By JARRID McCORMICK
Williamson Daily News
For the third straight year, Lincoln County standout Josie Bird is headlining the Class AAA all-state softball team, selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
Bird was named the captain of the first team as a catcher for the third time after a season in which she hit .571 at the plate to go with a .716 on-base percentage and a 1.154 slugging percentage. The senior clubbed 11 home runs, giving her an even 50 dingers for her career, while adding seven doubles, one triple and 38 RBIs.
“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Lincoln County coach Tommy Barrett said. “The size, strength and the ability that kid has is just unknown. I’ve had some great star athletes, but the size of Josie, and the strength of Josie, just don’t go unnoticed. The kid really works. She outlifts a lot of the boys from the football team. She’s a beast. Just a very, very hard worker.”
When Bird, who is signed with Indiana, wasn’t smashing big flies, she was probably getting pitched around by opponents. She drew a state-best 38 free passes, 31 of which were intentional walks, including 10 straight intentional passes during the postseason against Cabell Midland.
Aside from being captain for the third consecutive year, this is Bird’s fourth straight season as a member of the Class AAA first team.
“To receive AAA all-state captain for the third year in a row is a tremendous honor that allows me to represent my state, county and everyone who has supported me throughout my softball journey,” Bird said. “I think back on the countless years of practice and dedication to softball, and it makes this honor even more meaningful.
“When we experienced the (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, and softball was taken away due to social distancing, that’s when I learned how important it was to me. It became a huge motivator for me to be the best I could be. This is proof that hard work pays off. I will forever be thankful to represent Lincoln County and West Virginia, where so many people have supported me along this journey.”
Joining Bird on the first team is senior Panthers teammate Ryleigh Shull, who is making her third-straight appearance as a first-teamer.
Shull, a Louisiana Tech commit, landed a spot as a pitcher as she finished with a 1.85 ERA and 100 Ks. At the plate, Shull hit at a .510 clip, with four long balls, 13 doubles, two triples and 40 RBIs.
Joining Shull as third-time selections are John Marshall senior Ava Blake and senior Sydney Young from St. Albans. Both were chosen an infielders. Blake hit .467 with 13 homers and 30 RBIs for the Monarchs, while Young hit at a .583 clip with nine homers and 17 steals.
Five players are making their second appearance on the first team this spring, three of which are utility selections in junior Sydney Turner from Spring Valley, senior Quinn Ballengee from Cabell Midland and Woodrow Wilson junior Aubrey Smallwood.
Turner turned in a .602 batting average on the season with four home runs, five triples, two doubles, 19 RBIs and 48 runs scored. Ballengee hit at a .403 clip with 12 bombs, nine doubles and 36 RBIs, while Smallwood turned in a .385 average with five homers and 25 RBIs while going 8-7 in the circle with a 1.16 ERA and 184 Ks in 90 innings pitched.
Also making her second appearance as a first-teamer is sophomore Maddie Campbell, who is representing state champion University. Campbell hit .453 on the season with two long balls and 23 RBIs. She was chosen as an infielder, but she also pitched and went 7-4 on the season with a 3.75 ERA and 65 strikeouts.
Parkersburg South’s Becca Beaty is the final two-time selection, as the senior was chosen as an outfielder.
Three of the four pitchers chosen were making their inaugural showing on the first-team list. They are sophomores Katie Justice from Hurricane and Madison Wisman from Morgantown, along with junior Ava Bentley from St. Albans.
Bentley struck out 294 batters for the Red Dragons while compiling a 15-8 record and a 1.92 ERA. At the plate, she hit .486 with two home runs and 22 steals.
Wisman went 16-2 in the circle with a 2.60 ERA while also hitting .487 with six home runs and 38 RBIs. Justice turned in a 15-5 record for Hurricane with 141 strikeouts and hit .433 at the dish.
Rounding out the infield selections are Cabell Midland senior Olivia Bell (.515 BA, nine HRs, 11 doubles, 48 RBIs) and Hedgesville sophomore Mayla Ortega (.452 BA, 12 HRs, 45 RBIs), while Greenbrier East senior Alanis McClary (.422 BA, 38 hits, 14 RBIs) was the second catcher chosen.
State runner-up Washington saw junior Gabby Bibb (.539 BA, 48 hits, 17 RBIs) land an outfield spot, while Hurricane junior Alex Anderson (.494, six HR, 34 RBI) grabbed another one.
Greenbrier East’s Kayla Bartley (11-5, 1.80 ERA, 165 Ks, .392 BA, six HRs, 29 RBIs) was chosen as a utility selection after leading the Spartans to the state tournament as a senior.
Captaining the second team was senior infielder Taylor Boswell from Greenbrier East. She hit .359 with five long balls and 38 RBIs, while ending her career in South Charleston.
Joining her on the second-team infield is Hurricane’s Punkie Harper and Jaden Jones, George Washington’s Tylie Barton and Parkersburg South’s Brooklin Whitehead.
The second-team pitchers are Drea Watts of Cabell Midland, Washington’s Chloe Constantino, Jefferson’s Becca Munslow and Glenville State commit Madison Pitts of Spring Valley, while the catchers are University’s Olivia Masoner and Cabell Midland’s Sabrina Rose.
The outfield selections consist of Kate Swisher and Addie Armstrong of George Washington, along with Spring Valley’s Kate Spry.
Rounding out the second team as utility selections are South Charleston’s Caroline Dunn, Parkersburg’s Kylie Conley, University’s Sophia Lehosit and Washington’s Carly Constantino.
All-State honorees can obtain state-shaped, wood plaques with name, school, year and honor at wvswa.org or bearwoodcompany.com.
Class AAA
1st team
P – Ryleigh Shull, Lincoln County (Sr.)
P – Ava Bentley, St. Albans (Jr.)
P – Katie Justice, Hurricane (Soph.)
P – Maddie Wisman, Morgantown (Soph.)
IF – Olivia Bell, Cabell Midland (Sr.)
IF – Ava Blake, John Marshall (Sr.)
IF – Maddie Campbell, University (Soph.)
IF – Mayla Ortega, Hedgesville (Soph.)
IF – Sydney Young, St. Albans (Sr.)
OF – Gabby Bibb, Washington (Jr.)
OF – Becca Beatty, Parkersburg South (Sr.)
OF – Alex Anderson, Hurricane (Jr.)
C – Josie Bird, Lincoln County (Sr.) (Captain)
C – Alanis McClary, Greenbrier East (Sr.)
UTL – Quinn Ballengee, Cabell Midland (Sr.)
UTL – Aubrey Smallwood, Beckley (Jr.)
UTL – Kayla Bartley, Greenbrier East (Sr.)
UTL – Sydney Turner, Spring Valley (Jr.)
Class AAA
2nd team
P – Audrea Watts, Cabell Midland (Soph.)
P – Becca Munslow, Jefferson (Jr.)
P – Chloe Constantino, Washington (Jr.)
P – Madison Pitts, Spring Valley (Sr.)
IF – Tylie Barton, George Washington (Sr.)
IF – Taylor Boswell, Greenbrier East (Sr.) (CAPTAIN)
IF – Brooklin Whitehead, Parkersburg South (Jr.)
IF – Punkie Harper, Hurricane (Jr.)
IF – Jaden Jones, Hurricane (Jr.)
OF – Kate Swisher, George Washington (Sr.)
OF – Kate Spry, Spring Valley (Jr.)
OF – Addie Armstrong, George Washington (Sr.)
C – Olivia Masoner, University (Soph)
C – Sabrina Rose, Cabell Midland (Sr.)
UTL – Kylie Conley, Parkersburg (Jr.)
UTL – Sophia Lehosit, University (Soph.)
UTL – Carly Constantino, Washignton (Jr.)
UTL – Caraline Dunn, South Charleston (Jr.)
Honorable Mention
Jillian Butler, Ripley; Abby Roberts, Parkersburg; Becca Pennington, Lincoln County; Arien Cooper, Lincoln County; Abigail Jenkins, Princeton; Lydia McClintock, Musselman; Allison Ramey, Lincoln County; Kacie Fraley, Beckley; Alexis Cumberledge, John Marshall; Alexa Forshea, Hampshire; Alyssa Abel, Buckhannon-Upshur; Addison Perdue, Cabell Midland; Rebecca Conrad, Cabell Midland; Emily Peterson, Morgantown; Emma Johnson, Princeton; Faith Randolph, Wheeling Park; Brooklyn Bird, Beckley; Reese Ward, John Marshall; Zoey Agnew, Princeton; Sophia Frye, South Charleston; Lily Carola, Greenbrier East; Haley Jones, Oak Hill; Shaylea Blackhurst, Riverside; Jaden Bishop, Capital; Liz Alsop, Morgantown; Riley Smith, Riverside; Alexis Wagner, Spring Mills; Courtney Greenfield, Washington; Kiersten Lacy, St. Albans; Nicole Harris, Cabell Midland; Micah Wilson, Morgantown; Josalyn Phillips, University; Kaylie Kwiatkowski, Bridgeport.
