BC’s Wilbur powers All-Leader Softball Team

Published 11:43 am Monday, June 6, 2016

It was a banner year once again for local District 24-4A softball teams as two teams found their way into the playoffs and another was so close.

The Bridge City Lady Cardinals ruled the roost yet again, led by first-year coach Kayla Gallardo.

All the Lady Cardinals accomplished was winning yet another District 24-4A crown, posting a amazing 29-4 mark for the season and a perfect jaunt through 24-4A with a perfect 12-0 mark.

The Lady Cardinals advanced to the area round of the playoffs where they fell to eventual 4A Region III Finalist Caldwell.

The Orangefield Lady Bobcats, led by long-time coach Amy McLaughlin, punched their playoff ticket by hanging on to the fourth-place playoff spot by defeating a young and up-and-coming Little Cypress-Mauriceville Lady Bear team in a one-game playoff.

It’s always hard this time of year to pick superlatives because so many are deserving but several kids stood out for our 2016 All-Orange Leader Softball Team.

For the second straight year, Bridge City pitcher Kassidy Wilbur is our Most Valuable Player, despite being just a junior-to-be.

Wilbur certainly got it done, not only on the hill but at the plate as well.

Wilbur notched a 20-3 mark on the mound. She posted a earned run average of 1.55 and had 208 strikeouts in 135 innings of work.

She did plenty of damage at the plate as she was one of the top hitters in the state. She batted a whopping .479 with 12 home runs and 44 runs batted in and also had 16 doubles.

Wilbur’s teammate and outstanding shortstop Hannah Carpenter was amazing as well to earn Offensive MVP honors.

Carpenter put together a .411 batting averaged and had nine home runs and 28 RBI.

Defensive Player of the Year honors goes out to Orangefield’s Haley Fontenot. Nothing got past the outstanding outfielder as she pulled out some amazing diving catches to rob Lady Bobcat opponents. She also was productive at the plate, batting .341 and was third on the team with 15 RBI.

LC-M pitcher/first baseman freshman Briana Frenzel captures Newcomer of the Year honors. She had some big games on the mound, especially down the stretch, to keep the Lady Bears in the playoff chase. She also proved her might at the plate as varsity play suited the ninth grader well.

What’s even more exciting, is that more than 50 percent of the 2016 All-Orange Leader Team wlil be back in uniform next season.

Congratulations ladies.

 

Here is the 2016 All-Orange Leader Softball Team as selected by the Orange Leader sports staff:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Kassidy Wilbur, Bridge City

OFFENSIVE MVP: Hannah Carpenter, Bridge City

DEFENSIVE MVP: Haley Fontenot, Orangefield

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Brianna Frenzel, LC-M

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kayla Gallardo, Bridge City

Faith Kaufman, Bridge City

Kayla Manuel, LC-M

Renna Toomey, LC-M

Meagan Sourdellia, Bridge City

Madison Neal, WO-S

Kaylee Ancelot, Orangefield

Baili Thibodaux, Bridge City

Maleah Saucedo, Orangefield

Jone’e Villanueva, LC-M

Ashley Short, LC-M