Chandler Avant excels as area’s best

Player of the Year

INF – Chandler Avant – PLAS

Avant was named the AISA State Championship Series MVP for good reason. He batted .417 in the regular season and over .500 in the playoffs.

Coach of the Year

Butch Austin – PLAS

Austin led the Patriots to the school’s first-ever state championship in baseball.

Over the last four seasons, Pike is undefeated at Butch Austin Field.

C – Chase Smartt – CHHS

Smartt turned in a solid freshman season batting .378 with 16 RBI.

C – Austin Rushing – Goshen

Rushing batted .406 for the Eagles while also posting a 6-2 record on the mound.

INF – Joey Denison – CHHS

Denison had a monster season for the Trojans with seven home runs and 52 RBI.

INF – Jalin Lawson – CHHS

Lawson signed with Central Alabama Community College after batting .419 in 2012.

INF – Michael Fox – CHHS

Fox led the Trojans with five triples while turning in a nice defensive season.

OF – Gregory Barnette – CHHS

Barnette was a vacuum in center field for Charles Henderson. He batted .375 in the regular season.

OF – Nick McLaughlin – PLAS

McLaughlin anchored the middle of Pike’s batting order posting a .398 average.

OF – Charlton Bean – Goshen

Bean was a terror at the plate and on the bases. The junior posted 32 stolen bases in 2012 for the Eagles.

P – Lawson Stewart – PLAS

Stewart was the ace of Pike Liberal Arts’ state championship staff.

P – Tripp Blackmon – CHHS

Blackmon was 7-1 last season with a 1.31 ERA.

P – Blake Floyd – PLAS

Floyd turned it up down the stretch on the mound for the Patriots. He was also the team’s starting catcher.

P – Houston Mabray – CHHS

Mabray was 6-1 with a 1.86 ERA for the Trojans.

The Messenger’s All-Area softball team will be released on June 16 in the Weekend Edition.