Four Lady Patriots to play in All-Star Game
Published 3:00 am Thursday, May 12, 2016
![Messenger Photo/mike hensley Amanda Finlayson (above), Danielle Brown, Kayla Dendy and Callee Jinright were all selected to take part in the AISA All-Star Game in Montgomery on June 6.](https://www.troymessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2016/05/DSC_4279web-300x169.jpg)
Messenger Photo/mike hensley
Amanda Finlayson (above), Danielle Brown, Kayla Dendy and Callee Jinright were all selected to take part in the AISA All-Star Game in Montgomery on June 6.
Four members of the Pike Lady Patriots softball team were selected as members of the 2016 AISA All-Star team and will take part in the All-Star game and festivities at Lagoon Park in Montgomery on June 6.
Infielders Callee Jinright and Danielle Brown will represent the junior team, while Amanda Finlayson and Kayla Dendy will represent the senior squad. Patriots head coach Robert Rollan was also selected to be one of the coaches.
Jinright and Brown were picked from a pool of 80 players, while Finlayson and Dendy came from a group of about 60.
“It’s really exciting for them,” said Rollan. “They have worked really hard and they all had really good numbers as far as stats go. It wasn’t just me that recommended them; it was other coaches as well.”
Rollan believes that the four players are a good representation of the Pike team.
“It’s very positive for the program,” Rollan said. “It means the program is healthy and competitive. The program is where I want it to be. I want to have good players at every level.”
Finlayson finished the season with 54 hits in 162 at bats with 18 RBIs. Jinright played in 50 games for the Eagles. The junior finished with a .258 batting average with nine RBIs and 10 stolen bases. As a first baseman, Brown hit .307 for the Patriots with 23 RBIs and one home run. Dendy also played in 50 games for the Patriots. The senior finished her final season with a .303 batting average with one home run and 17 RBIs.
The selection marks the second time Rollan has been selected to coach an all-star team. His first came as a head coach with Holtville in 2012.
“I appreciate everything,” Rolland said. “Being selected in public school and private school is kind of special. It’s an opportunity for me to get some work in and to give my time back to the association and to the girls that are coming out there.”
Festivities will begin on June 6 with team badtting practice and a home run derby scheduled for around 4 p.m. The juniors will take the field for the first game of the night at 5:30 p.m. with the seniors taking the filed shortly after.
“It’s what you look forward to as a player,” Rollan said. “They are able to go out there and represent their school and their community. That is something they will remember the rest of their lives.”