All-County softball released

With the help of area coaches and media, The Stokes News has released the 2023-24 All-County Softball team.

West Stokes bounced back from last year’s first losing season since 2014 with a 19-5 finish. The Wildcats were Mid-State 2A Co-Conference champions with McMichael, conference tournament champions and made a third round NCHSAA 2A State Playoff appearance.

North Stokes finished 12-13 and fifth in the Northwest 1A Conference but got hot at the right time and advanced to the third round of the NCHSAA 1A State playoffs losing to eventual state champion, East Wilkes, 4-0.

South Stokes ended the season at 9-17 and a third place finish in the Northwest 1A Conference after making it to the NCHSAA 1A Western Regional Finals the previous two seasons.

The Lady Cats put eight players on this year’s 17 man-roster, the Sauras had five, and the Vikings four.

Olivia Goforth, Alyssa Sparks, Baylee Tilley, Sydney Holder, Ashlynn Cox, Halo Akers, Haley Yates, and Reese Hall from West Stokes, Sydney Patterson, Rebecca Amos, Ryleigh Pinnix, Mackenzie Smith, and Olivia Martin from South Stokes, and Caroline Mabe, Kinley Mabe, Kaydence Woods and Lily White from North Stokes.

West Stokes

Olivia Goforth - Goforth was voted the Mid-State 2A Player of the Year, batted .556 on the season with 32 runs scored, two doubles, five triples, 15 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. The senior was 4-2 from the circle throwing 29.1 innings with 45 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .211 batting average. Goforth will play for Presbyterian College next season.

Alyssa Sparks — Sparks batted .507 on the season with a .534 on base percentage. She played in 23 of the Wildcats 24 games this season hitting 11 doubles, three triples, a homerun with 30 RBIs and nine stolen bases. The Mid-State 2A All-Conference junior was 3-0 from the mound with a 0.00 ERA. Sparks threw eight innings giving up no runs and recording 24 strikeouts. She has verbally committed to Roanoke College.

Baylee Tilley — Tilley batted .483 on the year with a .537 on base percentage. She played in 21 of the Wildcats 24 games this season scoring 17 runs with five doubles, two triples, and three HR. The Mid-State 2A All-Conference sophomore recorded 21 RBIs with five stolen bases and made the All-Tournament team.

Sydney Holder — Holder batted .439 on the season with a .450 on base percentage. The Mid-State 2A All-Conference senior scored five runs, hit seven doubles, and had one homerun with 19 RBIs. The Wildcats’ ace was 11-3 on the year with a 2.18 ERA. Holder pitched 83.1 innings with 57 strikeouts, and opponents’ batting .244 on the season. Holder was the conference tournament MVP and will play at Belmont Abbey College next season.

Ashlynn Cox — Cox batted .434 on the season with a .531 on base percentage. The Mid-State 2A All-Conference junior scored 22 runs, had five doubles, a triple, and hit five homeruns. Cox recorded 22 RBIs and had five stolen bases.

Halo Akers — Akers started slowly but ended up batting .394 on the year with a .534 on base percentage. The freshman catcher played in 21 games, scored seven runs with a double, a triple, and four homeruns. Akers was second on the team with 24 RBIs and swiped three stolen bases. She was selected to the Mid-State 2A All-Tournament team and the Honorable Mention All-Conference team.

Haley Yates — Yates had a solid season for the Wildcats batting second in the lineup with a .364 batting average and a .470 on base percentage. The junior played in 19 games, scored 20 runs, hit four doubles with 15 RBIs, and swiped seven bases. Yates was selected to the Mid-State 2A All-Conference and All-Tournament teams. She has verbally committed to Averett University.

Reese Hall — Hall batted .353 for the Wildcats with a .443 on base percentage. The sophomore middle-infielder scored 12 runs, hit four doubles with 10 RBIs, and had three stolen bases. Hall was selected Mid-State 2A Honorable Mention All-Conference for a second consecutive season.

South Stokes

Sydney Patterson — Patterson batted .368 on the season with a .493 on base percentage. The senior Northwest 1A All-Conference player scored 18 runs, hit eight doubles with 18 RBIs, and seven stolen bases. Patterson will play at Wingate University next season.

Rebecca Amos — Amos batted .337 on the season with a .406 on base percentage. The junior Northwest 1A All-Conference player scored 24 runs, had a double, two triples with 13 RBIs, and had a remarkable 36 stolen bases on the year. Amos has verbally committed to Winthrop University.

Ryleigh Pinnix — Pinnix batted .316 on the season with a .506 on base percentage. The junior scored 21 runs, and seven doubles with four homeruns, and 22 RBIs. The third baseman had 11 stolen bases and was selected Northwest 1A All-Conference Honorable Mention. Pinnix has verbally committed to Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Mackenzie Smith — Smith, the reigning Northwest 1A Conference Player of the Year batted .297 with a .381 on base percentage. The senior catcher scored 23 runs, hit four doubles with three homeruns. Smith recorded 20 RBIs and stole 16 bases on the season. She was selected for the All-Conference and will play at Louisburg College next year.

Olivia Martin — Martin was a surprise for the Sauras this year batting .274 on the season with a .317 on base percentage. The junior scored 14 runs, hit six doubles, a triple, and had 17 RBIs. Martin stole four stolen bases and was selected to the Northwest 1A All-Conference team.

North Stokes

Carolina Mabe — Mabe batted .452 in the leadoff position for the Vikings with a .511 on base percentage. The junior scored 29 runs, hit two triples and two homeruns with 15 RBIs. Mabe swiped 21 stolen bases and was selected to the Northwest 1A All-Conference team.

Kinley Mabe — Mabe batted .450 on the season with a .522 on base percentage. The senior had eight stolen bases, scored 19 runs, hit 10 doubles, a triple, and a homerun with 29 RBIs. The Vikings’ ace pitched 136.1 innings, finishing 12-12 with 152 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.88. Mabe was selected to the Northwest 1A All-Conference team.

Kaydence Woods — Woods batted .368 for the Vikings with a .455 on base percentage. The junior scored 18 runs, hit four doubles with 18 RBIs, and five stolen bases. Woods was selected to the Northwest 1A All-Conference Honorable Mention team.

Lily White — White batted .321 on the season with a .419 on base percentage. The junior scored 13 runs, had nine RBIs, and four stolen bases. White was selected to the Northwest 1A Honorable Mention All-Conference team.