Every season area softball teams seem to take a step forward but this year’s leap was monumental as nearly every team had a legitimate shot at a state championship.
South Creek, a No. 3 seed in the Four Rivers Conference, was able to advance the furthest as the Cougars rocketed through the playoffs and all the way to the state 1-A title game.
At Southside, a sensational senior class led by four-time WDN Pitcher of the Year Savannah Mumford, split the coveted Four Rivers Conference crown with a Northside team that was fueled by young phenoms.
At Washington, the Pam Pack had one of their best runs ever as WDN Position Player of the Year Haley Hutchins highlighted a powerful lineup that combined with stellar pitching and defense to enable the Pack to advance all the way to the fourth round of the playoffs where it fell to eventual state champions D.H. Conley, a team it beat twice during the regular season.
Overall, it was a season for the ages, which makes this year’s WDN All-Area team one of the most talented in its history.

PITCHERS
REBEKAH LANGSTON,
WASHINGTON
Incredibly consistent, Washington senior Rebekah Langston has been a rock for the Pam Pack as she finished the year going 16-4 to guide Washington into the fourth round of the playoffs. The hard-throwing lefty struck out 163 batters in 127 innings en route to making her second straight WDN first-team appearance.

TAYLOR MOORE,
SOUTH CREEK
Equipped with a great fastball and stellar secondary pitches, South Creek’s Taylor Moore had a dream senior season as she went 11-2 with 111 strike outs and a miniscule .64 ERA and was at times downright unhittable. Together, Moore combined with junior ace Lauren Sitterson to form the best 1-2 punch around and help the Cougars reach the NCHSAA 1-A state title game.

KELSEY LANG, NORTHSIDE
A real crafty pitcher, Northside’s Kelsey Lang had a stellar sophomore season as she helped the Panthers capture a share of the conference crown by going 12-5 with a 1.43 ERA.

CATCHER,
KIM MOBLEY, SOUTH CREEK
A coach’s dream, South Creek senior catcher Kim Mobley not only shut down opposing team’s running game but also severally hampered their bunting attack with her heads up play and rocket arm. Mobley was also the driving force in the Cougars’ lineup as she hit .368 with five home runs and 28 RBIs and was one of the most clutch hitters in the area.

FIRST BASE
JUSTYCE McKISSICK,
WASHINGTON
Great with the glove and the bat, Washington senior Justyce McKissick wrapped up her stellar Pam Pack career by batting .425 with a team-high 32 RBIs and three home runs en route to being named the 3-A District Player of the Year. McKissick’s bat and team leadership will be sorely missed next season.

SECOND BASE
TAYONYA STANLEY, NORTHSIDE
A versatile hitter, Northside sophomore Tayonya Stanley’s speed made her a force in the short game, while her .365 batting average made her fearsome as a traditional batter. Stanley’s fleet field also allowed her to cover a lot of ground at her second base position.

SHORTSTOP
MACY PARAMORE, SOUTHSIDE
Part of Southside’s excellent senior class, Macy Paramore could hit for doubles as well as she could lay down a bunt and finished the year batting .402 for a Seahawks team that clinched share of the Four Rivers Conference title and made a lengthy playoff run.

THIRD BASE
Haley wright
A budding star, Washington sophomore Haley Wright looked more like David Wright at third base as she hit .446 with five doubles, one home run and 21 RBIs for the Pam Pack this season. Wright was just as steady in the field as she gloved everything that came her way.

OUTFIELD
DASIA MOORE, RIVERSIDE
One of the most feared players in the area, Riverside senior Dasia Moore ended her fantastic high school career hitting .318 with one home run despite missing the early portion of the season due to the basketball team’s lengthy postseason run. Moore was one of the most complete players around as she  hit for power, but also had the speed to leg out triples or drop down a bunt.

MADISON BRANDON, RIVERSIDE
A phenomenal athlete, Riverside’s senior Madison Brandon hit a team-high .417 for the Knights and was an extremely versatile in the batter’s box. On the field, Brandon also displayed good range and soft hands.

TORI PELT,
SOUTH CREEK
A sure-handed outfielder with a quick bat, freshman Tori Pelt had a stellar rookie season with the Cougars as she hit .342 with three triples and two home runs for South Creek.

DESIGNATED HITTER
SAVANNAH MUMFORD, SOUTHSIDE
A staple at the top of the lineup for the past four years, Savannah Mumford was an ideal leadoff hitter as she compiled a .702 on-base percentage thanks to a team-high .468 batting average. Mumford also had plenty of pop in her bat as evident by her two home runs and four triples, while her speed made her a threat to steal in any situation.

SECOND TEAM
PITCHERS
LAUREN SITTERSON, SOUTH CREEK
LAWSON PERRY, RIVERSIDE
MEGAN KELLY, PLYMOUTH

CATCHER
KENDALL ALLIGOOD, NORTHSIDE

FIRST BASE
TIA HARDY, SOUTHSIDE

SECOND BASE
KAYLEE JACKSON, WASHINGTON

SHORTSTOP
ADRIANA TYSON, WASHINGTON

THIRD BASE
CAROLINE SLADE, NORTHSIDE

OUTFIELD
MORGAN HARDING, SOUTHSIDE
ALEXIS CRAFT, SOUTH CREEK
JORDAN WOOLARD, NORTHSIDE

DESIGNATED HITTER
KELSEY LANG, NORTHSIDE

HONORABLE MENTION
NORTHSIDE
Britney Alligood
Mackensi Swain
Cheyenne Franks
Alexandria Cutler
Alex Adams

PLYMOUTH
Lauren Rogerson
Desire Davis
McKenzie Mizzell
Michelle Gurganus

RIVERSIDE
Marieva Daniels
Kasey Hall
Rachel Baker
D’Aysa Wilson
Leah Burch
Kailey Baker

SOUTH CREEK
Reina Mondragon
Caroline James
Brittany Webb
Victoria VanNortwick

SOUTHSIDE
Valarie Hodges
Marlin Edwards
Danielle Clark
Samantha Lore

WASHINGTON
Allison Brantley
Kat Staton
Catie Dority
Anna Hardison
Faith Benson
Camri Dawson