What an amazing year it was for Orange County softball.

Two teams — Bridge City and Little Cypress-Mauriceville — advanced all the way to the Class 4A Region III semifinals.

The most exciting thing about it, both teams will return next season almost intact.

The Bridge City Lady Cardinals (28-6-1) stormed to another district title, winning 22-4A with a 9-1 mark and strolling all the way to the fourth round of the playoffs for second-year head coach Kayla Gallardo.

The LC-M Lady Bears (23-9-1) found their way back into the postseason for long-time coach Dena Adkins as they finished 8-2 in a strong 22-4A to place second and also advance to the regional semifinals as the Lady Cardinals and Lady Bears were just one around away from playing each other to go to State.

Over at Orangefield, the Lady Bobcats (13-13) had a good season for first-year head coach Rebekah Ragsdale. The Lady Bobcats snared the fourth-place playoff berth and promptly stunned District 21-4A champion Lufkin Hudson in the bidistrict round of the postseason.

So now that the season has drawn to a close, it’s time to pick the 2017 All-Orange Leader Softball Team.

It’s always extremely tough to pick superlatives for the squad because so many or deserving.

However, for the third straight year there is little question to who our Most Valuable Player is and that would Bridge City junior ace Kassidy Wilbur.

Once again, Wilbur was dominant both on the mound and at the plate.

Wilbur notched a 20-3 record on the mound with a earned run average of 0.57. She struck out 237 batters in 123 innings of work and allowed a mere 50 hits.

At the plate, she powered her way to a .435 batting average with nine home runs and 31 runs batted in.

LC-M sophomore pitcher Brianna Frenzel had another great campaign. Frenzel, our Newcomer of the Year last year is the Defensive MVP this time out.

Frenzel claimed a 13-4 mark on the hill with a sparkling ERA of 1.27 and struck out 116 batters and only walked 20 all season. She was productive at the plate as well, hitting .310 with three home runs and 29 RBI.

Orangefield pitcher Kaylee Ancelot never got any rest but she wouldn’t have it any other way as she earns the Offensive MVP honors.

Ancelot put forth a .405 batting average with seven home runs, 10 doubles and a area-leading 37 RBI. Also, she pitched every game for the lady Bobcats as she worked all 157 innings, striking out 141 with a ERA of 2.10.

LC-M freshman catcher Olivia Leavings is our Newcomer of the Year, She handled the LC-M pitching staff well and was involved in 210 put-outs and also had some big hits in the postseason and finished with a on-base percentage of .413.

Bridge City’s Gallardo earns Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row plus added a beautiful bonus to her and husband Luis’ family this school year in their newborn kiddo Liem!

Congrats to all and already looking forward to what next season brings.

 

 

Here is the 2017 All-Orange Leader Softball Team:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Kassidy Wilbur, Bridge City

OFFENSIVE MVP: Kaylee Ancelot, Orangefield

DEFENSIVE MVP: Brianna Frenzel, LC-M

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Olivia Leavings, LC-M

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kayla Gallardo, Bridge City

FIRST TEAM

Autumn Frost, Orangefield

Aleah McClanahan, Bridge City

Caitlin Denison, Bridge City

Jenna James, LC-M

Kristin Broussard, Orangefield

Madison Murdock, LC-M

Ashley Short, LC-M

Jaylynne Burch, Bridge City

Renna Toomey, LC-M

SECOND TEAM

Karlye Bramblett, Orangefield

Morgan Weaver, LC-M

Ty’Kendria Miller, WO-S

Kinley Gipson, Orangefield

Meagan Sourdellia, Bridge City

Elecia Barlow, WO-S

Abby Anderson, Bridge City

Faith Fregia, Orangefield

Summer Black, Bridge City