2016 All-Area softball: Fort Mill sweep

Player of the year: Bella Roy, Fort Mill

Coach of the year: Chuck Stegall, Fort Mill

Fort Mill softball’s emergence this season - a 25-4 record and a district championship game appearance - coincided with the development of a talented group of young players. Chief among them, sophomore pitcher Bella Roy, a pint-sized flame-thrower that blew softballs past opposing batters all spring. She finished the season with 19 outings of 10 or more strikeouts.

Chuck Stegall’s team graduates four seniors - two of which started - and returns most of its team next year, including eight underclassmen. It’s logical to think that group will continue to improve. With the experience it gained during a first season of huge success, Fort Mill will be a program to watch the next two seasons, at least.

First team

Bella Roy, Fort Mill- sophomore flame-thrower struck out 276 of the 522 batters she faced this spring, more than 50 percent. Roy pitched 17 complete games en route to a 19-2 record and a 0.42 earned run average. She also pitched nine shutouts and only walked 26 batters. Opponents tagged Roy with just nine earned runs in 149.1 innings of work.

Peyton Lemire, Fort Mill- freshman infielder hit .338 with five home runs and 19 RBI. Lemire also drew a team-high 18 walks.

Lauren Collie, Fort Mill- sophomore hit .469 with two home runs and 20 RBI. Collie produced a team-best .641 slugging percentage and five sacrifice flies. She also contributed eight doubles and made just one defensive error.

Chloe Thomas, Lewisville- sophomore was named Region 3-A player of the year and 1A all-state after throwing three no-hitters - including two perfect games - this spring for the Lions. Thomas was 12-3 on the mound with 159 strikeouts in 98.3 innings. She had a 1.28 earned run average, and also was a threat at the plate with a .483 batting average, nine doubles and 25 RBI. Thomas was also picked All-State by the High School Sports Report.

Rachel Marion, Northwestern- Newberry signee was named All-Region 3-4A, 4A All-State and made the North-South all-star game. Marion hit .485 with six home runs and 25 RBI. She also was stout defensively, committing just two errors in 115 chances and throwing out 11 of 19 attempted base-stealers.

Elizabeth Josey, Chester- senior pitcher had a productive season for the Cyclones, going 7-4 on the mound with 59 strikeouts and a 2.79 earned run average. Josey - a North-South all-star and the Region 3-3A player of the year - also hit .429 with a home run and 10 RBI and just three strikeouts the entire season. Josey will play softball at Spartanburg Methodist next season.

Darby Trull, Nation Ford- junior outfielder committed to Virginia Tech hit .578 with a .640 on-base percentage. Trull knocked in 18 runs and only struck out twice all season. Trull was an All-Region 3-4A pick.

Kayla Ogle, Clover- junior pitcher was an All-Region 3-4A and 4A all-state pick after striking out 235 batters and producing a stingy 1.32 ERA.

Jada Ames, Lancaster- All-Region 3-3A junior third baseman knocked in 40 runs this spring.

Second team

Codi Horne, Lewisville- All-Region and 1A All-State freshman infielder/catcher hit .465 with a home run and 23 RBI. Horne stole nine bases, had a .911 fielding percentage, and was picked All-State by the High School Sports Report.

Marissa McDermott, Fort Mill- middle infielder led the Yellow Jackets with a .471 batting average and 22 RBI.

JaNautica Cohen, Chester- All-Region 3-3A sophomore batted .446 with three home runs and 14 RBI for the Cyclones. Cohen only struck out four times this spring and finished with a .661 slugging percentage.

Jamie Rankin, South Pointe- senior pitcher won seven games and struck out 63 batters, while also batting .458 with 26 RBI. Rankin will play college softball at Columbia College.

Tiffany Domingue, Clover- All-Region 3-4A freshman middle infielder hit .409 with three triples, three home runs, five doubles and 17 RBI.

Micah Sherwood, Clover- All-Region centerfielder hit .405, stole 16 bases and didn’t commit an error this spring.

Morgan Lubojacky, Great Falls- senior shortstop hit .536 with 12 RBI.

Kayt Houston, South Pointe- eighth grader hit .413 with 17 RBI and a .984 fielding percentage at third base.

Peyton Darnell, Indian Land- All-Region 4-2A freshman hit .470 with six home runs and 20 RBI. Darnell also hit seven doubles and had a .921 fielding percentage.

Honorable mention

Shania Domingue, Clover; Julia Rajcok, Fort Mill; Gabby Doyle, Indian Land; Chloe Williams, Indian Land; Daniella Wilson, Indian Land; Gracie Revels, Lancaster; Emily Morton, Lewisville; Stacie Rollins, Lewisville; Abby Thomas, Lewisville; Kenslie Dotseth, Rock Hill; Paige Love, Rock Hill; Kamryn Culp, South Pointe; Madeline Davis, York; Destini Love, York.

This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 11:10 PM with the headline "2016 All-Area softball: Fort Mill sweep."