http://www.softballshowcase.com/articles College Softball Recruiting news for Casey Horner http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5808 Think about The Netherlands and what comes to mind? windmills? Sure. Wooden shoes? Ok. Softball? Huh? For Morristown East junior Casey Horner, The Netherlands and softball will soon go together like hand in gove, er, mitt. Horner has been accepted to play in the Cup 2010 in Schiedam, the Netherlands as part of the North American Select Team - which is composed of several regional all-star teams from the United States. Horner and her teammates will compete against teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Russia during their 8-day tour. http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5808 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5807 State Champion Unicoi County Sweeps Top All-NET Awards Unicoi County pitcher Kara Woods went 44-4 this season with an ERA of 0.34, leading the Lady Devils to the state championship and earning All-NET Player of the Year honors in the process. TriCitiesSports.com photo by Allen Greene. by Steve 'Parrothead Vol' Wilmoth TriCitiesSports.com June 8, 2009 Softball in Northeast Tennessee this year was dominated by the IMAC Conference and the Class AA State Champion Unicoi County Blue Devils. As a result, the 2009 TriCitiesSports.com All-NET Softball Team is well represented by the state champions and members of the toughest league in the area. Unicoi County's Grady Lingerfelt was tabbed as the Coach of the Year after leading the Lady 'Devils to the state championship. Along the way, Unicoi County won 48 of 52 and 2 of 3 against six-time state champion Goodpasture Christian to bring home the title. Player of the Year honors go to Unicoi County sophomore pitcher Kara Woods. Woods was a first-teamer as a freshman and earned the victory in 44 of the Lady Blue Devils' 48 wins this season. Woods went 44-4 on the year with a 0.34 ERA. Woods fanned 471 batters in just 325 2/3 innings of work while allowing only 16 earned runs. Her two year totals include a 77-7 record and 0.36 ERA. Woods has allowed only 21 earned runs in two years and fashioned 29 shutouts this season. Woods is joined on the staff by 2008 NET Player of the Year Whitley Gilbert of Cherokee. Gilbert will pitcher at Alabama-Huntsville next season. Others pitchers selected include Morristown East junior Rachel Wilmoth, Morristown West senior Brittany Watson, Elizabethton senior Taylor Belessa, Daniel Boone junior Cora Baker and Unaka senior Lacey Huskins. Wilmoth went 17-3 for the Lady 'Canes while Belessa won 25 contests for the Cyclones. Baker was the Big 9 co-Player of the Year after leading Boone to the regional semis by winning 19 games. Newcomer of the Year honors is split amongst three first-year standouts - all from Daniel Boone - Jennine Duncan, Natalie Sheffey and Andrea Rogers. Two of the three earned all-NET first-team recognition as well April Byington, of Volunteer is a re-peat selection at first base along with senior Elizabethton Raby of Unicoi County. Morristown East slugger Casey Horner and Unicoi County junior Emilee Lovette have joined the team at second base. Another Lady 'Blazer freshman is entrenched at third. Jennine Duncan showed both power and speed in her freshman campaign. She's joined by the top hitter in the area, Tosah Hall of North Greene, who scorched opposing pitching to the tune of a .600 batting average. Morristown West junior Brittany Hefney and recent ETSU signee Mikayla Treadway are the shortstops. Treadway made the team for the second straight season after leading the area with 77 hits and 52 runs scored. Milligan signee Emily Biggs and ETSU signee Whitley Hensely are the catcher. Both hit well over .400 and combined to drive in 81 runs. The outfeild consists of Morristown East senior Felicia Bailey, Dobyns-Bennett junior Lauren Denton, Daniel Boone freshman Natalie Sheffey, Unaka senior Kayla Winters, Volunteer senior Tosha Dean and Unicoi County senior Ali Gardner. Gardner was the area's top run producer with 64 RBI's while Dean was the Big 9 Co-Player of the Year. Along with Bailey, the trio are repeat honorees from 2008. The utility players are Johnson County senior April Wilson and Sullivan East senior Lindsay Loudermilk, who hit .500 on the season. The designated hitter is senior Samantha Weems of North Greene. Weems hit .532, collected 45 extra base hits and swiped 21 bases for the Lady Huskies. Here is the complete team: 2009 TriCitiesSports.com All-NET Softball Team Player of the Year: Kara Woods, SO, Unicoi County Coach of the Year: Grady Lingerfelt, Unicoi County Newcomers of the Year: Jennine Duncan, Natalie Sheffey, Andrea Rogers [all of Daniel Boone] 1B - April Byington, SR, Volunteer [9 HR, 42 RBI's, .458] 1B - Elizabeth Raby, SR, Unicoi County [25 RBI's, .342] 2B - Casey Horner, JR, Morristown East [7 HR, 34 RBI's, .419] 2B - Emilee Lovette, JR, Unicoi County [2 HR, 30 RBI's] 3B - Tosha Dean, SR, North Greene [7 HR, 34 RBI's, .600, 18 2B, 33 SB] 3B - Jennine Duncan, FR, Daniel Boone [32 RBI's, .381, 25-25 SB] SS - Mikayla Treadway, SR, Unicoi County [26 RBI's, 77 H, 52 R, 15 SB] SS - Brittany Hefney, JR, Morristown West C - Emily Biggs, SR, Dobyns-Bennett [35 RBI's, .420] C - Whitley Hensley, SR, Unicoi County [1 HR, 46 RBI's, .440] OF - Felicia Bailey, SR, Morristown East [.405] OF - Lauren Denton, JR, Dobyns-Bennett [.458] OF - Ali Gardner, SR, Unicoi County [10 HR, 64 RBI's, 63 H, 43 R, .399, 15 SB] OF - Natalie Sheffey, FR, Daniel Boone [20 RBI's, .472] OF - Kayla Winters, SR, Unaka OF - Tasha Dean, SR, Volunteer [.435] UTIL - April Wilson, SR, Johnson County UTIL - Lindsay Loudermilk, SR, Sullivan East [.500] DH - Samanthan Weems, SR, North Greene [8 HR, 17 RBI's, 23 2B, 14 3B, 21 SB] P - Rachel Wilmoth, JR, Morristown East [17-3, 1.42 ERA, 91 K] P - Whitney Gilbert, SR, Cherokee P - Cora Baker, JR, Daniel Boone [19-8, 1.68 ERA, 203 K] P - Brittany Watson, SR, Morristown West P - Taylor Belessa, SR, Elizabethton [25-9] P - Lacey Huskins, SR, Unaka Honorable Mention Cherokee - Courtney Davis, Chelsea Hensley, Abby Hughes, Lindsee Price Chuckey-Doak - Tiffany Bowman, KAitlyn Frye, Miranda Lane, Christian Ward Cocke County - Nicole Ball, Kelli Wyrick Cosby - Kelsea Mantooth Daniel Boone - Andrea Rogers David Crockett - Megan Harmon, Leah Rose Dobyns-Bennett - Mackenzie Lilly Elizabethton - Brittney Eggers, Kelsey Maines, Madison McKinney, Taylor Percell, Kadey Robinson Grainger - Cierra Mudd Greeneville - Jordon Bowers, Stephanie Jeffers Happy Valley - Kelsie Deaton, Kelly Kincer Jefferson County - Laura Dykes, Whitney Leon, Haley Taylor, Heather West Johnson County - Heather Berardi, Samantha Mahala Morristown East - Anna Canter, Haley Ellis, Emilie Hensely, Ashley Tharp, Haile Vannoy Morristown West - Gabe McKinney, Courtney Wild Science Hill - Kayte Brown, Maura Ditto, Cassie Elliott, Megan Griffith, Madi Oertling, Chelsea ruff, Wendi Young South Greene - Brittney Kinser, Anna Brooke Malone Sullivan East - Brianna Branson, Megan Smith Sullivan North - Megan Dixon, Alisha Taylor Sullivan South - Heather Dykes, Tasha Waye Tennessee High - Andee Barbe Volunteer - Mackenzie Draine, Ashley Lindholm, Jodi Shipley, Tatum Spears Washburn - Casey Graves West Greene - Bri Campbell, Coleen Cavaraugh, Jessica Romana http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5807 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5806 2009 Summer Gold Season Southeastern Exposure June 5-7 Birmingham, AL Territory Qualifier June 12-14 Marietta, GA Regional Qualifier June 26-28 Greeneville, SC Territory Qualifier July 10-12 Piedmont, VA Rising Stars July 17-19 Davie, FL UT Knoxville July 24-26 Knoxville, TN ASA Gold Nationals August 3-10 Oklahoma, City, OK http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5806 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5805 Horner recognized as Softball Player of the Year BY BRIAN TRENT Tribune Sports Editor The numbers that Morristown East’s Casey Horner put up during the 2009 season has allowed her to be recognized for several post-season accolades. The junior second baseman can add another honor to her resume. Horner has been named as the 2009 Citizen Tribune All-Lakeway Area Softball Player of the Year after posting a .419 batting average, seven homers and 31 runs batted in, all team highs. According to Horner, the numbers she finished with and the amount of wins that the Lady Hurricanes compiled (29) were nice, but the thing that she enjoyed the most was the way the team came together throughout the season. “Our softball team is like a family; we’re a very close-knit group,” Horner said. “When you’re as close as we are, you’re able to enjoy the success that the team has even more.” Horner, during the Inter Mountain Conference regular-season, batted. 419 with three homers. Two of her round-trippers came in a meeting with Greeneville. However, the game that Horner recalls the most is one that the Lady ‘Canes played outside the state of Tennessee. “We played North Laurel (Ky.) in a tournament in Kentucky,” Horner said. “North Laurel is considered to be one of the best teams in the state of Kentucky and we defeated them in extra innings. It was an exciting game — the type of game I like to be involved in.” For East coach Robin Vannoy, having a player the caliber of Horner in her lineup has made her job that much easier. “Casey has been a major asset to our program the last three seasons and as a coach, you feel honored anytime one of your players gets recognized for a special award,” Vannoy said. “The best part about Casey is that she still hasn’t reached her full potential and we’re looking forward to seeing her do that.” Losing six seniors off this season’s squad means the leadership role for Horner will expand. It’s something she is looking forward to. “My class has always been right with the upper-classmen and we’ve learned a lot from them,” Horner said. “It hurts to lose them but now, it is our opportunity to be the leaders for a talented group of younger players who will be able to step in for the graduated players and produce.” http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=5805 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1841 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1841 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1619 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1619 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1618 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1618 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1417 www.eteamz.com/knoxvillethunder17Ug2008 5/23-25 Birmingham Viper 18U Gold 5/30-6/1 ASA 16U Qualf. - Chattanooga 6/6-8 SE College Exp. 18U - Birmingham 6/12-15 Gold Diamond Tourn - Chattanooga, TN 7/10-13 Hot Times - Florence, SC 7/18-20 Carolina Cardinal Classic - Raleigh (18U Gold) 7/27-29 ASA National Qual.- OH 7/28-8/1 16U ASA National - KY 10/24-26 18U Rising Stars - FL 10/31-11/2 18U TN Exp. - Murfreesboro http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1417 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1416 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1416 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1415 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1415 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1413 http://www.softballshowcase.com/player/news/2378?post=1413