The Alexander City Outlook

2010 All-Outlook Softball Team

It’s often said that softball and baseball are games of failure. For Reba Hawkins, one of the leaders of the Class 3A state runner-up Dadeville softball team, that adage doesn’t apply.

Hawkins got a hit in more than half of her plate appearances. She had more runs scored (63) than games played (51). She got on base in every game but three and reached safely at least twice 32 times.

The rising senior also stole 32 bases and played great defense in center field.

For her work at the plate, on the basepaths and in the outfield, Hawkins is the 2010 Outlook Softball Player of the Year.

Hawkins was the lead-off hitter for Kasey Smith’s Lady Tigers and often, she gave Dadeville an early advantage. She could easily slap her way on base, but she was just as likely to sneak a base hit into the outfield.

“She was on her own when she got to the plate,” Smith said. “I would give her some tips when I could, but she had her own options when she hit. She could put it in the hole on either side, or she could slap. All she had to do was hit a grounder to short, and she was on. She made us dangerous at the top.”

Hawkins smacked 87 hits altogether and hit a robust .505 on the season. Like her average, her .610 on-base percentage was higher than any other player’s in the area.

She finished the year with 23 RBIs, 11 doubles and five triples. Smith said the team’s No. 2 hitter in the order, Iranecia Moss, aided Hawkins in touching home more than once per game on average.

“Reba did the job to get on base, and a lot of the time Ira gave herself up with a sacrifice to move her over,” Smith said. “A bunt would sometimes get Reba from first to third, and if the defense ever threw it away, she scored. Those two set the table all year for Andrea (White), Shae (Heard) and the rest of the girls in the middle of the line-up.”

Smith said Hawkins’ defensive range was a luxury to pitchers Rae Williams and Jodie Caldwell.

“(Reba) was awesome in center,” Smith said. “Whoever was pitching could just take a sigh of relief when the other team hit one to center because Reba was going to track it down.”

Benjamin Russell head coach Pam Robinson was also impressed with Hawkins.

“She is a heck of a ball player,” Robinson said. “She was one of the better ones I saw. Any coach would be super excited to have as much talent coming back as (Dadeville does).”

Hawkins drew nine walks and struck out just 15 times in 172 at-bats.

All-Outlook Team:

OUTFIELDERS

Reba Hawkins, OF, DHS

She was the at the top of the average, runs scored and on-base categories in all the area.

Tori Lashley, OF, BRHS

Lashley finished her career with the Lady Wildcats strong by hitting .338 out of the clean-up spot. Of her 47 hits, 23 went for extra bases, including two homers.

She had 19 doubles and drove in 34 runs. She was in the top three on the team in average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Haylee Spivey, OF, Coosa

Spivey had a stellar junior season, as her .402 average made her one of only three hitters in the area to top the .400 mark. She had 25 RBIs.

“She had the soundest softball swing on the team and a great eye for the ball,” CHS coach C.A. Doyle said. “She is very patient and always swings at good pitches.”

Honorable Mentions: Shae Whetstone (BRHS), Jessica Harden (HBHS), Iranecia Moss (DHS)

INFIELDERS

Lysa Haynie, 1B BRHS: Haynie was a fixture at the top of the BRHS order with a .408 batting average. She led the team in triples (4), runs (47) and was second with 17 stolen bases.

The rising senior will be a South All-Star this summer. She had 16 doubles and 16 RBIs.

Tatum Gandy, 2B, BRHS: Gandy had a great freshman season for Pam Robinson, batting .368 and leading the team in runs batted in with 40.

Carlie Vickers, SS, HBHS: Vickers had great range at short and won a couple of defensive awards for the Lady Generals. She was also a reliable hitter at the plate and had a couple of nice hitting performances at the state tournament.

Railyn Woodfin, 3B, Coosa

Woodfin had four of her team’s 10 homers on the season and led the Lady Cougars in slugging at .577. She batted .340 with 22 RBIs.

Ranley Clayton, Utility, HBHS

Clayton played a couple of spots in the infield for the Lady Generals and was a power hitter at the plate. She hit .306 with six home runs.

She led the team in homers, runs scored and on-base percentage. Just a freshman last season, she showed she is ready to break out with a home run in Montgomery.

Andrea White, C, DHS

A .372 average helped White to her second straight All-Outlook team. She had 28 RBIs and 12 doubles and was great at blocking wild pitches behind the plate, as she showed at state.

Honorable Mentions: Marlee Milner (HBHS), Shae Heard (DHS), Torri Roberson (CHS), Kristen Buckhannon (CHS), Y’Keona Kelley (BRHS), Kim Greer (DHS), Kaylee Jones (HBHS)

PITCHERS

Clair Thomas, BRHS

Thomas worked 181 1/3 innings and posted a 1.58 ERA against tough 6A competition. She struck out 165 and issued just 26 walks. Her senior year record was 19-9.

Rae Williams, DHS

Williams was easily one of the best pitchers in Class 3A. She had a 1.41 ERA in 165 innings and allowed only 118 hits.

Katie Smith, Coosa

Smith ended her career at Coosa with another strong season as the ace pitcher. In the past two seasons, she had an ERA under 3.00 in 300 2/3 innings. She will pitch in North Carolina in college next year.

Honorable Mentions: Ashley Jones (BRHS), Nikki Thompson (HBHS), Jodie Caldwell (DHS)