JUNIOR GIRLS ALL STAR TEAM MEMBERS ARE MIKELA BARLOW, PITCHER, JENA VANN, CENTERFIELD, KARLEE CARTER, SHORT STOP, ASHLEY SIKES, FIRST BASE, CALI WILLIAMS, SECOND BASE, MARIANNE TOMBERLIN, CATCHER, MEGAN SIMMONS, LEFT FIELD, TAYLOR CARTER, RIGHT FIELD, HALIE PEARCE, THIRD BASE, MIKEALA BRAZZELL, LEFT FIELD AND LAUREN KIRKSEY, RIGHT FIELD.COACHES ARE SHONDA CARTER AND TARA CARTER.
Junior Girls Allstar Team claims State Champion title
The Junior Girls Allstar team traveled to Adel on June 6 through June 9 to compete in the GRPA Class C Fastpitch Softball State Championship. Team members were Mikela Barlow, Jena Vann, Karlee Carter, Ashley Sikes, Cali Williams, Marianne Tomberlin, Megan Simmons, Taylor Carter, Halie Pearce, Mikeala Brazzell and Lauren Kirksey. Coaches: Shonda Carter and Tara Carter.
The first game of the tournament started on Wednesday, June 6 with Appling County facing Berrien County. Appling County came out of the gate looking ready to play. With a flawless defense allowing only two hits, Appling would win by run rule 8-0. The leading offensive player was Jena Vann who went 2-3 at the plate followed by Karlee Carter and Cali Williams with one hit each. Ashley Sikes and Marianne Tomberlin added two runs to the board with sacrifice flies deep into the outfield.
On Thursday, June 7 Appling County faced Cook County in Game 2, which would turn out to be a very close game. Both pitchers along with their defenses played well. Appling County struck first in the third inning with a two out single from Mikela Barlow. Jena Vann followed with a single of her own. Karlee Carter came to the plate with a big double scoring both Barlow and Vann. Ashley Sikes took first base on a walk and Cali Williams drilled a double to left field scoring Carter ending the inning with a 3-0 lead. Cook County answered back with two runs in the bottom of the third inning making the score 3-2. In the fourth inning Mikeala Brazzell and Halie Pearce both drew walks bringing Appling County back to the top of their batting order. Mikela Barlow hit a single into centerfield scoring Brazzell. Once again Cook County answered back with a run of their own making the score 4-3 after four innings of play. The rest of the game was all about defense and Appling County won that battle winning 4-3 after time expired in the sixth inning. Leading offensive players of game 2 were Mikela Barlow 3-4, Jena Vann 2-4, Karlee Carter 1-3 and Cali Williams 1-3.
Friday, June 8 Appling County faced Hawkinsville in Game 3. This game would prove to be our most disappointing of the 6 game series. With too many defensive errors and Hawkinsville out playing us offensively we would fold to them 9-6 after six innings placing Appling County in the loser’s bracket. The leading offensive players were Mikela Barlow and Cali Williams with two hits each followed by Jena Vann, Karlee Carter, Ashley Sikes and Marianne Tomberlin with one hit each.
In the second game on Friday Appling County faced a tough Dodge County team in an elimination game. Appling fell behind early as Dodge County was up 1-0 after two innings of play. Appling’s bats finally came to life in the third inning when Halie Pearce drew a walk and Jena Vann reached first on a fielder’s choice. Karlee Carter had a big at bat with a 2 RBI double making the score 2-2 after three innings of playing. In the fourth inning Marianne Tomberlin blasted a line drive to center field for a single and after a pass ball advancing Tomberlin to second, Lauren Kirksey came up with a big hit to right field putting Appling in the lead 3-2. After this there was not stopping Appling as they went on to defeat Dodge County 7-4. The leading offensive players were Mikela Barlow and Karlee Carter with two hits apiece and Jena Vann, Ashley Sikes, Marianne Tomberlin and Lauren Kirksey with one hit each.
Finally on Saturday, June 9 the Appling County Junior Girls made it to the championship game where they would once again face Hawkinsville and have to double dip them to claim the state championship. The coaches Shonda Carter and Tara Carter stated the girls were determined and confident they would do just that stating, “We will not go home again without that first place trophy.” These girls have been playing softball together since they were seven and eight years old and have fell short several times; never winning a state championship. For many of these girls it would be their last chance.
Game 1 against Hawkinsville proved to be a tough one. Appling County struggled offensively with only two hits in the first innings and defensively they made several errors. After five innings, they found themselves down 2-1. Finally, in the sixth inning Hawkinsville’s pitcher began to struggle and walked the first two players to come to the plate. Cali Williams then produced a hard hit single that tied the game 2-2. With two outs and the bases loaded Halie Pearce came through with a hit of her own to left field making the score 5-2. Appling County would then go to the seventh inning and only three outs away from taking game 1. Hawkinsville would not give up easily and were at the top of their batting order. However, after three hits and one run scored their bats proved to be no match for defense of Appling County. Final score: Appling 4 - Hawkinsville 3. Leading offensive players of game 5 with one hit each were Jena Vann, Ashley Sikes, Cali Williams and Halie Pearce.
After a 15 minute break the championship game began with each team at one loss apiece. The tension was high; winner takes first and loser takes second. Appling Co. coaches and girls were confident that this was their year to win. Hawkinsville’s pitchers struggled from the very beginning and were never able to redeem themselves. Appling Co. pitcher Mikela Barlow maintained her composure and was confident with her defense behind her. They too were confident and only allowed three hits in six innings of play. Appling County offense played their best game of the season scoring 13 runs. They were patient at the plate drawing walks and the hits soon followed. After 2-1/2 hours of play (due to lightening delay) time finally expired and Appling defeated Hawkinsville 13-0. Leading offensively for Appling County were Jena Vann, Ashlee Sikes and Cali Williams with two hits each and Mikela Barlow, Karlee Carter, Marianne Tomberlin and Lauren Kirksey with one hit each.
We are so proud of the 2011 Junior Girl Allstars for winning their first state championship. They had a wonderful week playing the game they love and making memories they will cherish for a lifetime. They have truly learned what it means to be a “team.” We would like to say a special thank you to Woody Folsom for providing transportation and the Appling County Recreation Department and Timmy McGuirt for their continued support. To our parents, “We couldn’t have done it without you!” You are our No. 1 fans. And last but not least to our coaches Shonda Carter and Tara Carter, “Thanks for being there and putting up with us. We love you.”
On Thursday, June 7 Appling County faced Cook County in Game 2, which would turn out to be a very close game. Both pitchers along with their defenses played well. Appling County struck first in the third inning with a two out single from Mikela Barlow. Jena Vann followed with a single of her own. Karlee Carter came to the plate with a big double scoring both Barlow and Vann. Ashley Sikes took first base on a walk and Cali Williams drilled a double to left field scoring Carter ending the inning with a 3-0 lead. Cook County answered back with two runs in the bottom of the third inning making the score 3-2. In the fourth inning Mikeala Brazzell and Halie Pearce both drew walks bringing Appling County back to the top of their batting order. Mikela Barlow hit a single into centerfield scoring Brazzell. Once again Cook County answered back with a run of their own making the score 4-3 after four innings of play. The rest of the game was all about defense and Appling County won that battle winning 4-3 after time expired in the sixth inning. Leading offensive players of game 2 were Mikela Barlow 3-4, Jena Vann 2-4, Karlee Carter 1-3 and Cali Williams 1-3.
Friday, June 8 Appling County faced Hawkinsville in Game 3. This game would prove to be our most disappointing of the 6 game series. With too many defensive errors and Hawkinsville out playing us offensively we would fold to them 9-6 after six innings placing Appling County in the loser’s bracket. The leading offensive players were Mikela Barlow and Cali Williams with two hits each followed by Jena Vann, Karlee Carter, Ashley Sikes and Marianne Tomberlin with one hit each.
In the second game on Friday Appling County faced a tough Dodge County team in an elimination game. Appling fell behind early as Dodge County was up 1-0 after two innings of play. Appling’s bats finally came to life in the third inning when Halie Pearce drew a walk and Jena Vann reached first on a fielder’s choice. Karlee Carter had a big at bat with a 2 RBI double making the score 2-2 after three innings of playing. In the fourth inning Marianne Tomberlin blasted a line drive to center field for a single and after a pass ball advancing Tomberlin to second, Lauren Kirksey came up with a big hit to right field putting Appling in the lead 3-2. After this there was not stopping Appling as they went on to defeat Dodge County 7-4. The leading offensive players were Mikela Barlow and Karlee Carter with two hits apiece and Jena Vann, Ashley Sikes, Marianne Tomberlin and Lauren Kirksey with one hit each.
Finally on Saturday, June 9 the Appling County Junior Girls made it to the championship game where they would once again face Hawkinsville and have to double dip them to claim the state championship. The coaches Shonda Carter and Tara Carter stated the girls were determined and confident they would do just that stating, “We will not go home again without that first place trophy.” These girls have been playing softball together since they were seven and eight years old and have fell short several times; never winning a state championship. For many of these girls it would be their last chance.
Game 1 against Hawkinsville proved to be a tough one. Appling County struggled offensively with only two hits in the first innings and defensively they made several errors. After five innings, they found themselves down 2-1. Finally, in the sixth inning Hawkinsville’s pitcher began to struggle and walked the first two players to come to the plate. Cali Williams then produced a hard hit single that tied the game 2-2. With two outs and the bases loaded Halie Pearce came through with a hit of her own to left field making the score 5-2. Appling County would then go to the seventh inning and only three outs away from taking game 1. Hawkinsville would not give up easily and were at the top of their batting order. However, after three hits and one run scored their bats proved to be no match for defense of Appling County. Final score: Appling 4 - Hawkinsville 3. Leading offensive players of game 5 with one hit each were Jena Vann, Ashley Sikes, Cali Williams and Halie Pearce.
After a 15 minute break the championship game began with each team at one loss apiece. The tension was high; winner takes first and loser takes second. Appling Co. coaches and girls were confident that this was their year to win. Hawkinsville’s pitchers struggled from the very beginning and were never able to redeem themselves. Appling Co. pitcher Mikela Barlow maintained her composure and was confident with her defense behind her. They too were confident and only allowed three hits in six innings of play. Appling County offense played their best game of the season scoring 13 runs. They were patient at the plate drawing walks and the hits soon followed. After 2-1/2 hours of play (due to lightening delay) time finally expired and Appling defeated Hawkinsville 13-0. Leading offensively for Appling County were Jena Vann, Ashlee Sikes and Cali Williams with two hits each and Mikela Barlow, Karlee Carter, Marianne Tomberlin and Lauren Kirksey with one hit each.
We are so proud of the 2011 Junior Girl Allstars for winning their first state championship. They had a wonderful week playing the game they love and making memories they will cherish for a lifetime. They have truly learned what it means to be a “team.” We would like to say a special thank you to Woody Folsom for providing transportation and the Appling County Recreation Department and Timmy McGuirt for their continued support. To our parents, “We couldn’t have done it without you!” You are our No. 1 fans. And last but not least to our coaches Shonda Carter and Tara Carter, “Thanks for being there and putting up with us. We love you.”
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