Player: Courtney Combs
Class AA state-tournament qualifier Meigs County had one of the top offenses in the Chattanooga area in 2010, and senior first baseman and Bryan College signee Courtney Combs was right in the middle of things. Batting cleanup for the Lady Tigers, Combs had a .418 batting average with nine home runs, and her 69 RBIs were 26 more than her next-closest teammate. Coach Jeff Davis said a key reason Combs had such a stellar spring was that she was able to cut down on strikeouts compared to previous seasons. She exemplified patience at the plate by drawing 22 walks, which tied for the team lead. "It was unbelievable," Davis said of Combs' season. "She played a great first base and drove in run after run after run. Even when she made an out it seemed like she drove in a run."
Coach: Jeff Davis
Davis is the coach for Meigs County, which had not played in the state tournament since the Lady Tigers made their only other appearance, also in Class AA, in 1988. Led by seven seniors, Meigs County (37-9) was the District 5 regular-season and tournament champion and runner-up in Region 3. The Lady Tigers' potent offense produced an average of almost eight runs per game, and they scored in every game until getting to the Spring Fling. Davis was assisted by Tim Jennings and Ashleigh Struthers, maiden name Bull. "We had a phenomenal year," Davis said. "They're great students, they hang out together off the field and they play hard on the ballfield. I hope the next group coming in is just like them."
Lindsay Arndts
Meigs County
Senior
Outfielder
TWC signee hit .407 and led Meigs with nine triples, 14 doubles and 55 runs scored.
Brooke Baxter
Marion County
Freshman
Outfielder
She had a .445 average, hit 13 doubles, stole eight bases, scored 43 runs and drove in 21.
Chelsea Burgess
Sequatchie County
Senior
Utility
The Chattanooga State-bound catcher or outfielder hit .446 with 23 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs.
Paige Case
South Pittsburg
Junior
Infielder
She was sound defensively at shortstop and had a .423 batting average and scored 21 runs.
Shelby Ellis
Bledsoe County
Senior
Outfielder
She had a .443 batting average and was Bledsoe County's leader in runs scored with 25.
Sydney Hooper
Walker Valley
Freshman
Pitcher
She had a 16-7 pitching record and a 1.38 ERA and also had 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBIs.
Cassi Pickett
Marion County
Freshman
Catcher
She had a .500 average with five home runs, four triples, 20 doubles and 51 RBIs.
Kayla Reagan
Bledsoe County
Senior
Infielder
She had a .424 batting average and topped the Lady Warriors in runs batted in with 23.
Heather Richards
Marion County
Junior
Pitcher
Her 9-6 pitching record included three shutouts, and she batted .474 and hit 14 doubles.
Lydia Ritchie
Bledsoe County
Freshman
Pitcher
She had an 18-5 pitching record with a 1.33 ERA and 213 strikeouts and also batted .434.
Kayla Sewell
Walker Valley
Junior
Infielder
She hit .339 with a team-high 39 RBIs and had three home runs among her 15 extra-base hits.
Ashley Shaver
Meigs County
Senior
Infielder
The Chattanooga State recruit hit .341 with six homers, nine steals, 56 runs and 43 RBIs.
SECOND TEAM
Taylor Brown: Marion County, sophomore, outfielder
Jill Davis: Meigs County, senior, infielder
Courtney Dawson: Sequatchie County, senior, pitcher
Courtney Gobble: Walker Valley, senior, infielder
Morgan Henderson: Marion County, junior, outfielder
Kirstie Jennings: Meigs County, senior, catcher
Brooke Melhorn: Meigs County, senior, pitcher
Lynsey Million: Meigs County, junior, outfielder
Jaclyn Saunders: Bledsoe County, junior, infielder
Sydney Sloan: Polk County, freshman, utility
Laura Smartt: Grundy County, senior, infielder
Carmen Wooden: South Pittsburg, sophomore, pitcher
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
1. Meigs County (37-9): The District 5-AA champion Lady Tigers qualified for the state tournament and averaged almost eight runs per game.
2. Marion County (31-14): After a 5-8 start, the Lady Warriors won District 6-A and got to a state sectional with one senior on the squad.
3. Bledsoe County (23-10): The Lady Warriors advanced to a Class AA state sectional.