawrence, Chamberlain Sr. - .309 BA, no errors

Courtney Abreu, Chamberlain Sr. - .312 BA, defensive player only

UTILITY PLAYER

Kelly Betts, Plant Sr. - 1.01 ERA, 9-4 record, won district title game in upset over East Bay, pitched 32 innings near end of season without hit, .110 opponents' hitting average, 107 strikeouts.

SECOND TEAM

Pitchers - Kelly Confer, Chamberlain Jr.; Krista Harris, Durant Sr.; Kristen Garcia, Newsome Sr.; Mackenzie Dawson, Plant City Jr.

Catcher - Brittany Garcia, Alonso Sr.

Infield - Kayla Dupree, East Bay Jr.; Kerri Croney, Plant Soph.; Jessica Kessel, Cambridge eighth-grader; Cari Curfman, Durant Soph.; Brittany Reece, Plant City Sr.

Outfield - Jessica Pauley, Plant City Jr.; Jamie O'Hara, Newsome Jr.; Kelly Davis, Cambridge Jr.; Gina Kafalas, Chamberlain ninth-grader.

Utility - Megan Menard, Plant Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Academy of Holy Names - Kristina Cruz, Kayla Suskauer, Becky Vyzas; Armwood - Samantha Levine, Felicia Walker; Bloomingdale - Ashley Hicks, Laura Williams, Haley Gerun; Cambridge - Kristen Johnson, Samantha Aucoin, Kayla Davis, Lauren Simpson, Alexis Caruso; Chamberlain - Lauren Rodriguez; Durant - Lauren Pulling; East Bay - Laura Schiffmacher, Brittany Yates, Shantelle Doane; Freedom - Jackie Tetlow, Ali Grant, Rachael Burns; King - Melissa Rosas, Justine Perry; Newsome - Traci Wilson, Kristen Weeks, Sheila Suhar; Plant City - Kendall Dawson, Sam Waldron, Jessica Pauley; Robinson - Sarah Nakhleh, Audry Larcome, Beth Woodford; Seffner Christian - Jordy Raburn, Cara Brookshire, Ashley Cunningham, Nicci Hopps: Sickles - Angela Blockburger, Trisha DeBold, Morgan McGuire, Nadirah Nesfield, Lucy Minton; Tampa Catholic - Rose Palano, Ashley Carrera, Jordan Tatum; Tampa Prep - Amanda Moodie, Cady Hass

Compiled by Times staff writer Scott Purks and Times correspondent Terry Jones.

[Last modified June 11, 2005, 00:26:12]