"Maggie Tyler, a Virginia Tech signee who led Poquoson High to the state semifinals for the second time in three seasons, has been selected the 2012 Group AA Softball Pitcher of the Year.

Tyler had a 25-3 pitching record this season for the Islanders, tallying 18 shutouts and striking out 275 in 187.1 innings. She finished her career with better than 1,000 strikeouts.

Tyler also had a big season at the plate, batting .419 with 31 hits, 32 RBI, five home runs and 28 walks. Tyler was joined on the AA All-State first team by Poquoson outfielder Brooke Sarrazin, who batted .403 with 40 hits, 26 runs and eight stolen bases.

York second baseman Kimmy Ashe, who batted .431, also made the all-state first team. All-State second team selections were Poquoson shortstop Logan Walker (.385 batting average), Poquoson catcher Karlee Holzbach (.408 batting average, 33 hits, 19 runs) and Grafton third baseman Hannah Olson (.474 batting average, 24 RBI, 21 runs)

"This is an incredible honor," said Tyler, a three-time Daily Press Softball Player of the Year. "It's about the only thing I hadn't achieved during high school.

"It's a big honor because this is such a tough (softball) state."

Tyler will finish her high school career on Thursday as part of the East Squad in the Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star Game at Christopher Newport University.

"This is definitely a great way to end my high school career," she said. "I'm excited about the game and the chance to wear the Poquoson uniform one more time.

"I'll just go out and pitch my best.

AA State Softball Selections 2012
Player of the Year: Amanda Dalton (Salem)
Pitcher of the Year: Maggie Tyler (Poquoson)
Coach of the Year: Joe Spicer (Woodgrove)

First team

Pitcher: Maggie Tyler (Poquoson); Maci Jones (Briar Woods); Logan Viers (Abingdon).
Catcher: Amanda Dalton (Salem); Goad (Louisa).
Infielders: Kimmy Ashe (York); Sam Thomas (Park View); Mariah Folts (Broadway); Taylor Dingus (Tazewell)
Outfielders: Brooke Sarrazin (Poquoson); Ashley Cole (Woodgrove); Heather Cantrell (Broadway); Dani Duff (Cave Spring).
DP: Danielle Powell (William Byrd).

Second team

Pitchers: Megan Good (Ft. Defiance); Allie Reed (Woodgrove)
Catcher: Karlee Holzbach (Poquoson); Hannah Bays (Abingdon).
Infielders: Hannah Olson (Grafton); Sabrie Neeb (Skyline); Nicole Riely (Rustburg); Sara Wright (Pulaski Co.); Logan Walker (Poquoson); Justina Augustine (Fauquier).
Outfielders: Brittany Gasser (Dominion); Kaitlyn Pruitt (Abingdon); Elaine Wood (Chancellor).
DP: Kayla McCroskey (Tazewell)

Honorable Mention

Alexa Sheets (Turner Ashby); Kristen Rose (Allegheny); Kassie Brammer (William Byrd); Mallory Wood (Amherst); Morgan Bruce (Brookville); Haley Lakes (Rustburg); Kelsey Jarrett (Northside); Cassidy Hensley (Liberty); Corbin Holder (Tunstall); Katelyn Stewart (Abingdon); Kelsey Van Asch (Tunstall); Taylor Mabry (Bassett); Jordyn Cole (Richlands); Jordan Christley (Pulaski Co.); Jordan Joyce (Bassett); Renay Auble (Loudon Co.); Becca Huitt (Liberty); Casey Forbes (Briar Woods); Tory Wright (Dominion); Miranda Cropp (Culpeper); Courtney Didlake (Caroline); Taylor Hedrick (Chancellor); Madison Cabell (Southampton); Ja’Onna Jacobs (Brunswick)."

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Quote Originally Posted by HtownHokie View Post
NEWPORT NEWS — For someone like Hannah Joyce, a multi-sport athlete who is used to the action, sitting in the dugout for six innings wasn't easy. That's the price in an All-Star game, when the roster has 19 players and everyone wants a turn.

But Joyce, Gloucester's record-setting shortstop, made up for the lost time in the East's 6-0 win Thursday morning at Captains Park. She went 2-for-2 and was the only player in the game with multiple hits.

"Everybody got three innings, and I got the last three," Joyce said. "It was OK, though. I got to cheer on the ladies while I was watching. It was fine."

The East led 3-0 in the top of the seventh when Joyce laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases. After two runs scored on a pair of wild pitches, Joyce came home on an RBI groundout to make it 6-0.

Joyce had a two-out single to center in the top of the ninth but was stranded.

All coming in her last official act as a high school athlete.

"I'm going to miss this jersey so bad," said Joyce, who will be playing next season at Chowan University.

Joyce, the Peninsula District and Co-Eastern Region Player of the Year, was one of three players from the Peninsula area in the game.

Menchville's Bria Mizell went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, and she also pitched two shutout innings.

Poquoson Maggie Tyler, the Group AA Pitcher of the Year, gave up one hit and struck out seven in three innings as the starter.

For Tyler, it was a nice sendoff before beginning her career at Virginia Tech.

"My last hurrah," she said. "It was definitely an honor to start the game. And I got to hit in the four-hole, which is cool."

Tyler went 0-for-2, sending a ball to the warning track in her last at bat.

"I dipped my shoulder a little and hit it up," she said.

Unlike Joyce and Tyler, Mizell will not play softball in college. Though she had scholarship offers, she chose to attend Old Dominion, which does not have a softball program.

"The only reason I turned them down is because they either didn't have my alternative, which is nursing, or they didn't have the dental program, which is really want I want to do," she said. "I'm hoping ODU does get a team so I can play."

The East's MVP was Patrick Henry-Ashland's Samantha Moore, who broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. The West's MVP was Bath County's Jailyn Ford, who gave up two hits — including Moore's homer — and struck out seven in five innings.

EAST 6, WEST 0

East 000 012 300 — 6 8 2

West 000 000 000 — 0 4 1

WP: Reid. LP: Ford. Standouts: East, Joyce 2-2 (run), Mizell 1-3 (run, RBI), Moore 1-2 (HR, RBI).