The State’s best: Meet the 2022 all-area high school softball team

A look at The State’s all-area softball team from Midlands-area high schools for the 2022 season.

▪ Grace Beacham, Hammond: The sophomore hit .569 with 32 RBIs, 11 doubles and seven home runs. She also recorded an 11-10 record on the mound.

▪ Mallory Branham, Lugoff-Elgin: Branham was an all-state selection that hit .429, with 10 doubles and two home runs. She was 11-5 as a pitcher.

▪ Precious Bross, Irmo: The all-state selection hit .509 with 26 RBIs and 10 home runs to lead the Yellow Jackets to their best season in many years.

▪ Caylee Busbee, Swansea: The sophomore hit .319 while compiling an 8-2 record an a 1.96 ERA. She was an all-region selection and signed with USC Beaufort.

▪ Leah Cabe, Chapin: The sophomore hit .333 with 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored. As a pitcher, she had a 2.12 ERA and 123 strikeouts.

▪ Taylor Corley, Gray Collegiate: The junior pitched the War Eagles to the Class 2A state championship with a 17-1 record, 2.08 ERA and 114 strikeouts. She also hit .359. She’s committed to USC Beaufort.

▪ Sam Craig, Lexington: Craig hit .379 with 35 runs scored and 13 stolen bases for the Class 5A runner-up.

▪ Andee Dircks, Chapin: Dircks hit .542 with 13 home runs, 35 RBIs and 38 runs scored to earn all-region honors.

▪ Taylor Dreher, Gilbert: The junior was named the Class 3A Player of the Year after hitting .519 with 16 home runs and 45 RBIs. She signed with Gardner Webb.

▪ Aaliyah Felder, Swansea: Felder hit .500 with four home runs and 16 RBIs to earn all-state honors. She signed to play at S.C. State.

▪ Riley Ford, Lexington: The senior finished with a 17-2 record with a 1.43 ERA while hitting .384 with five home runs and 29 RBIs. She earned all-region honors for the Class 5A runner-up.

▪ Sarah Gordon, Lexington: The senior hit .598 with 19 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 62 runs scored. She earned All-State honors and led the Wildcats to a runner-up finish in Class 5A. She signed to play at Louisville.

▪ Katie Henri, Pelion: The senior earned all-state and Region Player of Year honors after hitting .615 with three home runs and 28 RBIs.

▪ Natalie Herron, Saluda: Herron was named all-state after leading the Tigers to a 15-9 record.

▪ Amber Hughes, Mid-Carolina: Junior was Region 4-3A Player of the Year after hitting .458 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. She went 11-5 with 135 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA.

▪ Lauren Hardy, Blythewood: The junior earned Region 4-5A Player of the Year honors after hitting .385 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs. She was 12-7 on the mound and earned all-state.

▪ Amie Johnson, Batesburg-Leesville: Johnson was named all-state and Region 3-2A Player of the Year for the Panthers.

▪ Emily Johnson, Irmo: Hit a team-best .624 with 10 homers, 41 RBI and 19 stolen bases. She signed with to play at Erskine.

▪ Meauhre Lewis, Irmo: The senior was named the Region 4-4A Player of Year and earned all-state honors after hitting .458 with six doubles and six home runs.

▪ Emma Melinauskas, Gilbert: The freshman was all-state after hitting .565 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs.

▪ Marlena Perez, White Knoll: The Timberwolves senior hit .344 with one home run while compiling a 14-8 record with a 1.41 ERA. She signed with USC Aiken and earned all-state honors.

▪ Jessica Senn, Lexington: The Wildcats senior hit .372 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs for the Class 5A runner-up. She was also an All-Region selection.

▪ Brooklinn Thomas, Gray Collegiate: The sophomore hit .494 with 5 home runs, 26 RBIs and 37 runs scored for the Class 2A state champions.

▪ Kiarra Thomas, Spring Valley: The junior was named all-state after hitting .459 with nine home runs and 17 RBIs. She also went 7-4 on the mound.

▪ Brooke Tranum, Gray Collegiate: An all-state selection, the senior hit .568 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs and 47 runs scored in leading Gray to the Class 2A state title. Tranum signed to play at College of Charleston.

▪ Alexis Winters, White Knoll: A six-year starter, Winters hit .400 with 10 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 33 RBIs to earn all-state honors. Winters is a UNC Charlotte signee.

——Player of the Year——

Sarah Gordon, Lexington

——Player of the Year, reader’s choice (Fan vote)——

Sarah Gordon, Lexington

Honorable Mention

Haley Alderman, Dutch Fork ; Adelyn Allen, Swansea; Tomie Christofaro, Lugoff-Elgin; Allison Dulaney, Cardinal Newman; Kallie Earlington, River Bluff; Cady Gonzalez, Mid-Carolina; Maggie Hinz, Lexington; Ansley Jansen, River Bluff; Taryn Jenkins, Westwood; Stephanie Jones, Ben Lippen; Sami Lackey, Swansea; Maddox Long, Gray Collegiate; Ella Majchrzak, Chapin; Logan Malinsky, A.C. Flora; Mackenzie Mathis, Lexington; Haley McCoy, Blythewood; Haleigh Miranda, Lugoff-Elgin; Lillie-Grace Moore, Dutch Fork; Gianna Mora, River Bluff; Jordan Nostrant, A.C. Flora; Taylor Palfrey, Chapin; Olivia Porter, Swansea; Maddy Rivers, Airport; Josie Smythe, Blythewood; MJ Stradinger, Gray Collegiate; Maya Val Zyl, Blythewood; I’yanna Velez, Blythewood; Gracie Walker, Brookland-Cayce; J’Kayla Washington, Dreher; Anna Whitmer, River Bluff

This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 5:00 PM.