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Area softball players earn region accolades
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Alcovy's Morgan Beshears, Kalia Johnson and Chelsea Nolley joined Newton's Ciara Bryan on the all-Region 2-AAAAAA first team, the region announced this week. In all, eight different Alcovy and Newton softball players earned first, second or honorable mention region honors. - photo by Matt Smith

Eight Alcovy and Newton High School softball players earned Region 2-AAAAAA all-region honors, the region announced last week, with the Tigers headlining the programs with three first-team selections.

Newton's Ciara Bryan joined Alcovy's Kalia Johnson, Morgan Beshears and Chelsea Nolley on the first team, whole Raven Smith, Maddie Cronic and Bri Weaver earned second-team honors.

The Tigers' Waneshia Morris was recognized with all-region honorable mention honors.

"Obviously, myself and my coaching staff and the entire Alcovy community are very proud of Kalia Johnson, Morgan Beshears and Chelsea Nolley for making the all-region first team, and Raven Smith for making second team and Neshia Morris for making the honorable mention list," Alcovy coach Russell Brock said. "All of our young ladies on the team contributed in some way this year, and these young ladies stood out a little more and were huge contributors to the success of our team this past season and helped lead us to the Region 2-AAAAAA championship.

"More importantly, all of them are outstanding young ladies off the field and in the classroom and have extremely bright futures," he said. "Nolley, Morris and Beshears are seniors and will be greatly missed. We still get to look forward to two more great years from Smith and Johnson."

As the Tigers' starting pitcher, Johnson went 21-7 overall, while hitting .386 with two home runs, four triples and six doubles.

At catcher for the Tigers, Beshears finished the season with a .294 batting average, with two home runs and seven doubles, leading Alcovy defensively behind the plate.

Nolley hit .238 for the Tigers with three home runs and a double at centerfield.

Bryan was the lone Newton selection to the first team, leading the Rams with a .425 batting average, while also pacing the Rams in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

"I'm very proud of all three of them," Newton coach Virginia Waters said. "I sent in the nominations, and the other coaches in the region believed they were as good as I believe they are."

Cronic and Weaver joined Bryan on the all-region list with second- team selections.

In the outfield for the Rams this season, Weaver finished with a .975 fielding percentage, while leading Newton as the Rams' lone senior.

Cronic pitched 24 games for the Rams this season, helping Newton to the No. 3 seed in the region. She also recorded a no-hitter this season in a 12-0 victory against Lovejoy.

Smith rounded out the county's second-team selections for the Tigers. The shortstop hit .285 for Alcovy this past season with two triples and five doubles.

Rockdale County's India Davis and Kelsey Stewart were also named to the all-region first team, while Sydney Driver earned second -team honors.

The Tigers finished as the region's No. 1 seed, winning the region tournament over Luella. Alcovy's season ended in the second round of the state tournament against Newnan.

Newton also reached the state playoffs, falling in the opening round to Hillgrove.