PLAYER OF THE YEAR
HOLLI BROOKS
Heading into her senior year, the two-sport Gordon Lee star was set on continuing her athletic career on the basketball court in college. However, after batting a team-best .476 with 41 RBIs in leading the Lady Trojans to a perfect season and Class A title, Brooks has had to rethink her future. “I was pretty sure this was it for softball, but this year has made me love the sport all over again,” the left fielder said. “This team was so close that it’s really sad to have to leave them. We all love the sport and we showed up every day to play softball and play together. There was no drama within the team.” There was, however, plenty of it on the field as the team became the first in state history to go undefeated. It’s a memory Brooks will long cherish, regardless of where her future
lies. “I can’t think of a better way to go out,” she said.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dana Mull
When she was finally able to step back and let the accomplishment sink in, the eighth-year Gordon Lee head coach was able to put her team’s 38-0 championship season in perspective. A very simple formula carried the Lady Trojans to such heights. “It’s so special for this team to not have to experience defeat,” Mull said. “It was a great group of girls to work with, and they did hate to lose. It’s the hardest working talented group I’ve had, and when you combine that natural talent with hard work, it’s an unbeatable combination.” The Lady Trojans hit well over .400 as a team, and top pitchers Brenna Nation and Kalei Kimbrell had a combined ERA under 0.70. The bad news for the rest of the state is that both will be back in 2011, along with six other regulars.