By TIM GUERCIO

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

NATCHEZ — The Natchez Democrat All-Metro softball player of the year is Sara Cockerham of the Vidalia Lady Vikings. The coach of the year is Craig Beesley of the Cathedral Lady Green Wave.

Cockerham, a graduating senior, was the Lady Vikings No.1 go-to pitcher this season, starting nearly every game and ending the season with a record of 13 wins and eight losses.

While at work on the mound Cockerham recorded 93 strikeouts on the year.

At the plate her batting average was .430 to go along with a slugging percentage of .901, 6 home runs 28 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

All of these stats got her to the top in the metro area.

“When I heard the news that I was chosen I felt honored, I’m glad people were watching and noticed,” Cockerham said.

When Cockerham was not pitching, she was still in the game, on the infield.

“When I didn’t pitch or didn’t complete a game I played shortstop,” Cockerham said. “Our third baseman Tionna Ellis always kept me in a good mood, that helped me a lot this year.”

The Natchez Democrat All-Metro softball coach of the year is Cathedral Lady Green Wave coach Craig Beesley, who has double duty as he also coaches the baseball team, but it was the softball team that helped earn him the honor.

“To be coach of the year you have to have good players, and this year we had some,” Beesley said.

The Lady Green Wave stumbled as they started their season. After six games they had only one win. As the season went on, they picked up the pace by going 17-7-1 after the bad start. They ended the season at 18-12-1.

Beesley stated that at the South State tournament, the Lady Green Wave played eight games in two days.

“We had some big wins there, we beat Porter’s Chapel after they had beaten us twice during the year,” Beesley said. “We also lost to Riverfield twice during the year, but we beat them twice at South State to advance to the State tournament.”

Players who made the Natchez Democrat’s 2018-2019 All-Metro Softball First Team are:

* Pitcher Addison Jackson, CHS.

* Catcher Makenna Patt, ACCS.

* Third baseman Shelby Mason, ACCS.

* Shortstop Baylee Graning, CHS.

* Second baseman Macie Seyfarth, VHS.

* First baseman Shelbi Cross, VHS.

* Left fielder Savanna Spear, ACCS.

* Left fielder Tiffany Brewer, VHS.

* Centerfielder Harlie Murray, MHS.