The Gulf Coast Eight Conference, which is made up of county public schools in Citrus and Hernando, announced their softball team. Seven players from Hernando County were first-team selections. Nature Coast, which was 9-0 before the season was cut short, was well-represented with three selections, as well as the player and coach of the year.
Player of the year
P Alyssa Kelly, Sr.,Nature Coast
Though the season was reduced to nine games, Kelly put together a strong start that was tough to match. The Sharks’ ace was dominant, starting — and winning — every game. The Daytona State signee also had a 1.11 ERA and 63 strikeouts.
Coach of the year
Jug Olmstead, Nature Coast
No team in the conference was off to better start than the Sharks. Not only was Nature Coast undefeated (9-0), but it outscored opponents by a combined 97-11.
As a freshman last year, Avery Smith had quite a debut, scoring 50 goals in an abbreviated 10-game season.
The scoring continued this year, so much that Smith compiled 150 points in her high school career before her sophomore season ended.
Entering last week, Smith ranked second in the area in goals (71) and points (90) to help the Coyotes earn the No. 1 seed in the Class 1A, District 5 tournament. She added to her total by scoring 11 more goals in three games to lead Cypress Creek to a district title.
Fans took notice. Smith received more than 60 percent of the votes (3,141) to beat out Steinbrenner’s Taylor Lapointe (1,311 votes).
The PTP pick
Chloe Norman, Jr., Land O’ Lakes: Led the area in goals with 88 entering the week and finished the season with 100.
Whenever Cypress Creek needs offensive production, it can turn to Nicholas Vreeland.
The Coyotes’ go-to player has been consistent at putting the ball through the net. He has scored at least two goals in every game and has racked up five or more eight times this season.
That helped Vreeland put up some impressive numbers. He finished the season with 67 goals, which currently leads the area and ranks third in the state and fourth in the nation.
Fans were impressed. Vreeland received more than 52 percent of the votes (6,531) to beat out Newsome’s Luke Haley, who had 37 percent (4,660 votes).
The PTP pick
Luke Haley, Jr., Newsome: Led the area in points with 106 and assists with 50 entering last week.
Both teams are ranked among the top seven in the state in their respective classifications by MaxPreps (the Buccaneers are No. 7 in 3A and the Tigers are No. 1 in 5A).
The schedules
Baseball
Shorecrest at Canterbury, 10
Jefferson at Newsome, 10
Steinbrenner at Durant, 10
Strawberry Crest at Hillsborough, 11
Clearwater at IMG Royal, 12
Freedom at King, 1
Lennard at Leto, 1
Mitchell at IMG Gray, 1
Berkeley Prep at Jesuit, 1
Softball
Naples Longshore Tournament
Calvary Christian vs. Immokalee, 10:30
Calvary Christian vs. Naples Barron Collier, 12:30