Cannon School’s Brie Biddle headlines All-Observer high school softball team
One pitcher compiled a 22-3 record, tossed two perfect games, and led her team to a state championship.
Another struck out 184 in 81 innings, tossed five shutout, and was conference pitcher of the year.
And another had 180 strikeouts in 135 innings and led her team to a state runner-up finish.
Yet another was 17-5, including 4-0 in the playoffs, and led her team to a state championship.
And these were players from the honorable mention category of the All-Observer softball team for the 2023 season.
The Charlotte area enjoyed an abundance of riches on softball diamonds this season, accounting for three state champions and two runners-up.
In the end, the top honors — player of the year and coach of the year — go to individuals who accounted for a pair of those state titles.
Cannon School senior Brie Biddle, a three-time all-state and all-conference shortstop, is the Observer’s softball player of the year.
And Union Academy’s Darbi Holmes is coach of the year.
The top honors
Biddle, who will play softball at Virginia next year, helped lead Cannon School to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 4A state championship. She was a consistent performer throughout the season but showed her talent most when it counted.
In the Cougars’ title-clinching victory against Charlotte Christian on May 20, Biddle slammed a two-run home run. She combined power (eight home runs, 32 RBIs) with speed (16 stolen bases).
Holmes played at Monroe’s Central Academy and then at North Greenville College, then returned home to become coach at Monroe’s Union Academy last year.
The Cardinals compiled a 26-4 record in winning the public schools’ 1A state championship, and they had a tough schedule that included victories over 4A power Marvin Ridge and 1A Uwharrie Charter. Union Academy swept a best-of-3 series from South Stokes in the regional finals and then trounced North Duplin 13-3 and 7-4 in the state finals.
The Charlotte area’s wealth of riches was evident in the coaching ranks too.
Kirstin Maves (Cannon School) and Roger Wilson (East Lincoln) also guided teams to state championships and were strong candidates as coach of the year. Also getting strong consideration were Hickory Ridge’s Justin Davies, whose team finished second in 4A, and Linda McGowan, who coached Marvin Ridge into the 4A semifinals.
Pitching talent abounds
And about those pitchers in the Honorable Mention ranks.
The hurler with a 22-3 record and two perfect games was East Lincoln senior Leah Correll. Myers Park sophomore Hannah Hubbard was 10-3, struck out 184 and was SoMeck 4A pitcher of the year. Charlotte Christian freshman Morgan Banks had the 180 strikeouts and in 135 innings on a state runner-up team.
And that 17-5 pitcher from a state title team? That was Cannon School junior Maddie Sturgill, who held opponents to a .252 batting average this season.
Who finished ahead of them?
First-team pitcher Anna Dew of Hickory Ridge went 23-3 with a 0.48 earned run average. Second-team pick Taylor Barlow of South Mecklenburg fanned 203 in 104.1 innings and had a 0.60 earned run average.
And third-team selection Gracie Hollingsworth, a senior, went 21-3 for Union Academy, was state tournament most valuable player, and hit 12 home runs.
The wealth of riches was obvious at other positions, too, with players like Hickory Grove Christian shortstop Taryn Baucom, a senior who hit .532, in the honorable mention category.
The All-Observer softball team includes nearly 70 players from 33 schools.
Cannon School, Charlotte Christian, Hickory Ridge, Hough, East Lincoln, Marvin Ridge, South Mecklenburg and Lake Norman had multiple selections on the top three teams.
NOTE: Players had to be nominated by a coach to earn all-Observer honors.
First team
INFIELD
Brie Biddle, Cannon School, senior: Biddle, a Virginia commit, is a three-time all-state and all-conference shortstop. She hit .587 this season with eight home runs, 32 RBIs and 45 runs scored. Biddle hit two homers and scored seven runs in the playoffs.
Anna Hinde, Charlotte Christian, sophomore: Hinde, who batted .509 with a .659 on-base percentage, is ranked among the top players in the country and has won numerous awards. She hit 12 doubles and seven homers, driving in 26 runs. In the field, she made 75 of 76 chances.
Grace Bechtol, Hickory Ridge, senior: Bechtol’s hitting helped carry her team to the 4A finals and within a game of the state title. She batted .500, with 52 hits, 25 RBIs, 36 runs and 20 stolen bases.
Madden McMahan-Waters, Hough, senior: Her 50 RBIs set a school single-season record, and McMahan-Waters finished with a .600 batting average. She had 39 hits, scored 37 runs, and had a .989 fielding average at first base.
OUTFIELD
Jolie Matthews, Cannon School, sophomore: An all-state selection, Matthews was leadoff hitter for the state champion Cougars. She batted .440 (.510 on-base percentage), scored 31 runs, and stole 18 bases.
Sarah Johnson, Independence, senior: Johnson batted .541 and had a .681 on-base percentage. She had a .932 fielding average on route to earning conference Player of the Year and all-state honors. Johnson played baseball until switching to softball two years ago.
Sarah Belk, Piedmont, sophomore: Belk was one of the area’s top “slap” hitters, batting .407 and scoring 21 runs. She played error-free ball in the outfield.
CATCHER
Betsy Eatmon, East Lincoln, senior: Eatmon provided the power for the 3A state champions, slamming 13 home runs and driving in 43 runs. She had 42 hits, in all, batted .447 and was the Western Foothills 3A Conference’s Player of the Year.
DESIGNATED HITTER/UTILITY
Anna McGowan, Marvin Ridge, sophomore: McGowan easily could have made this team also as a first baseman. She batted .447 and hit a school-record 14 home runs and drove in a school-record 47 runs. She holds several Marvin Ridge records. McGowan also went 4-0 as a pitcher.
PITCHER
Anna Dew, Hickory Ridge, senior: Dew compiled a 23-3 record and pitched the Ragin’ Bulls to within one victory of a 4A state title. She struck out 260 in 160 innings with a 0.48 earned run average. Dew also hit five home runs and had 34 RBIs.
Second team
INFIELD
Kaylin Garlick, Charlotte Christian, senior
Taniyah Thomas, East Lincoln, sophomore
Megan Towery, North Gaston, senior
Brooke Piper, Mooresville, senior
OUTFIELD
Addison Crawford, Central Academy, sophomore
Tia Montgomery, South Mecklenburg, sophomore
Ella Tracy, Marvin Ridge, sophomore
CATCHER
Avery Houseton, Covenant Day, freshman
DESIGNATED HITTER/UTILITY
Cameron Fisher, Hickory Grove Christian, senior
PITCHER
Taylor Barlow, South Mecklenburg, senior
Third team
INFIELD
Kaylee Harris, Lake Norman, sophomore
Landyn McBride, Cherryville, sophomore
Mia Vasquez Garcia, Palisades, junior
Madison Glossner, Charlotte Catholic, freshman
OUTFIELD
Anna Partridge, Hough, senior
Kendall Robinson, Lake Norman, senior
Clara Grace Dellinger, North Lincoln, junior
CATCHER
Lexi Kirby, Marvin Ridge, sophomore
DESIGNATED HITTER/UTILITY
Reagan Cowick, Queens Grant Charter, senior
PITCHER
Gracie Hollingsworth, Union Academy, senior
Honorable mention
INFIELD
Caroline Allred, North Gaston, senior
Tessa Autrey, Cox Mill, junior
Taryn Baucom, Hickory Grove Christian, senior
Emma Bosquet, Butler, senior
Krista Davis, Cherryville, sophomore
Kaylee Dunning, A.L. Brown, freshman
Oakleigh Herring, Gaston Christian, grade 7
Aniyah Jones, Jay M. Robinson, sophomore
Olivia Kennedy, Gaston Christian, junior
Dilynn Norris, North Iredell, freshman
Dakota Slack, Forest Hills, junior
Alyssa Steele, Queens Grant Charter, sophomore
Haylee Trull, Forest Hills, junior
Barrett Williams, North Iredell, freshman
OUTFIELD
Maddie Colby, Mooresville, junior
Tatum Martin, East Lincoln, junior
Skylar Smith, North Gaston, sophomore
Karlie Williams, Lincolnton, senior
CATCHER
Carsyn Benfield, South Iredell, junior
Annabelle Cicoletti, Providence Day, junior
McKenna Jones, South Mecklenburg, junior
Blythe Morton, Myers Park, senior
Kenzie Sturgill, Cannon School, junior
DESIGNATED HITTER/UTILITY
Avery Bracewell, A.L. Brown, senior
Caroline Constable, South Iredell, junior
Tanlee Eley, Lincolnton, sophomore
Jordan McCorkle, East Gaston, junior
PITCHER
Morgan Banks, Charlotte Christian, freshman
Addison Benton, Queens Grant Charter, freshman
Leah Correll, East Lincoln, senior
Morgan Flowe, Hough, junior
Hannah Hubbard, Myers Park, sophomore
Rachel Lyons, Providence Day, freshman
Kynlie Moss, North Iredell, freshman
Anna Phifer, Marvin Ridge, sophomore
Maddie Sturgill, Cannon School, junior
Ava Williams, Butler, pitcher
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle