Area softball players grab SEMO Conference honors

Kelly placed four players on the SEMO Conference all-conference softball team.

The Hawks were one of three teams from the five-team district to win a district title this season. Kelly won in Class 2, Chaffee won one in Class 1, and Poplar Bluff won in a Class 4 field that also included league foes Jackson and Central.

From Kelly, infielders Brittany Ponder, Mindy Robert and Kalie Hughes were joined by at-large selection Katee Moore.

Jackson, the only league team to beat Poplar Bluff, had three selections: pitcher Darla Mangels, infielder Jessica Pitts and at-large choice Chelsea McDowell.

Central's Jami Dement was a first-team outfielder and Sirena Watkins was selected at large.

Honorable mention

Casey Kirn and Summer Proctor of Kelly; Lindsey Greene of Central; Amanda Pitts, Kelci Keith, Roxanne Miller and Hana Bolen of Jackson; and Mindy Hendrix, Whitney Horrell, Courtney Walter, Sarah Benton, Sarah Dooley, Kegan Orr and Rachel Hendrix of Chaffee.

More softball honors

Local players chosen for the first-team from the Class 4 District 1 tournament won by Poplar Bluff were: Pitts at catcher and McDowell at infielder from Jackson; Watkins at infielder and Dement at outfielder from Central.

Second-team selections were: Lindsey Greene, Bethany Sweet, Susie Edwards and Christina Sexter from Central; and Darla Mangels from Jackson.

JV champions

The Eagle Ridge Christian junior varsity volleyball team coached by Andrea Hammack won the championship of the Life Christian Warriors Fall Throwdown Tournament earlier this month with a 4-0 record.

Katie Hogan was selected tournament MVP with Krissy Margrabe the runner-up and a member of the all-tournament team.