By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Nine area players were chosen as all-state softball selections for the 2010 season.
Cabot, Searcy and Beebe each had two players make the list, while Sylvan Hills, Lonoke and Abundant Life had one.
Cabot all-state selections Chelsea Conrade and Pete Reed were also chosen to compete in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game in Fayetteville on June 23.
Conrade and Reed were part of a corps of six senior starters who led Cabot to the 7A state semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Bryant.
Conrade was a four-year starting shortstop for the Lady Panthers.
“She’s a very well-rounded athlete,” Cabot coach Becky Steward said. “She could play any position on the field and excel except for pitcher, and she could probably do okay there. She was a quiet leader; she led with her performances on the field both offensively and defensively.”
Reed, a three-year starting catcher, will continue her career at Ouachita Baptist University this fall.
“Pete did a good job behind the plate,” Steward said. “She was more vocal, but that comes in tune with being a catcher. Both of them are great kids.”
Searcy’s Amanda Richardson and pitcher Amber Rollins made the all-state list, and teammate Nila Navarro was named to the 6A state all-tournament team. The Lady Lions earned a first-round bye in the 6A state tournament as the No. 2 seed out of the 6A East, but faced a strong Sheridan team in the second round and lost 4-3.
Beebe shortstop Nikki King and senior teammate Ally Wallace were 5A all-state selections. King will also take part in the all-star game in Fayetteville.
It’s the second time in the school year for Wallace to make all-state after she was chosen for volleyball last fall.
Softball teammate Megan Harris made the 5A state all-tournament team.
The Lady Badgers were the No. 2 seed out of the 5A Southeast entering the state tournament; No. 3 seed Vilonia upset them 3-0 in the first round.
Ashley Evans from Sylvan Hills was also named to the 5A state all-tournament team. Lonoke’s Ashley James was an all-state selection in 4A.
Abundant Life’s Courtney Pack was selected all-state in Class 2A, and was also named to the 2A state all-tournament team.
The Lady Owls went into the state tournament at Junction City as the No. 2 seed out of the East Region and won their first-round game against Midland 2-1.
Their tournament ended with a 7-2 loss to Horatio in the second round.
