It was a season for the record books for softball in Beaufort County. Historic win streaks, top-notch competition, masterful no-hitters and 27-run contests were just some of the dozens of highlights for Northside, Washington, Southside, Terra Ceia and Pungo.

After finishing with two losses, including a heartbreaking third-round exit last season, the Panthers picked up right where they left off with a historic 24-game win streak, carried by the second most productive offense in the class and a sisterly pitching rotation. Northside’s title run came to an end at the hands of North Duplin, as state championship aspirations were dashed once again. But the 2015 Panthers will join the 1999 and 2001 teams as one of the best to ever sport the black and white.

Washington had one of the more daunting tasks of any county team, competing in a 2-A Eastern Plains Conference that sent five of its six teams to the state tournament. With a 7-3-conference record, Washington finished tied for second, as senior hurler Haley Hutchins dazzled in the pitcher’s circle.

Led by freshman sensation Symone Ruffin, a young Southside won three of its first four contests and looked like a team that could potentially turn some heads in 2015. However, after a tumultuous mid-season, the Seahawks closed on a five-game losing streak, finishing fifth in the Coastal Plains Conference.

With some of the best 1-A and 2-A softball played here in Beaufort County, it was certainly a season to remember. Here are the Washington Daily News First and Second All-County Softball Teams for 2015.

 

FIRST TEAM

KELSEY LANG, P/1B, SR., NORTHSIDE

The County Softball Player of the Year was a threat on the rubber and in the batter’s box for the conference champion Northside Panthers. Suiting up for 23 of the team’s 26 games, Lang led the team with a .492 average, while also recording 30 hits, 20 RBIs, 10 runs and 14 walks. She struck out just four times all season and smashed six doubles. On the rubber, Lang was equally as impressive, recording a 13-1 record, 0.83 ERA and 91 strikeouts. Head coach Riley Youmans called her the team’s leader on and off the field.

 

HALEY HUTCHINS, P, SR., WASHINGTON

With a power arm and a power bat, Washington’s Haley Hutchins failed to improve upon what was a chart-topping season in 2014, but still managed to post one of the better final stat lines in the county. The Pam Pack senior hurler pitched 127 innings, recording a 1.38 ERA and 175 strikeouts. Despite her walk total being higher than average, Hutchins developed an arsenal of eight pitches and had improved command over her off-speed options. At the plate, Hutchins finished with a .423 average, 18 RBIs, 22 hits, seven doubles, 27 runs and a team-high five homers.

 

KENDALL ALLIGOOD, C, JR., NORTHSIDE

A County Player of the Year in 2014, Junior Kendall Alligood has proven time and time again why she’s one of the top assets to Northside’s success. As a catcher, she cut down runners attempting to steal second, picked off players taking aggressive leads at first and third and conducted two of the best pitchers in the county — Kelsey and Rachel Lang. Alligood recorded a .452 average and despite being a catcher (a position commonly prone to injury), finished second on the team in plate appearances with 87. She also notched 23 runs, 30 RBIs, nine doubles and a team-high 33 hits and six homers.

 

HALEY WRIGHT, 3B, SR., WASHINGTON

It was truly a breakout senior season for Haley Wright, who led the Pam Pack with a .448 average. Wright was one of the more consistent fielders in the county and forced other teams to question chop singles and bunt attempts up the baseline. Her .641 slugging percentage was second on the team, while she also recorded 19 RBIs, 30 hits, 23 runs, five doubles and two homers.

 

TAONYA STANLEY, CF, SR., NORTHSIDE

A quiet producer for the Panthers, Taonya Stanley was one of the key contributors during the team’s playoff run, a run where hits came at a premium. Her final postseason for Northside was highlighted by a 3-for-4 performance against Whiteville in Round 4. Stanley finished with a .435 average, 27 hits, 27 RBI, 20 runs and seven doubles, while playing a conservative but relatively clean centerfield.

 

CAROLINE FLETCHER, P, SO., PUNGO

Carolina fletcher proved to be one of the more unhittable pitchers in the Tarheel Independent Conference this season and was Pungo’s leader at the dish. The power-hitting sophomore smashed two homers, recorded a .497 average and a .628 on-base percentage, while collecting a team-high 28 RBIs. In the pitcher’s circle, Fletcher finished with a 5-2 record, a 3.62 ERA and 39 strikeouts, giving up 17 walks.

 

RACHEL LANG, P/1B, SO., NORTHSIDE

Following in her sister’s footsteps, Rachel Lang is quickly becoming one of the top players in the county at the plate and on the rubber. Lang, pitching in a two-player rotation with Kelsey, recorded the lowest ERA in the county and third lowest in the class at 0.63. She also notched a team-high 104 strikeouts and walked 11 in 55.2 innings of work. At the dish, Lang batted .388 with 26 hits, 11 runs, 13 RBIs and seven doubles.

 

CHRISSY MCKISSICK, SS, JR., WASHINGTON

Along with Wright, junior Chrissy McKissick also enjoyed a breakout season for the Pam Pack, leading the team in RBIs with 22. Her most memorable game came on April 4 against Tarboro, where she picked up four hits and seven RBIs in a crushing 16-0 victory. In her first season at shortstop, McKissick limited errors and covered a lot of ground up the middle. She finished with 22 hits, 20 runs, six stolen bases and a .452 on-base percentage.

 

MACKENSI SWAIN, JR., 3B, NORTHSIDE

Mackensi Swain was Northside’s leader in RBIs this season with 33. An average that once hovered around .500 was dropped to .410 after a tough postseason, but Swain continued to be a leader in the dugout. On top of her elite RBI count, the junior third baseman finished with 32 hits, 29 runs, four homers and a team-high 14 doubles. Next season, she should once again be one of head coach Riley Youmans’ go-to producers.

 

CATIE DORITY, 1B, SR., WASHINGTON

Senior Catie Dority is everything you want in a leadoff hitter — fast, consistent, able to put the bat on the ball and work her way on base. Dority’s .435 average and 27 hits were the second highest on the team. She also finished the season with 21 runs and five RBI, playing in 20 games for the Pam Pack.

 

JESSIE GURGANUS, SR., PUNGO

One of the most valuable members of the Raiders team, Gurganus finished her senior season with a county-best .528 average, recording 18 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .610. Her fielder percentage of .950 was also one of the best on the team, improving drastically from last season.

 

ALLISON BRANTLEY, C, SR., WASHINGTON

Like Northside’ Alligood, Allison Brantley was a durable option behind the plate for the Pam Pack and a middle-of-the-lineup threat with the bat. Brantley finished with a .411 average, 23 hits, 12 runs, three doubles and 21 RBIs, second-most on the team.

 

SECOND TEAM

REBECCA HARRISON, CF, JR., TERRA CEIA

ALEX ADAMS, SS, SR., NORTHSIDE

KATLYNN STOTESBERRY, P, FR., TERRA CEIA

MARIAH STANLEY, 2B, JR., NORTHSIDE

HALEY NOLES, C, JR., TERRA CEIA

JADA LODGE, LF, SO., WASHINGTON

SYMONE RUFFIN, SS, FR., SOUTHSIDE

RYLIE NEWMAN, SS, FR., TERRA CEIA

HANNAH PARAMORE, 2B, FR., SOUTHSIDE

TIFFANY OLIVER, LF, SO., NORTHSIDE

MACY MORGAN, SO., PUNGO

MELODY ALLEN, 3B, SR., TERRA CEIA

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

WHITNEY CROMWELL, RF, FR., NORTHSIDE

MEGHAN MOORE, RF, SO., WASHINGTON

DANIELLE RUFFIN, C, FR., SOUTHSIDE

QUORTASIA CLARK, INF, JR., NORTHSIDE

TAYLOR MANN, SO., PUNGO

HANNAH MCDONALD, SR., 1B, TERRA CEIA

TAYLOR NEWMAN, 2B, SR., TERRA CEIA