BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tug Valley’s softball team was well represented on the Class A All-State softball team voted on by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Sophomore Bailee Hall was named to the first-team as a utility player and senior Haleigh Muncy made the first-team all-state as an outfielder.

Amelya Wellman, a pitcher and infielder, was named to the all-state honorable mention list.

Hall batted .547 with 18 doubles, a triple, four homers, 30 RBIs and had 40 steals. Inside the circle as a pitcher, she finished 17-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 131 2-3 innings.

Muncy had a .481 batting average with 44 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

Wellman hit .466 with nine doubles, a triple and 34 RBIs this season.

“It is a great honor for the team and community at Tug Valley High School to have three honored by the Sports Writers Association! To have two All-State and an honorable mention player is a testament to the whole team, as it took everyone to win 20 games,” Lady Panthers Coach Rocky Hall said. “We eventually lost to the State Tournament semi-finals Buffalo High School in the sectional championship game. Their coach told me after the game that they were more worried about playing us than Sherman. We were one of the top teams and I am so proud of these three girls. Without them, we would not have had the success we had. In my opinion we should have at least three first-team players and several others mentioned.”

“Amelya Wellman will be hard to replace as she was very versatile and did a great job all year long. She stepped up and pitched at the end while Bailee was battling illness,” Hall added. “Amelya did a great job and she was invaluable. I just don’t know how we can replace her.”

“Haleigh Muncy was an honorable mention during her sophomore year, and during the offseason she worked extremely hard. I think she only missed a couple of flex days and during that time we talked about the pressure she had put on herself last year. We talked about “just play ball and have fun and the rest will come.” She was so much more relaxed this year and put up great numbers. At one time she was leading the state in home runs, according to Max Preps! Whoever replaces her center field position will have their work cut out for them,” Hall stated.

“Bailee was first-team last year as a freshman as an infielder. This year she had to take up the slack with pitching duties as we lost a great pitcher, Kinna Justice, from last year’s team. Bailee tied her big sister Autumn’s record with 18 wins this year. Autumn was 18-12 in 2019 and made First Team as a pitcher that year. Bailee tells people she was ‘born to be a catcher, but forced to pitch.’ I am glad she is a hard worker,” Hall added. “God has blessed her with a lot of talent and she is very thankful for that. She does anything asked of her for her team. I am glad she is back next year! We will be young but Kermit and Lenore continue to send quality players to Tug Valley. Bailee and catcher Haley Newsome will provide a firm foundation to build on.”

“This All-State team gives Tug Valley High School four first-team all-state players in the last five years. Emily Hatfield, Autumn Hall, Bailee Hall and Haleigh Muncy, along with a couple of them repeating first-teamers! Several other players like Amelya Wellman and Cassidy Griffey have honorable mentions. That says a lot about the softball program at Tug Valley High School. It has been a team effort and I have been blessed with some good coaches and parents,” Hall concluded.

Hall’s team finished with a fine 20-8 record and was ranked most of the season.

Class A All-State

First team

P – Cali Masters, St. Marys (Jr.) (CAPTAIN)

P – Kimmie Dillman, Buffalo (Sr.)

P – MaKenna Curran, Doddridge County (Sr.)

P – Josie Frizzell, Wheeling Central (Junior)

IF – Zoey Winland, St. Marys (Sr.)

IF – Kiera Cochran, Buffalo (Jr.)

IF – Macy Casto, Ravenswood (Jr.)

IF – Miley Tingler, Petersburg, (Fr.)

IF – Fiona VanMatre, Wahama (Soph)

OF – Ella Bullman, St. Marys (Jr.)

OF – Haleigh Muncy, Tug Valley (Sr.)

OF – Peyton Moore, Trinity (Fr.)

C – Jayci Gray, Ritchie County (Sr.)

C – Lauren Guthrie, Sherman (Sr.)

UTL – Sam Colaw, Petersburg (Sr.)

UTL – Madison Rader, Midland Trail (Fr)

UTL – Baylee Beachler, Pendleton (Jr.)

UTL – Bailee Hall, Tug Valley (Soph.)

Honorable Mention:

Olivia See, Doddridge County; Layla Smith, Gilmer County; Stevie Starsick, Gilmer County; Jesse Anderson, Magnolia; Layne Kincaid, St. Marys; Alexis Livingston, Tyler Consolidated; Kiersten Kirby, Williamstown; Hadley Ross, Doddridge County; Elissa Hoffman, Wahama; Amelya Wellman, Tug Valley; Avery Townsend, Pendleton County; Shanna Cabell, Van; Breigh Martin, Buffalo; Maddie Morris, Charleston Catholic; Maddie Strosnider, East Hardy; Preslee Treadway, Greenbrier West; Hannah Benson, Midland Trail; Brooke Edge, Wheeling Central; Aubrey McCoy, Charleston Catholic; Ella Winged, Madonna; Tori Sizemore, Montcalm; McKenna Crites, Moorefield; Bella Rine, Wheeling Central; Addison Armentrout, East Hardy; Maddie Fields, Greenbrier West; Jacklynn Barnett, Man; Addie Hicks, Tucker County; Cali Brown, Van; Ava Shaffer, Tucker County; Darren Loughridge, Webster County; Bryleigh Thomas, James Monroe; Savannah Doshen, Clay Battelle; Phoebe Dudgeon, Mount View; Aubrey Thomas, Cameron; Desiree Keene, Tolsia; Lilly Perkins, River View; Carlee Sweeney, Baden City.