Area high school softball players selected for All-State teams (2024)

Nine local high school softball players have been named All-State in their respective classifications by the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women's Sports.

North Augusta's Ayla Holmes and LeAnn Gilbert made the Class AAAA team; Fox Creek's Zoey Owens, Strom Thurmond's Leigh Anne Strock and Barnwell's Jaidyn Devore and BreAnna Buckmon were picked for Class AA; and Williston-Elko's Hailey O'Neal and the Wagener-Salley duo of Allie Davis and Kylee Hooker were selected in Class A.

Holmes, a freshman, has been the Region 4-AAAA champion Jackets' top offensive threat. Heading into Thursday night's Class AAAA Upper State semifinal at York, Holmes was batting .527 with seven doubles, five home runs, 28 RBI and 22 runs scored.

Gilbert, a senior, has led the Jackets in the circle while also providing a reliable bat. Heading into Thursday night she was hitting .427 with four doubles, 11 RBI and 20 runs scored, and as a pitcher she had a record of 15-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 22 appearances.

Owens, a senior, led the Predators at the plate as they reached the Class AA District 1 championship. She batted .473 with 11 doubles, two triples, 24 RBI and 23 runs scored.

Strock, a sophom*ore, is a repeat selection from last year. Heading into Friday's Class AA Upper State championship at Gray Collegiate she was hitting .468 with three doubles, a triple, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored.

Devore, a junior, is also a returner to the All-State team. She batted .563 with 10 doubles, three triples, a home run, 28 RBI and 31 runs scored, and in the circle she went 16-3 with a 0.99 ERA and threw five no-hitters and two perfect games.

Buckmon, a senior, batted .375 with three doubles, two triples, 17 RBI and 30 runs scored as she and Devore led the Warhorses to the Region 6-AA title and a spot in the District 6 championship. She was also selected for the North-South All-Star games.

O'Neal, a sophom*ore, was the leading piece for a record-breaking Williston-Elko offense. The Blue Devils set new program highs in batting average, runs scored and home runs, and O'Neal provided a big bat as the Blue Devils won 15 games, finished second in Region 4-A and reached the Class A District 2 championship.

Davis, a senior, is back on the Class A All-State team after another big season at the plate. She batted .409 with 11 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 32 RBI and 26 runs scored to lead the War Eagles to another Region 4-A title and trip to the District 4 championship.

Hooker, a sophom*ore, also made the All-State team for the second year in a row. She batted .394 with six doubles, a triple, three home runs, 21 RBI and 29 runs scored, and she threw playoff no-hitters against St. Joseph's and Great Falls in addition to region no-nos against Ridge Spring-Monetta, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler and Calhoun County.

Joining Buckmon on the North-South rosters is Midland Valley's Haley Thornsberry, a senior who batted .443 with eight doubles, two home runs, 22 RBI and 17 runs scored.

The North-South All-Star games are scheduled for May 29-30 at Lexington High School.