Player of the Year: C Mia Fung, Jr., Strawberry Crest
Why we picked her: Providing staunch defense and staggering offensive numbers, Fung led the Chargers to a 24-3 record and the four-year-old program’s first playoff triumph. Wielding a 33-inch Easton Synergy bat, the Chargers catcher hit for average and altitude: .533, six home runs, 23 RBIs, nine doubles and eight triples. For those who presume her numbers were compiled against inferior competition, just ask Chamberlain (2-for-5, triple), Bartow (3-for-4, double), Lakewood Ranch (3-for-3, double) or Plant City (2-for-2, triple, RBI) about her potency. If there was one figure more astounding than Fung’s slugging percentage (1.107), it was her fielding percentage (.994). Her lone error of the year was on a passed ball, coach Mindy Miltner said.
Proudest accomplishment: Fung says it’s the county lead in home runs she held until April 12, when Sickles junior Chelsea Armstrong belted her sixth and seventh in a doubleheader. In three varsity seasons, Fung has totaled 14 homers.
Future plans: Fung has committed to the University of South Florida
Did you know? Fung wears No. 9 only because Miltner won’t allow anyone to wear No. 99, Fung’s preferred number. …Her dad, Ryan Fung, was a rangy defensive end at Robinson in the early 1990s. …Her only concession to superstition: the sock with the hole near the knee. Fung wears the sock on her left leg because she slides on her right (13 stolen bases).
Pitcher of the Year: Paige Davis, Sr., Durant
Why we picked her: Because locally, she’s who we’d want in the circle in a high-stakes game. A two-time winner of this honor, Davis led Hillsborough County in wins (18-5, 1.46 ERA), often supporting her own cause at the plate (.390 BA). When Durant started 0-2 in Class 8A, District 7 play (due in part to six errors), Davis responded by allowing six total earned runs in the Cougars’ final eight district games — all victories. Becoming less hittable as the season progressed, she three-hit defending 7A state Chamberlain in a 2-0 win on April 9, and two-hit 7A region semifinalist Plant City in a 6-0 romp two nights later. The last earned run she allowed in her career — in a 1-0 loss to Palm Harbor University in the 8A region semifinals: was the first she had given up in more than a month.
Proudest accomplishment: Davis said it’s tying Durant’s single-season shutout record (10) held by 2008 graduate Sara Demuth. She recorded five in a row in a 17-day span late in the season, two of them in the playoffs.
Future plans: Davis recently signed with South Florida State College, a two-year program in Avon Park.
Did you know? In her final home game, Davis not only two-hit Plant City in the Cougars’ 6-0 win, she also homered. …The youngest of four kids, Davis wears No. 8 because, well, it’s sort of a forced family tradition. “We all played Little League and (her mom, Janice) would make sure we all had the same number so she wouldn’t have to memorize so many.” …The left wristband she ritually wears includes the initials “AC” in memory of former team mom Antionette Cuellar, who died of cancer 10 days before Durant won the 2012 8A state title.
First team
P Rachel Dwyer, Sr., Chamberlain: Class of 2013 valedictorian posted 0.92 ERA in 153 innings
P Sammy Tyler, Jr., Strawberry Crest: Had 153 Ks in 101.2 innings despite partially tearing quad in late March
P Noelle Dietrich, So., Plant City: Capped breakthrough year (15 wins, sub-1.50 ERA) with four-hit win vs. Bartow
P Amanda Weathers, Jr., Blake: Yellow Jackets don’t sniff playoffs without this power pitcher (92 IP, 120 Ks)
C Alyssa Colding, Sr., Durant: Led Cougars in batting average (.432), RBIs (26), hits (41) and doubles (13)
INF Jessica Warren, Jr., Alonso: No one pitched to this FSU commit, who hit .474 and drew 16 walks
INF Chelsea Armstrong, Jr., Sickles: Led county in home runs (seven), committed three errors all year
INF Caroline Whiteside, Sr., Freedom: Steady slap hitter smacked winning grand slam in region final
INF Megan Reed, Jr., Strawberry Crest: University of Florida commit batted .358 with three homers, 23 RBIs
OF Cacey Simmons, Jr., Strawberry Crest: Chargers’ RBI leader (28) hit .496 with five home runs
OF Rachel Carlson, Jr., Freedom: .406 hitter batted safely in her first 11 games
OF Brooke Freeman, Jr., Durant: Versatile Cougar hit .398, committed three errors all season
DH Lindsey Hagberg, Sr., Chamberlain: Harvard-bound catcher hit team-best .442 for Chiefs
UT Katlin Hall, Sr., Freedom: Hit .384, allowed one earned run in 15.1 relief innings in playoffs
Second team
P Mak Dooley, So., Wharton
P Nikki Misner, Sr., Plant
P Jaclyn Amato, Sr., Leto
P Grace Street, So., Freedom
C Maddy Hall, Fr., Freedom
INF Kristin Hoover, Jr., Berkeley Prep
INF Jenna Brownell, So., Chamberlain
INF Christina Gerecke, Sr., Academy of the Holy Names
INF Payton Lewis, Jr., Durant
OF Ashton Hill, Sr., Holy Names
OF Kijana Browder, Sr., East Bay
OF Kristen Wyckoff, Sr., Plant City
DH Hannah Pridemore, Fr., Newsome
UT Alea White, Fr., Cambridge Christian
Honorable mention
Academy of the Holy Names: Julia Schifino; Alonso: Kiara Johnson, Elly Pillers, Reina Sweet, Megan Wetzel; Armwood: Lauren Harris, Jada Spano; Berkeley Prep: McKenzie Ward; Bloomingdale: Darby Bernaldo, Taylor Engman, Elizabeth Jackson, Lace Smith; Brandon: Kristen Willig; Cambridge Christian: Megan Rygiel; Carrollwood Day: Samantha Fest, Emma Frost, Amanda Rose; Chamberlain: Zalonzia Canady, Amber Fullwood; Durant: Kelli Tidwell; East Bay: Taylor Baker, Kiara Burrows, Madison Culver, Aliceson Holliday; Freedom: Ashley Wilson; Gaither: Lizzie Mason; Hillsborough: Arionna Shank; Jefferson: Nikki Lopez, Selina Perez, Natalia Rivera, Lauren Williams; Lennard: Ashlyn Schultz; Newsome: Kylie Brown; Plant: Kayla McGory, Megan Przeslawski, Danielle Scott; Riverview: Elizabeth Gauthier, Peyton Moritz; Robinson: Amanda Crosby, Alexis Jackson, Brandea Rafferty, Karis Vancavage; Seffner Christian: Tiffani Linville, Cheyenne Wright; Sickles: Giselle Anderson, Christina Linton; Spoto: Katie McGuirt; Steinbrenner: Taylor Morrow, Erica Serafini; Strawberry Crest: Savannah Bradley, Trystan Reibsome, Maddie Turner; Tampa Catholic: Erin Reynolds, Julia Rogers, Kim Rogers, Leah Vail; Tampa Prep: Kamryn Beach, Kayla Monteiro; Wharton: Nicole Dixon, Kassidy Kujawa
Coach of the Year
Autum Hernandez, Freedom: Employing two pitchers — starter Grace Street, reliever Katlin Hall — in every game down the stretch, Hernandez kept the opposition off-balance en route to a historic season. Freedom (22-4) earned its first playoff berth, culminating with a trip to the Class 7A state final.