Eastside softball dominated the 2016 Region 4-AAAA All-Region Team, which was released Sunday, just as a region champion should.
The Eagles swept top honors, with Ally Allgood taking home Player of the Year honors, Molly Moon and Lauren Beshears sharing the Pitcher of the Year award and coach Heather Wood being named region Coach of the Year.
In addition, infielders Alyssa Betts, Taylor Baguette, McKenzie Walker and freshman Kailey Rusk made the first team, along with outfielders Coley Edwards and Ashleigh Williams and freshman catcher Alysee Dobbs.
Eastside will graduate nine seniors, several of whom are going to play at the college level including the pitchers, Beshears (Young Harris) and Moon (Andrews College). Kacie Fincher will also be heading to Andrews College on a softball scholarship after graduation.
Allgood, a senior left fielder, had a team-best .506 batting average during the 2016 season, with 16 RBI and a team-leading 48 stolen bases, while Moon and Beshears were the team’s aces in the pitching circle. Beshears finished her senior campaign with a 1.96 ERA and 91 strikeouts, while Moon’s injury shortened season featured a 2.24 ERA. Moon retired 35 batters before incurring a season-ending injury during the region tournament.
Williams led the team in fielding percentage and was second on the squad with 28 stolen bases.
Freshmen Rusk and Dobbs showed promise at the plate in their first season of high school softball with Rusk batting .413 with 28 RBI and Dobbs hitting .339 while knocking 21 RBI. Rusk also found time on the mound during the postseason.
Rusk and Dobbs, along with junior McKenzie Walker will look to be key cogs in Eastside’s attempt to defend its region crown in 2017.
Here is the full 2016 Region 4-AAAA All Region roster:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ally Allgood, Eastside
PITCHERS OF THE YEAR: Lauren Beshears, Eastide; Molly Moon, Eastside
COACH OF THE YEAR: Heather Wood, Eastside
First Team
Infielders: Alyssa Betts, Eastside; Taylor Baggett, Eastside; McKenzie Walker, Eastside; Kailey Rusk, Eastside; Ariana Alford, Woodward Academy; Miracle Hawkins, Luella.
Outfielders: Kaitlyn Bates, Woodward Academy; Ally Allgood, Eastside; Coley Edwards, Eastside; Ashleigh Williams, Eastside.
Pitchers: Lauren Beshears, Eastside; Molly Moon, Eastide; Anna Freeman, Woodward Academy.
Catchers: Helen Olson, Woodward Academy; Alysee Dobbs, Eastside.
Second Team
Infielders: Maggie Sutton, Woodward Academy; Morgan Bennett, Woodland Academy; Jacy Watson, Woodward Academy; Camille Taylor, North Clayton; Brianna Braswell, North Clayton; Darby Cornelius, Woodward Academy.
Outfielders: Lindsay Rand, Woodward Academy; Amber Austin, Druid Hills; Jasmine Holcome, North Clayton; Kaitlyn Bates, North Clayton.
Pitchers: Yuntasia Thomas, Henry County; Morgan Bennett, Luella.
Catchers: Audrey Kerba, Druid Hills; Jasmine Calbert, Salem.
