All-State Accolades

Lady Rebels Hilliard, Ogle named to Tennessee Softball Coaches team

Madison Ogle, far left, warms up prior to an inning as Taylor Hodge, center, and Lindsey Watson look on. Photo by G.W. Meredith

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Nothing beats good pitching, except, maybe, great hitting.

Senior and Walters State signee Haley Hilliard led the Lady Rebels in several offensive categories this season, including a Blount County-record 16 home runs. Photo by Brandon Shinn

The Maryville High School softball team had aces in both spots this past season, pitcher Madison Ogle and catcher Haley Hilliard both recently acknowledged for their contributions in being named to the Tennessee Softball Coaches Association All-State Team.

Hilliard, Class of 2013 and a Walters State signee, hit a Blount County-record 16 home runs in her final season with the Lady Rebels as Maryville played to a third-place finish at the recently concluded TSSAA state tournament in Murfreesboro.

The future Lady Senator, who calls all of Ogle’s pitches and is known for a powerful throwing arm defensively, led the Lady Rebels with a .468 batting average, 61 runs batted in, 21 doubles, two triples and six strikeouts in 163 plate appearances. Compiling a .993 slugging percentage and .540 on-base percentage, Hilliard was walked a team-best 23 times.

The Lady Rebels fielded a strong-hitting lineup where seven players hit at least one home run this season, leading to a lot of base runners to collect.

“And all of a sudden, you’re back to Haley,” Maryville coach David Allen said.

Ogle, a rising senior, became the region’s dominant pitcher over the course of the season. The tall, hard-throwing right-hander fanned 220 batters in 234.2 innings pitched, compiling a 1.46 earned run average. Opposing teams hit only .172 against Ogle’s blistering, mid 60s riseball.

“Our goal isn’t to strike them out,” Hilliard said earlier this season. “Our goal is to get them out.”

Working against the state’s second toughest schedule, Ogle allowed 1.6 runs per game over Maryville’s last 10 contests, a run that included district, region and sectional championships.

“We played a tough schedule,” Allen said, “and that was by design.”

2013 Tennessee Softball Coaches Association All-State Teams
Class A
Haley Faulkner, University High School; Diana Ratcliffe, Coalfield; Brittany Lanham, Sale Creek; Taylor Tasi, Gordonsville; Cori Jennings, Gordonsville; Caitlyn Carter, Columbia Academy; Jordon Ellerby, Columbia Academy; Taylor Parker, Richland; Gretchen Greer, Collinwood; Zizzi Bella, East Robertson; Sierra Bateman, Moore County; Sydney Shoulders, Trousdale County; Brooke Kennedy, Riverside.

Class A Miss Softball, Ashton Edwards, Richland.

Class AA
Shay Geathers, East Hamilton; Tiffany Laughron, Unicoi County; Dani Jefferson, Gibbs; Faith Lowry, Gibbs; Morgan Snow, Kingston; Kaylee Smith, Granger County; Kristen Hull, Upperman; Crystal Bryant, Upperman; Leanna Amacher, Lewis County; Cariona Hassell, Goodpasture; Mimi Cartwright, Goodpasture; Candace Maness, Lexington; Gabrielle (Gabby) Glen, Covington; Caitlin Reeves, Lexington; Torri Hensley, Camden Central; Elantra Cox, Chester County; Sammy Jo Ivey, Chester County.

Class AA Miss Softball, Megan Prince, Westview.

Class AAA
Torri Etheridge, Farragut; Hailey Hillard, Maryville; Maddie Ogle, Maryville; Kayla Sanders, Daniel Boone, Megan Devotie, Science Hill; Kassydi Montgomery, Beech; Jordon Spicer, Beech; Brooklin Lee, Dickson County; Kara Boyd, Hardin County; Katie Terry, Hardin County; Alex Turner, Munford; Tara Comer, Munford; Haley Bearden, Clarksville; Briana Jones, Coffee County; Seeley Layne, Brighton; Hadley Wilkins, Brighton; Rikki Arkansas, Northeast; Scarlet McSwain, Henry County.

Class AAA Miss Softball, Heather Norris, Clarksville.