High School Sports

Whitehouse’s Erica Fuller leads the way for area softball players with the Lady Cat being named first team outfielder on the Class 4A all-state team chosen by the Texas Sport Writers Association.

Fuller, Liberty-Eylau’s Lacey Middlebrooks and Pollok Central’s Tiffany Oliver were also area first-team all state selections. Middlebrooks was picked for Class 3A at pitcher with Oliver chosen for 3A at first base.

Earning honors in Class 5A were Longview Lady Lobos Stephanie Pepper and Ashley Washington. Pepper was named second-team all state at third base with Washington chosen third-team at second base.

Along with Fuller in 4A, Hallsville’s Kayla Jackson was second team pitcher with Sulphur Springs’ Katie Dodd chosen as second-team first baseman. Hallsville catcher Brittany Eitel was chosen for the third team with Henderson third baseman Marissa Yarbrough earning honorable mention accolades.

Earning second-team honors in 3A was Bullard pitcher Erin Kipp.

Kipp, also a first-team All-East Texas pitcher, went 23-5 with 0.32 ERA this season.

Spring Hill freshman Shannon Sanders joins Kipp on the second team. Sanders, the All-ET Newcomer of the Year, hit .422 with eight home runs and 55 RBIs.

Named to the third team in Class 3A were Athens’ Holly Eckert (catcher) and Rusk’s Miranda Westbrook (outfield).

Named honorable mention in Class 3A were pitchers Kayla Williams (Spring Hill), Kaylee Davis (Carthage) and Sandy James (Sabine); shortstops Sierra Smith (Rusk) and Ashlee Johnson (Liberty-Eylau); third base Valarie Roberts (Bullard), utility Alex Easley (Sabine) and outfielder Cassie Headley (Sabine).

In Class 2A, Amber Wilburn from Harmony was chosen as second-team pitcher with teammate Samantha Matulis named third-team pitcher, along with Cassidi Henderson of Edgewood. Cristina Fiesel of Winnsboro rounds out the all-state third team.

Chosen honorable mention in Class 3A were Candice Collier (pitcher, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill), Taelor Wheeler (second base, Grand Saline), Lyndsey Bailey (utility, Harmony) and Raney Pierce (outfield, Harmony).

Maud placed two on the all-state second team in Class A with teammates Holly Griffin (second base) and Ashley Foster (outfield) receiving honors.

Martins Mill outfielder Lauren Webster also was chosen as Class A second-team outfielder.