The 2019 HHJ All-County Softball Team

This year’s all-county team is made up of players that have been selected all-county prior to 2019, are having career years this season, have hit home runs to win games and have thrown no-hitters. They also have played multiple positions for their team and are playing for winning teams. Some of them now own program records (See: Westfield juniors Ellie and Emma Williams), others are headed to play Division I softball next season (See: Houston County’s Madi Campbell) and still others are breaking into new roles as superstars (See: Northside sophomore Celena Luna, Houston County junior Makayla Krepps, Veterans senior Emily Myers and Houston County junior Olivia Brown). 

The players selected to this year’s All-County team have demonstrated time after time this season that they can come up with the big hit or strike out (or in the case of Houston County senior Rylee Lamb both) when their squads need it most.

The final week of the softball regular season is next week. The region championships and GHSA playoffs will begin the first week of October.

Player of the Year:

Makayla Krepps, Houston County, junior

The biggest bat on the best team in town, Krepps has managed to hit six home runs, drive in 45 runs (leading all of 6A softball) and hit over .460 while playing in all but one game for the 20-3 Lady Bears this season. Krepps’ glove at first base is also a big reason why the Lady Bears’ defense has improved this season. 

“Makayla has really stepped up her game this year,” said Lady Bears head coach Scott Lamb. “She has been a clutch performer and stellar defensively, and that has opened up a lot of opportunities for herself to go to the next level. I am excited that she has another year to mature.” 

Runner Up: Celena Luna, Northside, sophomore

Luna, a starting pitcher, is hitting over .500, hit her 10th home run on Thursday night, eight doubles, 33 RBI and 28 runs scored. When she’s not on the mound Luna plays in the middle infield and at centerfield. On the mound she has been equally as good, throwing a no-hitter against Valdosta in a 12-0 victory on Sept. 7 and winning a team-high three games. 

NOTE: Luna has played well enough as an outfielder/infielder this season to be on this team as both a pitcher and outfielder in the opinion of this sports editor.

Pitchers (5):

Emma Williams, Westfield, junior

Williams broke the school’s frecord for strikeouts earlier this season and has continued to extend that record ever since. A Louisiana-Lafayette University verbal commit (along with her twin sister Ellie, a catcher (see below), Emma is equally as efficient at the plate for undefeated Westfield.

Celena Luna, Northside, sophomore (see above)

Emily Myers, Veterans, senior 

The ace of the Lady Warhawks staff this season, Myers has won big game after bug game, including a crucial region victory over Thomas County Central last Friday. She will most certainly be on the mound when the 5A state playoffs begin in a couple weeks. 

Rylee Lamb, Houston County, senior

A four-year starter for the Lady Bears, Lamb is from a softball family and plays like it. Along with being one of the team’s trusty starters she has also achieved career highs in wins (13), complete games (7) and ERA (2.69) this season.

Olivia Brown, Houston County, junior

The other starter and major pitching presence on the Lady Bears, Brown has thrown a no-hitter this season and is having a career year on the mound and at the plate. Brown’s ERA is currently at 1.84, a team low, and she has seven complete games including five shutouts. As a hitter Brown continues to come through for Houston County, with a batting average over .300.

Catchers (2):

Ellie Williams, Westfield, junior

Williams set the school career record for walks this season, midway through the campaign. Tough at the plate as a hitter, she has not missed a start behind the plate since she was an eighth-grader.

Amya Smith, Northside, junior

One of the glue members of this emerging contender, Smith has brought runners across the plate for the Lady Eagles at a high rate. She has 25 RBI and 12 doubles this season to go along with her .400 batting average.

First Base (2):

Makayla Krepps, Houston County, junior (see above)

Sadie Hayes, Westfield, junior

Hayes has the athletic ability that most outfielders covet and the sure glove that coaches want at first base. She also leads off for the undefeated reigning GISA  AAA state champion Lady Hornets and is one of the team’s leaders on and off the field. 

Second Base (2):

Kendall Huelsman, Houston County, junior

One a handful of clutch hitters on this year’s Lady Bears team, Huelsman is batting .500 in 68 plate appearances with seven doubles, three home runs and 29 RBI.

Mallory Gordy, Northside, senior

Despite not playing her natural second base on a full-time basis this season, Gordy has not allowed that to keep her from continuing to be dangerous at the plate. She is hitting at a .351 clips with eight doubles and 11 RBI. The versatile Gordy has also pitched this season, winning four games and saving two.

Shortstop (1):

Madelyne Lee, Northside, sophomore

Lee has had to play both shortstop and third base this season but excels at the latter. She is not only batting close to .400 but has enough speed to have three triples this season. 

Third Base (1):

Averi Martin, Houston County, junior

Martin has been called by one area coach, “The best third baseman in the county”, and her numbers back that up. Martin is batting .426 with almost as many runs scored (20) as hits (23) this season.

Outfield (4):

Madi Campbell, Houston County, senior

A Georgia Southern University commit, Campbell, a center fielder, has the unique combination of speed and hitting talent fit for Division I softball. Campbell is batting .468 with 19 RBI and 27 runs scored. Defensively she is among the best in the super-competitive Region 1-6A.

Jenna Thomas, Veterans, junior

Veterans leadoff hitter has a .584 on base percentage and a .493 batting average.

Terra Odom, Perry, senior 

A nearly .500 hitter this season (.493), Odom has 37 hits, 41 runs and 11 RBI in her 93 plate appearances this season. As she goes, the Lady Panthers, first place in Region 2-AAAA go.,

Abby Ussery, Perry, junior 

Ussery has driven in 25 runs for the Lady Panthers this season and is hitting .311 in the process. Her .967 fielding percentage with 27 putouts and two outfield assists have her amongst the best defensive outfielders in AAAA softball.