Sosby, Smithson selected softball All-Ohio
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Two Highland County softball players earned the highest honor in Ohio high school softball, with Kiley Sosby and Shelby Smithson selected All-Ohio by the Ohio High School Fast Pitch Softball Coaches Association.
Sosby, of Whiteoak, was selected to the first team in Division IV, while Smithson, of Fairfield, was named second team.
The sophomore pitcher for the Lady 'Cats finished with 24 starts this season. Sosby, who was the Division IV SE District Player of the Year, pitched 155.2 innings, finishing with a season high of 264 strikeouts, putting her at over 500 strikeouts for her first two seasons of high school softball.
"Kiley impressed a lot of people in the SE District with her play this past season," WHS head coach Bret Malone said. "Other coaches in the district spoke up on her behalf at the postseason voting.
"She's very deserving of being All-Ohio and any other award she receives. She works hard all year long."
[[In-content Ad]]Sosby threw 2,454 pitches, allowing 140 runs (68 earned) on 151 hits and 31 walks, as she faced 718 batters her sophomore season.
At the plate, the sophomore led WHS in batting average at .333, taking the lead spot in the final few games of the season.
In the '13 season, she hit eight batters and allowed just four home runs, finishing with an 8-16 mark. She shutout her opponents three times, finishing the season with an ERA of 3.05, with a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.169.
"Kiley is very mature for her age," Malone said. "She's not even 16 yet and handles herself very well on the field. She's always the last one off the field, and she loves the game."
Smithson, who is a three-year starter at first base for the Lady Lions, earned her second-team honors for her junior season, which consisted of 26 games. In the Lady Lions' 15-11 season that ended in the regional semifinals, Smithson had a batting average of .366, with 20 runs on 30 hits and nine walks.
The junior entered the season coming off an ACL injury suffered near the end of the fall soccer season.
"Shelby was let loose at the start of our practices, but I thought returning from the injury affected her early season play," FHS assistant head coach Tom Purtell said. "She had a great last half of season and hit the ball hard.
"As a team, we struggled at times to hit the ball consistently, but Shelby would get a hit in the first inning and give the girls confidence."
Of Smithson's 30 hits, six were home runs, four were doubles and one was a triple. The junior collected 26 RBIs with a slugging percentage of .659 and an on-base percentage of .489.
Her average with runners in scoring position was .474, including 18 hits, as Purtell said she'd ask to stay after practice for extra batting practice.
"The girls look up to Shelby as she led the team in home runs and RBIs," Purtell said. "Her average with runners in scoring position was incredible, as she's a very focused player.
"She's our most consistent hitter and is a stellar defensive first baseman."
Smithson also collected three stolen bases, as she was an All-District and All-SHAC selection this postseason.
"Shelby stepped up in the leadership role this season, and she's continuing that role in the summer season."
Sosby, of Whiteoak, was selected to the first team in Division IV, while Smithson, of Fairfield, was named second team.
The sophomore pitcher for the Lady 'Cats finished with 24 starts this season. Sosby, who was the Division IV SE District Player of the Year, pitched 155.2 innings, finishing with a season high of 264 strikeouts, putting her at over 500 strikeouts for her first two seasons of high school softball.
"Kiley impressed a lot of people in the SE District with her play this past season," WHS head coach Bret Malone said. "Other coaches in the district spoke up on her behalf at the postseason voting.
"She's very deserving of being All-Ohio and any other award she receives. She works hard all year long."
[[In-content Ad]]Sosby threw 2,454 pitches, allowing 140 runs (68 earned) on 151 hits and 31 walks, as she faced 718 batters her sophomore season.
At the plate, the sophomore led WHS in batting average at .333, taking the lead spot in the final few games of the season.
In the '13 season, she hit eight batters and allowed just four home runs, finishing with an 8-16 mark. She shutout her opponents three times, finishing the season with an ERA of 3.05, with a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.169.
"Kiley is very mature for her age," Malone said. "She's not even 16 yet and handles herself very well on the field. She's always the last one off the field, and she loves the game."
Smithson, who is a three-year starter at first base for the Lady Lions, earned her second-team honors for her junior season, which consisted of 26 games. In the Lady Lions' 15-11 season that ended in the regional semifinals, Smithson had a batting average of .366, with 20 runs on 30 hits and nine walks.
The junior entered the season coming off an ACL injury suffered near the end of the fall soccer season.
"Shelby was let loose at the start of our practices, but I thought returning from the injury affected her early season play," FHS assistant head coach Tom Purtell said. "She had a great last half of season and hit the ball hard.
"As a team, we struggled at times to hit the ball consistently, but Shelby would get a hit in the first inning and give the girls confidence."
Of Smithson's 30 hits, six were home runs, four were doubles and one was a triple. The junior collected 26 RBIs with a slugging percentage of .659 and an on-base percentage of .489.
Her average with runners in scoring position was .474, including 18 hits, as Purtell said she'd ask to stay after practice for extra batting practice.
"The girls look up to Shelby as she led the team in home runs and RBIs," Purtell said. "Her average with runners in scoring position was incredible, as she's a very focused player.
"She's our most consistent hitter and is a stellar defensive first baseman."
Smithson also collected three stolen bases, as she was an All-District and All-SHAC selection this postseason.
"Shelby stepped up in the leadership role this season, and she's continuing that role in the summer season."