TGCA Releases All-State Teams
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – The Texas Girls’ Coaches Association (TGCA) released its annual end-of-the-year accolades earlier this week – including the All-State and Academic All-State teams – and the Anderson and Houston County areas were well represented.
The Class A State Champion Slocum Lady Mustangs had four players selected for the prestigious honor while two Grapeland Sandiettes were lauded for their performance
on the field with a selection to the Class AA All-State team.
In addition, four Sandiettes were selected to the Academic All-State team for their performance in the classroom while the Cayuga Lady Wildcats placed three players on the Academic All-State team.
At the Class A level, the four Lady Mustangs chosen for the All-State team were: senior shortstop Makayla Bickerstaff; junior catcher Briley Evers; sophomore pitcher and Class A State Championship game MVP Jalyn Fletcher; and junior third baseman Jessi Ives.
Evers has also been selected to play on the Blue Team in the TGCA 1A-4A All-Star game scheduled for July 12 at the Austin ISD Noack Complex. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. start time. The Noack Complex is located at 5300 Crainway Dr. in Austin.
There will be a familiar face to Evers in the opposing dugout during the All-Star game as Slocum Lady Mustang Softball Coach David Ives has been selected as an assistant coach for the Red Team.
At the Class AA level, freshman pitcher Cadie Belle Currie and senior shortstop Taylar Mullen were chosen for the All-State team.
Mullen was also chosen as a member of the Legacy All-Star team. According to the TGCA website, “The TGCA Legacy All-Star team members in each sportwill receive a certificate from the TGCA recognizing their achievement of being named to the team. There will be no All-Star game for these teams.”
Moving to the Academic All-State honors, four Sandiettes were selected for recognition. They were: Madison Holbrook; Jakara Jackson; Taylar Mullen; and Hailee Sheridan.
The Cayuga Lady Wildcats also placed three players on the All-State Academic list. They were: Jennifer Bennett; Bradi Jo Brownlow; and Kimberly Foerster.
To qualify for Academic All-State Honors, the TGCA requires the nominees to be: graduating seniors; have an overall GPA average of 94 or above for grades 9-11; a varsity participant or member of the support staff of that sport in good standing; and of good moral character.
Congratulations to all of the young ladies listed above for your accomplishments both on the field of play and in the classroom.
SLOCUM LADY MUSTANGS’ PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF TAMMY BICKERSTAFF AND STEPHANIE LIMERICK
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
