Eight players off Madison County High School’s 27-4 region championship softball team have earned all-region honors, led by Erin Gibson who was selected as 8-AAAA Pitcher of the Year, and Katie Bolin, who was named Co-Player of the Year.
“Oh, yeah, that was great, and to have Erin Gibson and Katie Bolin as pitcher and player of the year … ,” MCHS coach Doug Kesler said. “All of them were deserving of those honors.”
Gibson (18-3, 1.31 ERA) set a school record for victories this season, while Bolin hit .326 with a team-high 31 RBI and .511 slugging percentage. Bolin tied Heritage’s Callie Alford in Player of the Year voting.
Including Gibson and Bolin, Madison County earned five first-team all-region selections. The others were second baseman Olivia Duncan (.348 avg., 23 RBI), center fielder Samantha LaZear (.388 avg., 11 stolen bases) and left fielder Haley Peeples (.383, 15 RBI, 18 stolen bases).
Earning second-team accolades were shortstop Abby Atkinson (10 RBI, .895 fielding percentage, 24 putouts, 35 assists), right fielder Ariel Bates (.369 avg.) and third baseman Brandi Osborne (.329, 18 RBI).
Madison County’s eight selections led the region, followed by Loganville (six), Apalachee (four), Habersham Central (four), Heritage (four), Rockdale County (two), Salem (one) and Winder-Barrow (one).
Winning a region championship usually helps bolster a team’s representation on all-region teams, Kesler said.
“Definitely,” he said. “People look at you a little harder.”
