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Sweatt a maestro of the mound

8A champions Oakleaf fill first team roster

By Randy Lefko
Posted 6/29/17

OAKLEAF - All softball fans have to remember is 44-1 and that’s not a score. That’s the runs scored versus runs scored against for the Oakleaf High region to state championship playoff run this …

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Sweatt a maestro of the mound

8A champions Oakleaf fill first team roster


Posted

OAKLEAF - All softball fans have to remember is 44-1 and that’s not a score. That’s the runs scored versus runs scored against for the Oakleaf High region to state championship playoff run this season.

From April 4 to the final inning of the season, Oakleaf High pitcher Kelsey Sweatt was a maestro on the mound as she orchestrated 57 consecutive innings of scoreless softball until the state title game where Wellington scored a solo run.

For her amazing run, Sweatt is named as the Clay Today All County softball player of the year for a second straight year. One thing added to

Sweatt’s arsenal this year; a changeup.

“I trusted my defense more,” said Sweatt, who gave up just seven earned runs in regular season play plus the playoff run to score at 0.48 earned runs average and an 11-2 overall record with 109 strikeouts. “I didn’t have as many strikeouts, but the ERA was lower.”

Sweatt added to her resume with a sterling performance in the prestigious Kissimmee Klassic invitational softball tournament near mid-season that earned Oakleaf a first-ever Klassic title and a Most Valuable Player trophy for Sweatt.

Behind Sweatt was an array of defenders; both infield and outfield, that formed one of the stingiest run-prevention systems in Florida.

Around the horn, on defense and on the Clay Today All County First Team were Oakleaf High teammates Baylee Goddard at third base, Mika Garcia at shortstop and Alex Acevedo at second base. Goddard, committed to NCAA runnerup University of Florida, is only a sophomore while Garcia and Acevedo graduated and will bring their games to West Florida and FAU in the fall.

At bat, the trio formed the nucleus of the Lady Knights offensive arsenal with all three over .350 batting average, Garcia with two homers, Acevedo with 33 runs batted in and Goddard scoring 28 runs.

“Alex was our clutch player and was incredibly smart on the bases,” said Oakleaf High coach Christina Thompson. “Garcia is easily the best shortstop in Clay County, if not northeast Florida. She makes ESPN plays look easy. Baylee led the county in homers last year, but did not have as many this year though she his .365 with 28 runs. While some kids from other teams may be batting over .500 and mine are .350, my argument is look at the compeition (we) are facing.”

The two non-Knights on the first team infield include Clay pitcher Morgan Crutcher and Clay High’s Sydney Lewis at first base who was an area leader in runs batted in with 43 and also scored the most run-producing bunts for Blue Devil coach Matt Lewis.

“Sydney is a gamer who grinds everyday and works harder than anyone and was our go-to player anytime,” said Lewis. “She led our very young and inexperienced team and made a ton of great plays for us. Morgan was stellar with more seven inning games than any pitcher in the area with 135 strikeouts and a 15-4 record.”

Behind home plate, Oakleaf High senior Haley Willis was a key part of the success of Sweatt with her targeting and pitch selection with two home plate blocks critical in the state final game against Wellington.

“She is the best framing high school catcher I have ever seen,” said Thompson, who noted Willis is heading to Pensacola State College. “Willis was also second in batting average at .438.”

In the outfield, speed was the name of the game in centerfield with ultra-fast Tracey Ferguson manning the big field and teammate Rebecca Koskey holding down right field.

“Tracey hit the game-winner in Kissimmee and combines a cannon arm, great speed and great range,” said Thompson. “Rebecca has been solid since her freshman year with five homers this year and was a solid number three in our batting lineup with our best batting average.”

In left field, Keystone Heights also had a speedster in junior Ashleigh Jennings who combined stellar tracking skills with a .475 batting average with 30 stolen bases making her a legit weapon with just three fielding errors on her slate.

Player of the year: Kelsey Sweatt

Clay Today All County Softball

First Team

Pitcher Morgan Crutcher Freshman

Catcher Haley Willis OHS Senior

First Base Sydney Lewis CHS Junior

Second base Alex Acevedo OHS Senior

Shortstop Mika Garcia OHS Senior

Third base Baylee Goddard OHS Sophomore

OF Ashleigh Jennings KHHS Junior

OF Tracy Ferguson OHS Senior

OF Rebecca Koskey OHS Junior

Second Team

Pitcher Megan Moncrief KHHS Junior (97 K, 16-7 record, 1.69 ERA, led Indians to district title)

Catcher Bailey Story KHHS Junior (.426 batting aveage, 43 hits 17RBIs, Jacksonville U. commit)

First Base Angela Agurkis OHS Junior (5 Homers, transfer from Bishop Snyder)

Second Base Allison Byrd CHS Senior (Moved from first base, very dangerous baserunner)

Shortstop Mady Lanoux FIHS Senior (.404 BA, five double plays)

Third Base Hailey Stone CHS Junior (.366BA)

OF Chloe Chambers RHS Freshman (.368BA, 27 Runs, 29RBIs, 1HR)

OF Destiny Pacetti OHS Junior (split with Kistler in left field, .364 BA)

OF Carrington Robinson OPHS Senior

Honorable Mention

CHS: Jessica Powell OF (Missed half season with injury); Rachel DeNapoli OF; Kaitlyn Kumpf C

FIHS: Morgan Grimm 3B; Sammy Dill OF (.417BA); Jordan Rosette P (43K); Jordan Hunt C; Tiffany Steczo 1B (.439BA, 4HR), Maya Littles 2B

RHS: Kirsten Sutherland 2B (Sr., .299BA, 28 Runs, 27RBI, 1HR, 8 doubles); Kelsey Solomon 3B (Sr., .322BA, 11RBI), Sarah Anderson P (Fr., 3.68 ERA, 17-14, 43K), Alyssa Adams IF ( .458BA, 43RBIs, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HRs)

KHHS: Skylar Rollins 2B (Jr. .446 BA, 7 SB, 236 RBI); Kaitlyn Cline OF (Sr. .347 BA, 34 H, 27 RBI); Bre Wells 1B (Sr., .355BA, 2HR, 19 RBI, .969 Fld %), Molly Crawford SS (Jr, .396BA, 38 H, 12SB, 3HR, 6 doubles)

OPHS: Addyson Mauldin C; Kaylin Jones 2B

SJCDS: Bri Enter P(.417BA), Maddie Wilkes C (.527 BA)

MHS: Payton Mahon 1B (32RBI, 4HR); Samantha Whitley OF (.397BA); Emily Bach SS (.355BA); Hunter Padgett 2B; Haleigh Wright 3B

OHS: Katie Kistler OF Freshman (.391); Madi Davis P Freshman (second in rotation, 10-0)