15 athletes earn TSWA All-State honors

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  Sulphur Springs' Reese Ragan (20) takes a lead-off from second base during a game against Paris this past season. Ragan was recently named a Third-Team All-State first baseman by the Texas Sports Writers Association.

  Sulphur Springs' Reese Ragan (20) takes a lead-off from second base during a game against Paris this past season. Ragan was recently named a Third-Team All-State first baseman by the Texas Sports Writers Association.
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  Como-Pickton's Gracie Thompson (42) hits the ball during a game against Alba- Golden this past season. Thompson earned Honorable Mention All-State recognition from the Texas Sports Writers Association for her play at third base this season.

  Como-Pickton's Gracie Thompson (42) hits the ball during a game against Alba- Golden this past season. Thompson earned Honorable Mention All-State recognition from the Texas Sports Writers Association for her play at third base this season.
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  Cumby's Kadee Pettit (21) take a big cut off of a pitch during a game against Cooper this past season. Pettit earned Honorable Mention All-State honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association as an outfielder.

  Cumby's Kadee Pettit (21) take a big cut off of a pitch during a game against Cooper this past season. Pettit earned Honorable Mention All-State honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association as an outfielder.
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  North Hopkins' Daylee Fite (22) delivers a pitch during a game against Wolfe City this past season. Fite was named an Honorable Mention All-State utility player by the Texas Sports Writers Association following an outstanding junior season. Photos by DJ Spencer

  North Hopkins' Daylee Fite (22) delivers a pitch during a game against Wolfe City this past season. Fite was named an Honorable Mention All-State utility player by the Texas Sports Writers Association following an outstanding junior season. Photos by DJ Spencer

Ragan makes Third-Team

LONGVIEW — The Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) recently announced their All-State selections for the 2024 softball season. Hopkins County was well represented, with 15 total athletes earning All-State honors: four from Sulphur Springs, six from Como-Pickton, four from Cumby, and one from North Hopkins.

SULPHUR SPRINGS

The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats, who finished as Regional Semifinalists, had four of their players earn All-State recognition.

Top honors were taken by Reese Ragan, who was named Third-Team All-State first baseman. Ragan, the Lady Wildcats’ cleanup hitter, enjoyed a stellar senior season, finishing the year with a .374 batting average and a .482 onbase percentage. She hit 12 doubles, and was the Lady Wildcats’ home run leader with eight, adding 48 RBIs.

With this, Ragan adds one last honor to her high school softball resume, having also earned District 154A First-Team All-District infield honors.

Three other players also earned Honorable Mention recognition: Bayler Boatman, Nicole Higgins and Hannah Speed.

Boatman earned Honorable Mention honors as a third baseman. The Lady Wildcats’ five-hole batter turned in a solid sophomore season, posting a .466 batting average and a .568 on-base percentage, also hitting 10 doubles, one triple, one home run, and driving in 24 RBIs, earning her first career All-State honor. She was also named District 15-4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

Higgins earned Honorable Mention recognition as a shortstop. As the Lady Wildcats’ two-hole hitter, she batted .482 for the year and had an on-base percentage of .580. She hit nine doubles, one triple and three home runs, adding 21 RBIs.

This marks Higgins’ second All-State selection this summer, having also won All-State honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA). She also adds one final accolade to her high school softball resume. Higgins was also named District 15-4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year, alongside teammate Boatman.

Speed made the Honorable Mention team as a pitcher. Despite missing the first half of the season with an injury, Speed would put up stellar numbers, finishing with a 15-2 record and posting an earned run average of 1.08. She also struck out 132 batters. She was equally valuable at the plate, ending the year with a .402 batting average, .505 on-base percentage, 10 doubles, one triple, five home runs, and 27 RBIs, helping her earn her first All-State selection. She was also named District 15-4A MVP.

COMO-PICKTON

The Como-Pickton Lady Eagles, who ended the season as Regional Quarterfinalists, were well represented in the All-State selections. Six Lady Eagles were named to the Honorable Mention All-State team: Addi Monk, Lexie Rainey, Bella Romero, Saylor Smith, Gracie Thompson and Paisley Watkins.

Monk, the Lady Eagles’ lone senior and District 172A MVP, enjoyed a great season, earning All-State honors as a catcher. She finished her final high school softball campaign with a .515 batting average and a .864 slugging percentage.

She also tallied 55 runs scored, 49 RBIs, 14 doubles, five triples and four home runs, striking out only one time all season. This marks Monk’s second All-State nod this summer, also earning TGCA All-State honors, and she adds one last accomplishment to her high school softball resume.

Lexie Rainey, the District 17-2A Newcomer of the Year, earned All-State honors as a pitcher. She enjoyed a great freshman season, earning 29 wins, finishing with a 1.62 earned run average, and striking out 157 batters.

Rainey also put up great numbers at the plate, finishing with a .356 batting average, .468 on-base percentage, 32 RBIs, eight doubles, four triples and one home run. This marks Rainey’s first career All-State selection.

Romero, the Lady Eagles’ leadoff hitter and District 17-2A Offensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on the All-State team as a shortstop. She turned in an outstanding junior season, batting .438 to go along with a .504 on-base percentage, also tallying 31 stolen bases and 14 doubles.

Romero was also a force defensively with a .918 fielding percentage. This marks Romero’s second All-State selection this summer, having also made the TGCA All-State team.

Smith, the Lady Eagles’ center fielder, enjoyed a stellar sophomore season. She ended the year with a .452 batting average, .529 on-base percentage, 39 RBIs, 35 stolen bases, nine doubles, five triples and four home runs.

This marks Smith’s second All-State selection this year, as she also made the TGCA All-State team. She also earned First-Team All-District honors this season.

Thompson, the Lady Eagles’ third baseman, made the Honorable Mention team. As the Lady Eagles’ two-hole hitter, she finished the season with a .378 batting average, .422 on-base percentage, 24 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, 10 doubles and two triples. This marks Thompson’s second consecutive year making the TSWA All-State team.

Watkins, the Lady Eagles’ left fielder, enjoyed a great sophomore season, recording a .386 batting average, .541 on-base percentage, 54 runs scored, 23 stolen bases, four doubles, three triples and two home runs. This marks Watkins’ first All-State selection of her high school softball career.

CUMBY

The Cumby Lady Trojans had four of their players make the Honorable Menton All-State team: Kinslee Dowdle, Ella Horne, Harly Pence and Kadee Pettit.

Dowdle, the Lady Trojans’ primary catcher, enjoyed a productive sophomore season. She finished with a .603 batting average and a .627 on-base percentage, adding a team-high 25 RBIs, eight doubles, five triples and four home runs. This marks Dowdle’s first time earning All-State recognition.

Horne, the Lady Trojans’ shortstop, performed well during her sophomore campaign, finishing with a .400 batting average, .486 on-base percentage, nine RBIs, five doubles, three triples and one home run. With these results, Horne earned All-State honors for the first time in her career.

Pence, who primarily played third base, would put up good numbers as well. Despite missing the first half of the season with an injury, Pence managed to finish the year with a .524 batting average, .600 on-base percentage, 10 RBIs, four doubles, one triple and one home run. This is Pence’s first time earning All-State recognition.

Pettit, the Lady Trojans’ right fielder, produced a great sophomore season, recording a .396 batting average, .508 on-base percentage, 10 RBIs, three doubles and one triple. With these numbers, Pettit earned her first career All-State nod.

NORTH HOPKINS

The North Hopkins Lady Panthers, who made their first playoff appearance since 2019 this past season, saw their pitcher, Daylee Fite, earn All-State honors. Fite made the Honorable Mention team as a utility player.

Fite enjoyed a stellar junior season, where she was named District 16-2A Pitcher of the Year. In the circle, Fite ended the year with a 13-3 record, finishing with a 4.32 earned run average and 133 strikeouts. She was also valuable as a hitter, finishing with a .478 batting average and recording six doubles, four triples and 15 RBIs.

With these accolades, the 15 players add another accomplishment to their resumes. The returning players will look to keep this momentum rolling into next season.