Like their male counterparts, the local softball teams gave Beaufort County a long, riveting season. Washington, Northside and Southside all not only earned postseason berths, but also each won at least one playoff game.

The Lady Pack, led by its nine seniors, dazzled against some of the best teams in the area. Not only did they fight for a 2-A Eastern Plains Conference championship, but the girls also took on all comers. Their non-conference slate featured larger programs like Havelock, Conley and South Central, to name a few.

Northside endured the loss of some key seniors and a coaching change to finish the season with 15 wins and second place in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference. The Lady Panthers, playing a different brand of softball than it had in years past, marched right into the postseason. Their season ended when defending champion Princeton edged them, 2-0, in the second round.

Seniors Taylor Langley and Gracie Warren led Southside. The two got to end their high-school careers by finally earning a win over league rival Pamlico County. The Lady Seahawks also earned the right to host a first-round playoff game, which they won.

Northside and Southside should both be primed for another strong season a year from now. The Lady Panthers had nine juniors on this season’s roster. The Lady Seahawks had four juniors on top of the dynamic pitcher-catcher duo of sophomores Alyssa McLawhorn and Maggie Craig.

Elsewhere, Pungo Christian Academy also had a strong campaign that featured a postseason trip. Unity Christian Academy, in just its second year as a program, finished its season undefeated.

There’s a long list of talented players that graced softball fields across Beaufort County this season. The Washington Daily News would like to honor the following softball standouts.

FIRST TEAM

RACHEL LANG, FIRST BASE, NORTHSIDE

While Rachel Lang handled the majority of Northside’s pitching this season, she was also strong at first base when she wasn’t on the mound. She finished the season with a near-perfect .992 fielding percentage. She led Northside with a .483 batting average and was 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in her 15 appearances as a pitcher.

 

HANNAH PARAMORE, SECOND BASE, SOUTHSIDE

Hannah Paramore was one of Southside’s most consistent offensive threats this season. The junior let some balls get past her in the infield, but more than made up for it at the plate and on the basepaths. Her .465 batting average was second on the team and she scored more runs (33) than anyone else. She also stole a team-best 21 bases.

 

SAVANNAH SLADE, SHORTSTOP, NORTHSIDE

Savannah Slade was one of Northside’s biggest threats at the plate. Her .462 batting average was second only to Lang. The junior led the team in extra-base hits (15) and runs scored (31). She was as smart at the plate as she was strong, too. She only struck out seven times in 19 games. At shortstop, she posted a modest .851 fielding percentage.

 

MARY B. DIXON, THIRD BASE, WASHINGTON

Mary B. Dixon showed what she could do at the plate some as a sophomore a year ago. Now a junior, the Lady Pack third baseman was third on a senior-laden team with a .484 batting average. In the field, Dixon was key to a lockdown infield that allowed 88 runs over 23 games.

 

HAILEY HARRIS, OUTFIELD, WASHINGTON

Hailey Harris did it all for Washington this season. She pitched, played in the infield or the outfield, and was the area’s best hitter. The addition of freshman pitcher Abbigail Tucker let her focus more on hitting. Her batting average ballooned to .634 as a result. She scored 32 runs and batted in 33 more. Harris will play for N.C. Wesleyan next year.

 

RYLIE NEWMAN, OUTFIELD, NORTHSIDE

Rylie Newman was arguably the speediest player in Beaufort County this season. She had a .493 on-base percentage, good for second-best among Lady Panther starters, and led the team with 18 swiped bags. She used that same agility to lockdown the centerfield role. She finished the season with a .944 fielding percentage.

 

DANIELLE RUFFIN, OUTFIELD, SOUTHSIDE

Danielle Ruffin finished the season with a stout .944 fielding percentage as she manned the outfield for one of Southside’s best squads in recent memory. The junior was also effective at the plate. Her .391 batting average ranked fifth on the team, but her .533 on-base percentage ranked second among her fellow Lady Seahawks.

 

MAGGIE CRAIG, CATCHER, SOUTHSIDE

On a team led by two seniors and a strong junior contingent, sophomore Maggie Craig proved to be the Lady Seahawks’ most explosive offensive player. She batted at a team-high .550 clip and had 13 extra-base hits in 19 games. Her 22 RBI and .582 on-base percentage ranked first for Southside, too. Behind the plate, she was a reliable backstop for fellow sophomore Alyssa McLawhorn.

 

ABBIGAIL TUCKER, PITCHER, WASHINGTON

Many knew what Abbigail Tucker would bring to the Lady Pack when she got to Washington. Even with the expectations, Tucker managed to impress as she shouldered much of the pitching load during her rookie season. She appeared in 19 games and posted a 10-2 record with a 1.82 ERA. She have five shutouts, a no-hitter and chalked up a pair of saves.

 

SECOND TEAM

GRACE BUMPASS, UNITY

MEGHAN MOORE, WASHINGTON

SYMONE RUFFIN, SOUTHSIDE

WHITNEY CROMWELL, NORTHSIDE

MEGHAN HORTON, WASHINGTON

SARAH LYNCH, WASHINGTON

BROOKLYN HUDNELL, NORTHSIDE

JORDAN PIERCE, WASHINGTON

ALYSSA MCLAWHORN, SOUTHSIDE

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

REBEKAH WILLIAMS, NORTHSIDE

MACY MAIN, UNITY

TAYLOR LANGLEY, SOUTHSIDE

KAITLYN SPAIN, NORTHSIDE

CHALEIGH BAYNOR, WASHINGTON

GRACIE WARREN, SOUTHSIDE

GRACE ROSE, UNITY

RILEY CUTLER, PUNGO

MORGAN DIXON, SOUTHSIDE

SOPHIE DAVIS, UNITY

MACY MORGAN, PUNGO

MORGAN RESPASS, TERRA CEIA