2019 All-County softball team

Co-MVPs- Mari Robbins, Sweetwater and Olivia Underwood, Sequoyah

It’s near impossible to distinguish the impacts these two players had on their respective teams. Robbins was a wizard at the plate and used her speed to navigate the base paths for Sweetwater, while Underwood’s power-hitting and leadership at catcher were vital for Sequoyah this season.

Robbins finished with a .616 batting average, 11 home runs and 41 RBIs, while Underwood notched a .653 average, eight homers and 44 RBIs. If these two represent the future of Monroe County softball, then watch out.

Rookie of the Year- Kadence Brewer, Sequoyah

Kadence Brewer joined a Sequoyah softball team this season that already had veterans, but carved a niche for herself in the circle and at the plate. She had a .330 batting average and played shortstop for the Lady Chiefs, but also pitched 73 innings, finishing with a 3.95 ERA, five wins to two losses and 59 strikeouts. She stood out by serving in so many roles for the Lady Chiefs despite her youth.

Heart Award- Abby Currier, Sweetwater

A senior that started at right field for the Lady Wildcats, Abby Currier’s impact went well beyond that. Head coach Sarah Davies lauded Currier’s work ethic and how she dealt with adversity. Plus, the love and dedication she had for her teammates and program was evident the entire season, especially following the final game of the year.

Maycee Bovard, Sequoyah

See a home run blasted over the fence? It was likely hit by Maycee Bovard. She led a power-hitting Lady Chiefs team with 12 homers, totaling 41 RBIs and a .531 batting average. Her powerful bat also notched 15 doubles and her defense was solid, as she contributed well for Sequoyah at second base.

Kinsey Phenix, Sequoyah

A starting first baseman for Sequoyah, Kinsey Phenix took up the pressure-filled challenge of the position and performed well in 2019. And that wasn’t all. Offensively, she totaled four homers, 28 RBIs and a .487 batting average, helping pace Sequoyah’s staunch offensive attack.

Abbey Borden, Sequoyah

Also a key cog in the Lady Chiefs’ high-powered offense, Borden was a threat any time she took the plate. She recorded a .504 batting average while also finishing with seven home runs, 46 RBIs and 15 doubles, one of the Lady Chiefs’ best offensive performers. Borden also served Sequoyah defensively as an outfielder in 2019.

Kendra Watson, Tellico Plains

Watson provided a veteran’s experience for Tellico Plains in the circle this season, serving as the Lady Bears’ main pitcher during their journey to sectionals. She pitched 112.67 total innings, recording 114 strikeouts and a 3.85 ERA. She also batted across 15 runs at the plate.

Ireland Whitmire, Tellico Plains

Whitmire was Tellico’s driving force at the plate, finishing 2019 with a team-high 32 RBIs and team-second 38 hits and 27 runs, and hit two homers. Her offensive prowess was paramount for the Lady Bears this season. That production will be missed by Tellico next year when they lose Whitmire to graduation.

Kelsie Jones, Tellico Plains

Another key senior for the Lady Bears, Kelsie Jones was just three RBIs shy of Whitmire with 29 RBIs. She also had 29 hits and two home runs. Jones is another offensive threat that Tellico will be sad to see leave the lineup due to graduation, as her chemistry at the plate also had a huge impact for the Lady Bears on their way to sectionals.

Addie Lowe, Sweetwater

There is perhaps no one better in Monroe County at scoring runners from the plate than Addie Lowe. Despite dealing with injury this season, she still led Sweetwater with a whopping 51 RBIs and was third on the roster with a .496 batting average. She also was one of Sweetwater’s two main starting pitchers, totaling 31.1 innings and striking out 35 batters.

Ally Starnes, Sweetwater

Despite just playing her first year of high school softball, Ally Starnes was lights-out for the Lady Wildcats this year. She finished with a .508 batting average, good for second on the team, and recorded 37 RBIs and seven home runs. Among her accolades, she was named District 5-AA Newcomer of the Year this season.

Emily Barnes, Sweetwater

Emily Barnes arguably contributed on the field in more ways to Sweetwater this season than anyone else. She gave her all for the Lady Wildcats, doing a lot of the dirty work and holding Sweetwater down in the circle through roster injuries, pitching a total of 145.1 innings and recording 131 strikeouts. She also served the Lady Wildcats well at the plate, batting across 31 runners and finishing with a .352 average.