2017 All-Area softball: a Clover sweep

Clover reached the 5A Upper State softball semifinals this spring, a bit of a surprise given the Blue Eagles’ player losses to graduation in the two years since winning the 2015 state title.

But it really shouldn’t have been a surprise, such is the job that Shea Hall has done annually at the school. She produced another great coaching job this season, leading the Blue Eagles to the Region 4-5A title, thanks in large part to standout senior pitcher Kayla Ogle. Ogle and Hall are The Herald’s 2017 softball player and coach of the year.

Ogle, who will play softball at Salem College, was named the 5A state player of the year by the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women’s Sports, in addition to Region 4-5A player of the year and a North-South all-star selection. She struck out 215 batters, saving her best games for the biggest scenarios. She allowed just four runs in six postseason games and shut out rival Fort Mill twice in the regular season, allowing just seven total hits in two Clover wins that clinched the region championship.

First team

Player of the year: Kayla Ogle, Clover

Coach of the year: Shea Hall, Clover

Kayla Ogle, Clover - senior pitcher was named the state’s 5A player of the year by the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women’s Sports, an honor earned in addition to All-State, Region 4-5A player of the year and All-Region nods. Ogle played in the North-South all-star game as well. She struck out 215 batters, had a 0.87 ERA and a perfect fielding percentage.

Bella Roy, Fort Mill - 5A All-State pick struck out 303 batters and had a 0.66 ERA. Roy’s strikeout total was 31st-best in the country, according to MaxPreps.

Chloe Thomas, Lewisville - the junior pitcher/infielder allowed just 19 earned runs in 118.3 innings of pitching, while tossing three no-hitters and one perfect game. Thomas also hit .567 with 37 RBI and 17 stolen bases. She was named All-State and was the Region 2-A player of the year.

Peyton Darnell, Indian Land - 3A All-State selection was also the Region 4-3A player of the year after batting .458 with seven home runs and 40 RBI. Darnell added 11 doubles and four triples to her extra base-hit tally.

Jada Ames, Lancaster - senior played in the North-South all-star game and was a 4A All-State pick.

Tiffany Domingue, Clover - sophomore shortstop was named 5A All-State and All-Region 4-5A after hitting .526 with six home runs and a perfect fielding percentage.

JaNautica Cohen, Chester - 3A All-State pick hit .545 with four homers, nine doubles and 28 RBI. Cohen only struck out once all spring.

Shena Halsey, Chester - 3A All-State selection hit .636 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Halsey also pitched 25 innings, striking out 11 batters and walking three.

Cassie McInerney, Fort Mill - senior third baseman was a 5A All-State pick and hit .437 with 30 RBI

Second team

Katie Robinson, Clover - senior first baseman signed with Lees-McRae hit .480 and made All-Region 4-5A. She also had a perfect fielding percentage.

Emily Morton, Lewisville - senior catcher was a 1A All-State honoree and North-South all-star. She hit .443 with 32 RBI and a .987 fielding percentage.

Lauren Collie, Fort Mill - junior catcher hit .467 with 27 RBI in an All-Region 4-5A campaign.

Amber Bass, Lewisville - sophomore third baseman was All-Region and 1A All-State (HSSR) after hitting .541 with 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Darby Trull, Nation Ford - senior outfielder and North-South all-star hit .429 with a home run and 11 stolen bases. She’ll play college softball at Virginia Tech next season.

Sarah Riehle, Nation Ford - senior outfielder hit .440 with six home runs. Riehle was an All-Region 4-5A selection.

Mercedes Howze, South Pointe - senior catcher hit .533 with three home runs and 22 RBI. Howze, who will play college softball at Columbia International College, had a 0.92 fielding percentage.

Madaline Davis, York - made North-South all-star game after batting .467 with a home run and 14 RBI. Davis, a senior catcher, made All-Region 3-4A and only struck out three times.

Payton Lemire, Fort Mill - sophomore shortstop hit .400 with 30 RBI and made All-Region 4-5A.

Honorable mention

Taylor Stewart, Kailey Carpenter and Micah Sherwood, Clover; Marissa McDermott, Fort Mill; Daniella Wilson, Indian Land; Grace Revels and Summer Clinton, Lancaster; Abby Thomas and Codi Horne, Lewisville; Chanel Turner, Nation Ford; Cassie Wancheck, Northwestern; Paige Love, Rock Hill; Kamryn Culp and Kayt Houston, South Pointe; Emalee Smith, DeOuihza Love and Destini Love, York.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 12:01 PM with the headline "2017 All-Area softball: a Clover sweep."