Who’s gon’ send our best hitters: 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball Team announced

Being a high school softball athlete in Georgia is a rigorous grind, but it is even harder to excel where the stakes are higher. Our local teams are known for their love of getting dirty on the diamond. After receiving nominations from local coaches and ciphering through the best talent around HOCO, The Houston Home Journal is releasing its official All-Area team for the best softball athletes in the area.

These players were voted for and lastly, handpicked by yours truly. The votes and nominations were based on a number of factors to include, media worthiness, statistics, individual-team performance and consistency. Every young woman on this list is an exceptional student athlete that has stood-out amongst the best in Houston County, Georgia. Below are my Sports Editorial picks for The 2021 HHJ All-Area coaching staff, and the 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball team.

The 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball coaching staff

1. Brock Van Faussien (2021 HHJ All-Area Coach of the Year): Coach Brock Van Faussien was selected as the 2021 HHJ All-Area Coach of the Year, because of his resiliency and optimism. These great coaching traits helped him to lead his Westfield Lady Hornets to a 25-1 season. Van Faussien was recently a coach at division one, Georgia Southern University. He has over 12 years of high school and collegiate coaching experience. Van Faussien has coached at the University of Pittsburg, University Of Georgia and Clemson University, before landing at The Westfield School. The Lady Hornets also sported an 11-1 record in their respected GISA region before winning their sixth consecutive GISA State Softball Title. As for Westfield, this team’s lone senior was Marena Knowles, so fans can expect more of these prestigious accolades in the near future. Six of Coach Van Faussien’s players were selected to this year’s 2021 HHJ All-Area team. Sydney Langdon was great for the Lady Hornets in 2021; therefore, the junior was handpicked, as the 2021 HHJ All-Area Pitcher of the Year. Langdon played in 22 games for the Lady Hornets, where she scored 21 runs, 17 RBI’s, four home runs off of 26 hits. The junior sensation sported a .388 batting average. Former Westfield standout and Clemson University signee, Knowles, was selected as the 2021 HHJ All-Area Player of the Year.

2. April Collins (2021 HHJ All-Area Coach of the Year Runner-up): Coach April Collins was selected has The 2021 HHJ All-Area Coach of the Year Runner-Up, because of her strong coaching and leadership skills. These acquired skills helped lead her Houston County Lady Bears to a 14-19 record, during their 2021 campaign. Collins has completed her sixth season as the coach for the HOCO Lady Bears, where she was a media-worthy athlete. Coach Collins was a part of the 2009 state runner-up team and she won four region titles, as a member of the HOCO Lady Bears. After a stellar career at HOCO, Coach Collins played division two softball for the Valdosta State University Lady Blazers (2010-2014). Collins was also a member of the 2012 VSU National Championship team. Now coaching at her alma mater, Collins coached the Lady Bears to a 7-2 record in GHSA region 1-AAAAAA. The Lady Bears scored 242 points during their 2021 season, but allowed only 220. The Lady Bears had an exceptional season before losing to Creekview in the GHSA State Playoffs. Coach Collins has five of her players that were selected onto this year’s All-Area team.

The 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball Team

• Pitcher – Sydney Langdon, junior (Westfield): In 22 games under Coach Brock Van Faussien, Langdon scored 21 runs, 17 RBIs, four home runs, 26 hits and had a 0.388 batting average. Langdon is the 2021 HHJ All-Area Pitcher of the Year.Langdon is currently, entertaining offers from Purdue, Indiana, Ole Miss, UGA and many more.

• Catcher – Abbie Harvard, sophomore (Houston County): In 34 games for HOCO, Harvard totaled 36 hits, two runs, 28 RBIs and a 0.391 batting average.

• Infield – Jacy Harrelson, sophomore (Houston County): In 34 games for the HOCO Lady Bears, Harrelson allotted 37 hits, 11 Home runs, 41 runs, 37 RBIs and a 0.385 batting average. Harrelson came back from injury and did not miss a beat. Jacy Harrelson came second in voting; therefore Harrelson is the 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball Player of the Year Runner-up.

• Infield –Kinley Snider, freshman (Houston County): In 34 games under Coach April Collins, Snider sported 28 hits, one homer, 29 runs, 18 RBIs and a 0.301 batting average.

• Infield – Carleigh Knowles, junior (Westfield)

• Infield – AliRae Dykes, senior (Perry)

• Outfield – Celena Luna, senior (Northside-Warner Robins)

• Outfield – Marena Knowles, senior (Westfield): In 17 games for the Westfield Lady Hornets, Knowles had a 0.423 batting average, 22 hits, 13 RBIs, 18 runs and three homers. The former Lady Hornet and left-handed batter, was an early signee of Clemson University and will play under Coach John Rittman next fall. Knowles is the 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

• Outfield – Ansleigh Darby, freshman (Houston County): In the 34 from her 2021 campaign, Darby sported a total of 25 runs, 10 RBIs and a 0.33 batting average.

Below, in order, is my 2021 HHJ All-Area “Notable Honorable Mentions.” Throughout the 2021 GHSA Softball season, these young ladies have proven that they have the talent and statistics to be on Houston Home Journal’s official All-Area Softball team. The following softball athletes have put in the work, but may be missing the big scholarship offers and have yet to receive their media-worthy attention.

• Pitcher – Ally Fleming, sophomore (Houston County): In 34 games under Coach April Collins, Fleming pitched a total of 76 innings. She struck out over 45 different batters for 61 strikeouts, 15 walks and she finished her season with an 8-8 record and a 3.22 ERA. Fleming is the runner-up for the 2021 HHJ All-Area Pitcher of the Year, as she came second in voting to Sydney Langdon.

• Catcher – Madelyne Lee, senior (Northside-Warner Robins)

• Infield – Sadie Knight, sophomore (Westfield)

• Infield – Madison Hammock, freshman (Westfield)

• Infield – Madison Bunnell, junior (Veterans)

• Outfield – Kendall Fowler, freshman (Westfield)

• Outfield – Casey Ruffin, senior (Northside-Warner Robins)

• Outfield – Libby Parson, senior (Northside-Warner Robins)

Coach Kylie McHugh and the Northside Lady Eagles finished 8-14 (3-6) on the season. Four of her players were selected to the 2021 HHJ All-Area Softball team. Coach McHugh and her team finished third in region 1-AAAAAA. Coach Shawn Masters and his Veterans Lady Warhawks completed their season with a 19-7 record but was the number one seed in region 1-AAAAAA with a 7-1 record. The Lady Warhawks scored 186 points on the season, but only allowed 106 points. Veterans lost to Calhoun in the GHSA State Playoffs. Only one of Coach Masters lady Warhawks were chosen for this year’s HHJ All-Area Softball team. Coach Kyle Davis and the Perry Lady Panthers finished 16-8 on the season and were 10-3 in region 4-AAAA. The Lady Panthers finished second in their region before losing to the Flowery Branch Lady Falcons in the GHSA State Playoffs. The Lady Panthers scored 232 points and allowed 117 points, during their 2021 campaign. AliRae Dykes was the lone Lady Panther selected this year’s HHJ All-Area Softball team.

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