Three Jacksonville area teams represented in all-state softball, baseball list

Four Richlands players and one from Swansboro earned spots on the N.C. Softball Coaches Association 3-A All-State team, which was recently released. Also, a pair of East Duplin seniors were recently named 2-A all-state by the N.C. Baseball Coaches Association.

All these players are all-state for the first time. All-state recognition is voted on by the coaches across the state who are members of these associations. Here is a look at the area all-state players and their accomplishments this past season:

All-Area baseball: 2022 Jacksonville All-Area baseball team led by East Duplin's Nick Cavenaugh

All-Area Softball: 2022 All-Area Softball Team: East Duplin's Mobley highlights season's best

Richlands leads local all-state softball

Mackenzie Goin, Richlands: Goin became a standout and the area’s most successful pitcher as a freshman. She was the Coastal 3-A Conference player of the year and 3A District 2 pitcher of the year after she went 11-5 with a 0.84 earned run average with 219 strikeouts in 117⅓ innings. She helped the Wildcats go 17-8, share the conference championship at 8-2 and play in the third round of the playoffs.

Jocelyn Powell, Richlands: As a senior, Powell was named the 3-A District 2 Player of the Year after the third baseman hit a team-best .459 with 26 RBIs, 21 runs, nine doubles, one triple and one home run and she had 21 stolen bases. Powell was also a two-time all-area player.

Reagan Stapleton, Richlands: The outfielder batted .400 with 24 runs, seven RBIs, one double and stole 27 bases during her sophomore year. She was named all-area this past season.

Kaydin Williams, Richlands: The catcher batted .372 with 18 RBIs, 14 runs, four doubles and one triple and was also a strong leader behind the plate during her senior season.

Tara Lapore, Swansboro: The second baseman had a strong senior all-area season before she plays at North Carolina A&T next season as she batted a team-high .623 with 39 runs, 14 RBIs, four doubles, one triple and one home run. She also had 43 stolen bases. One year after suffering an ACL injury, Lapore helped the Pirates go 16-7 and qualify for the playoffs.

Two Panthers named all-state baseball

Nick Cavenaugh, East Duplin: Cavenaugh’s senior year was one to remember as he is all-state baseball after being named the area’s player of the year. The left-hander was 12-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 63⅓ innings and hit .382 with 32 runs, 20 RBIs, three doubles, two triples and one home run. His efforts helped the Panthers go 23-1, win their first East Central 2-A Conference title since 1998 and advance to the third round of the playoffs.

Jackson Gause, East Duplin: Gause complemented Cavenaugh well. He was 7-0 with one save and a 0.93 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 45⅓ innings. The all-area player also hit .286 with 23 runs, 17 RBIs, five doubles, one triple while also playing first baseball and in the outfield.

Chris Miller can be contacted via email at chris.miller@jdnews.com. Follow him on twitter @jdnsports.

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Jacksonville NC area softball, baseball players named 2022 all-state