Local players and coaches receive All-Star honors
Four local softball seniors and two softball coaches will represent Lincoln County in the 31st Annual MAC All-Star girls’ slowpitch softball games.
Christian Black and Zariah Matthews of Bogue Chitto and Hanna Moak of West Lincoln were selected to the South 1A/2A/3A All-Star team. Head coach Scott Leggett and assistant coach/wife Denise Leggett of Bogue Chitto will coach the 1A/2A/3A South All-Stars squad.
Brookhaven senior Katherine Shell was selected to play on the South 4A/5A/6A All-Star team.
All games will be played Oct. 31 on Mack Fanning Field at Newton County High School in Decatur.
Class 1A/2A/3A and Class 4A/5A/6A will play two games on the evening. Game One for Class 1A/2A/3A will start at 1 p.m. Immediately following the first game, the Class 4A/5A/6A game will begin.
There will be a full squad introduction of all slowpitch All-Star players for all classes. After the ceremony, more games will take place.
“It’s a great honor to have the opportunity to coach in the 2015 MAC slowpitch All-Star game,” said Leggett. “We are very excited to have the chance to coach a great group of girls from the south. There are some fantastic ball players on our team and the North team as well. It will be a fun day.”
Zariah Matthews, Bogue Chitto’s senior left-center outfielder, batted .457 for the Lady Cats and had 22 RBIs. Matthews finished with a .502 on-base percentage.
Christian Black, Bogue Chitto’s senior right-center fielder, batted .638 this season for the Lady Cats and had 58 RBIs. Black had an on-base percentage of .675.
“We are very proud of both Christian and Zariah for making the All-Star selection,” said Leggett. “They have played a huge part in the success of our softball team at Bogue Chitto for the last four years. It is an honor to have one more chance to coach them in slowpitch action.”
Hanna Moak, West Lincoln’s senior outfielder, batted .538 this season for the Lady Bears with 30 RBIs, 14 doubles, three triples and four home runs.
“Hanna has been an outstanding hitter for us throughout her high school years,” said West Lincoln coach Andrew Redd. “I am very proud of her for being selected for the MAC All-Star Slowpitch games.”
Katherine Shell, Brookhaven High’s senior first baseman, powered the Lady Panthers this season with a .632 batting average. Shell had 14 home runs, 27 singles and seven doubles. She was walked 16 times and crossed the plate 49 times this year.
“Kat moved to first base for us this year and did a great job making some big plays for us,” said BHS coach Mandy Vinson. “She is a very coachable kid and is a leader for us on and off the field. She has power at the plate and is able to change the momentum of a game with one swing. We are proud of her for being selected to play in the All-Star game. We look forward to her representing the Brookhaven softball program next weekend in Newton County.”