Siegel's Caitlyn McCrary tops DNJ's All-Area softball team for 2019
Cecil Joyce
Some of the best hitters in the state hailed from Rutherford County during the 2019 softball season.
Siegel senior and Tennessee signee Caitlyn McCrary was near or at the top of that list.
McCrary finished her Lady Stars career with a bang this season, being named The Daily News Journal's All-Area Softball Player of the Year.
She also collected The Tennessean All-Sports Player of the Year as well as the DNJ's Female Athlete of the Year.
The third baseman batted .521 with 15 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, 76 RBIs, 60 runs and 14 stolen bases in 2019. Her OPS was 1.588.
The four-year starter finished her career with two Class AAA state runner-up trophies, helping Siegel to a 43-9 mark and state runner-up finish in 2019.
The all-area softball team includes:
First team
Rachel Tarpley
Blackman, Sr.
Position: Catcher
Why chosen: The Florida Atlantic signee batted .398 with nine doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 44 RBIs.
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Kalei Harding
Blackman, Jr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: The Florida State commitment batted .397 with 12 doubles, a triple, 13 homers, 42 homers and 49 runs.
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Caitlyn McCrary
Siegel, Sr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: The all-area player of the year and Tennessee signee batted .521 with 15 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, 76 RBIs, 60 runs and 14 stolen bases.
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Elaina McGill
Blackman, Sr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: The Christian Brothers signee batted .410 with 14 doubles, a triple, two homers, 33 RBIs and 41 runs.
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Vanessa Westfall
Siegel, Sr.
Position: Infielder
Why chosen: The Vol State signee batted .456 with 12 doubles, five triples, a homer, 30 RBIs, 62 runs and nine stolen bases.
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Kendall Andrews
Blackman, Sr.
Position: Outfielder
Why chosen: The Chattanooga signee and 7-AAA co-offensive player of the year batted .508 with 13 doubles, three triples, 16 homers, 48 RBIs, 52 runs and 11 stolen bases.
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Ashlee Jacoway
Oakland, Jr.
Position: Outfielder
Why chosen: The all-district performer batted .446 with 14 doubles, three homers, 31 RBIs and 19 runs.
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Presley Leebrick
Siegel, Sr.
Position: Outfielder
Why chosen: The Lipscomb signee and 7-AAA co-offensive player of the year was one of the state’s top hitters, batting .624 with 22 doubles, two triples, three homers, 39 RBIs, 65 runs and 10 stolen bases.
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Kaylee Hewitt
Riverdale, Sr.
Position: Utility
Why chosen: The Virginia Tech signee battled injuries to post an 8-5 record, 1.30 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 91⅔ innings while batting .400 with nine homers and 23 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
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Sophie Golliver
Siegel, Jr.
Position: Pitcher
Why chosen: The 7-AAA co-pitcher of the year went 34-6 with a 1.20 ERA and 250 strikeouts in 256⅔ innings.
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Caitlyn Manus
Blackman, Sr.
Position: Pitcher
Why chosen: The 7-AAA co-pitcher of the year went 31-6 with a 2.79 ERA and 236 strikeouts in 216 innings.
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Second team
Catcher: Hannah Milhorn, Siegel, Sr.
Infielder: Abby Frazier, Central Magnet, Sr.
Infielder: Katie Goar, Smyrna, Jr.
Infielder: Sarah Margaret Lowe, Riverdale, Sr.
Infielder: Claudia Thompson, MTCS, So.
Outfielder: Alyssia Drayton, Smyrna, Jr.
Outfielder: Shelby Sargent, Oakland, Jr.
Outfielder: Sydney Williams, Riverdale, Jr.
Utility: Mackenzie Keatts, Stewarts Creek, Jr.
Pitcher: Kaitlin Higgins, Smyrna, Jr.
Pitcher: Christyne Ward, Oakland, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Shawn Middleton, Siegel
Why chosen: Led the Lady Stars to their second Class AAA state runner-up finish in four years, going 43-9.